Pip Quote

I think Pip is referring to the “chain” as a symbol for life. He says “chain of iron or gold, of thorns or flowers” using iron and thorns to represent a bad life, and gold and flowers to represent a good one. The “formation of the first link” is the thing that started the whole chain, flowers or thorns, that now binds you for good or for bad. I think the sentences before this quote are just as important, Pip says, “This was a memorable day for me, for it made great changes in me. Imagine on selected day struck out of it, and think how different its course would have been.” Pips day at Miss Havishams is that day he wishes he “struck out,” it’s the day that turned his life of gold and flowers to iron and thorns. Pips character changes very negatively after this day. He turns from cute, likeable Pip, to meaner and lying and more judgmental of the people around him. He goes from being happy with himself to seeing something better, then just being completely unhappy that he doesn’t have it.

                I don’t know if I have had any major life changing events, but I can think of some like high-school changing events. In the beginning of middle school I was shy and didn’t really care to meet new people, so I just had my friends from elementary school and I wasn’t making very many new friends. I didn’t have like confidence in my personality; I thought nobody would like me. But then I made a new friend from a different friend group and she became my best friend. Hanging out with her I started hanging out with a bunch of new people, and people actually liked me I was really surprised! I would definitely say that experience could be the start of a “gold chain” because I didn’t have confidence in my personality, but because of that and being able to make new friends I do now.