villpower

In such tribute sections, I will try to pay homage to those transformative and impactful games, books, movies and other forms of media and/or events which has carved out special permanent niche in my life. As I lamented previously also that this doesn’t mean I am seeing myself standing at the gate of heaven (or hell, as per perspective); contemplating “happy” days of my life. But I think I had backed up by good more than 30 years shaping my life and I could clearly identify such homages which had influential impact to swerve it in positive or negative way. So in this write-up of influential homages I will take up Charles Dickens’s The Great Expectations. I refrain myself to praise it with adjectives as whatever majestic I conjure up, it always falls short in gauging the true literary span of Charles Dickens and his Great Expectations.

I must confess that initial start-up read of Dickens’s literary classic, Great Expectations was not engaging enough for me. I had never attempted Victorian story before, especially language. Being born and brought up in India, Victorian world was that unknown territory which was difficult to tread and explore. Though aware of the Dickens writing prowess, I was adamant to start but not sure from where and how. Due to this dilemma, Great expectation was subjected to such cruel mishandling like no other and put down time immemorial with few finished starting chapter. Though exhilarating, I had my fill from this cult classic within mere 80 to 100 pages of Pip’s journey.

Time was ripe when my life spiraled down and hit the lowest point. Career moving in positive direction and everything else in extreme opposite direction like two same charged particles reined free of strong force. Happy stories had no power left to amuse me and I was in dire need of something psychologically supportive. Dark and crime-fictions were too gloomy for me; dragging me more into the depth of gloominess. At last I picked up Great Expectations again as I thought it would be quite better to know the future of Pip. And I may find solace in his fictional happy life. Alas that was not the case.

I am really not sure how other readers have perceived Great Expectations but for me it was never story with soothing effect in right terms. Not doubting the flawless and extremely fledged out characterization specifically adapted for such story, Dickens strike exact cord in lot many places while expressing emotions; those little urges and desires which I had never believed till then could be expressed in mere words. It was soothing for me at least. Pip’s story became story of someone close whom I knew since childhood. All other characters are not mere portraits in the story but real characters full of various traits with which I could relate to. Though never I met such persons in reality, which itself proves exceptional writing prowess of Charles Dickens as author and how good he was at developing fictional character.

In short, Great Expectations is coming-of-age story of the boy called Pip towards becoming gentleman and hence in search of better life. Deep down, it’s tale of contradiction; hope and despair, amalgamation of relationships and lose, love and revenge, heartfelt and at the same time heart-broken, tragic and heart-warming. Its journey of having expectations and price you need to pay for achieving the same (Though Expectations in title taken in Victorian sense which means incurring large sum of money). And that’s where the core attraction of the book for me lies. Invaluable and priceless. I could go on forever but must restrict myself on treading into spoiler-zone for those unlucky ones who still had not developed taste of reading the classics.

I was so hooked by the end of the book to Dickens’s story-telling that I could only do justice by completing all of his work (still going on). Immediately Great expectations was placed to my “must-read” shelf. I still believe that book has power to reflect on reader’s emotional condition. Whatever be the state; exuberant or in turmoil, one can find what he wished for from Great Expectation while reading.

It also helped me hone my skill in reading Victorian literary classics. I had already laid my hand on Wilkie Collins and moving further. Victorian era has transformed writing in a way renaissance had done to art in Europe.

This might not be considered as review as it would be utterly improbable to review Mona Lisa when only skill you possess while drawing is to produce plain brush strokes. Nope. This is a love letter to Great expectations for mere being exists.

Great Expectations will forever be on my most influential list.