How real are characters in novels? Find out NOW!
To be or not to be
The characters in novels seem real. Their reality comes from the fact that the novel itself shows their flaws, misunderstandings and desires openly. Due to this, we feel like we can appreciate and empathize with the characters. Characters like Pip and Heathcliff are the most relatable in today’s society. We see a similarity in the way that they both struggle to overcome social class boundaries.
Go Pip!
Pip from Great Expectations is a hard-working orphan who later becomes an apprentice to his brother-in-law (Joe). Joe is a simple, kind blacksmith who has no desire to become better. Similar to others in his social class, he is not well-educated and is looked down upon by the upper-class men and women. Pip has the chance to meet Estella and Miss Havisham and it is their insults that cause him to feel bad about himself. He wants to impress Estella, but she only makes fun of his clothes and appearance, calling him a poor boy.
To acquire her regard and affection, Pip becomes a gentleman. He asks Biddy (his tutor) to help him. Later, when Mr. Jaggers announces that a kind benefactor has decided to cover all the expenses of Pip so he can become a gentleman, Pip is thrilled. He becomes a gentleman and starts feeling ashamed of Joe as he is of the lower class. Although they were once good friends, Pip has risen to a higher social class while Joe remains simple and unsophisticated. This causes embarrassment for Pip who treats Joe badly, even asking him not to see him off when he leaves.
Although Pip became a gentleman, he still was not able to obtain his lover. Estella married a wealthy young man and even though he abused her, she stayed with him. Estella does like Pip, but she does not give in to the temptation of leaving the upper class for Pip’s love.
Hey.. Healthcliff!
On the other hand, Heathcliff is an entirely different character. Whereas Pip is kind and loving, Heathcliff is cold-hearted and manipulative. His story begins when Mr. Earnshaw brings him home after his trip to Liverpool.
Heathcliff is a gypsy who becomes the adopted brother of two wealthy Earnshaw children, Hindley and Catherine. Both of them despise him at first, but Catherine later accepts him. She even falls in love with Heathcliff but chooses to marry Edgar due to his similar upper-class upbringing and wealth. Hindley transforms Heathcliff into a servant for a long time and he runs away when Catherine and Edgar get married. When he returns, it is to take revenge on the people who wronged him. He plans to take control of both Wuthering Heights and Thrush Cross Grange.
Heathcliff becomes a gentleman because he thinks it is the most fitting way for him to obtain his lover and punish Hindley for turning him into a servant. When he overhears Catherine telling Nelly that she cannot marry Heathcliff because of his inferior class, it is this reason that promotes him to leave and return as a gentleman. She dies before the wedding can take place and her ghost haunts him, teasing and abusing him.
So…they both win?
Both Heathcliff and Pip struggled to improve their social class for similar motives. The Victorian society had strict social and gender reservations for all individuals. Class was the biggest discrimination and it changed the way people looked and dealt with each other. Pip and Heathcliff both came from humble beginnings. To obtain the love and regard of a woman, they became gentlemen. However, this did not help them accomplish their goals. Estella and Pip had reconciled but then parted ways.
As for Heathcliff and Catherine, the birth of Cathy cut Catherine’s life short and she came back to Heathcliff in the form of a ghost, haunting him. Both characters did not have happy endings, although they desperately struggled to improve their socio-economic situation.
Characters like Heathcliff and Pip are not hard to find in our desi society. As mentioned before, novels give us a better understanding of how a society works and it provides insight on many societal concerns. To exemplify, there is a popular trend of girls marrying men with a green card (American citizenship) or international citizenship.
ALSO READ: WHAT IS GASLIGHTING??
Conclusion
In conclusion, Pip and Heathcliff are relatable characters. They both aim to transgress their current social status to attain the love of their beloved, to avenge their past, or stop feeling inferior. However, in the end, they manage to become gentlemen without obtaining their lovers. Our society is brimming with characters similar to them. In Pakistan, we are living like Victorian English people and we hold the same values and principles as them. Individuals are exerting tremendous efforts to enhance their position in society for some superficial reason.
Interested in poetry? Read this before you go!
Currently, I am a student of Fatima Jinnah Women University. With a burning passion for psychology, words, and dreams, I decided to abandon medical studies for humanities. These days, when I’m not listening to ballads, watching movies, or sitting down with a good novel, I am rigorously studying Hangul (Korean language) to satisfy my obsession for BTS and K dramas. I’m a thinking introvert and INFJ personality. Therefore, I like ‘me time’. My articles typically resonate with psychological well-being advice.
