Compare the Representation of Growing Up In Great Expectations and Songs of Innocence and Experience
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In Great Expectations by Charles Dickens and the two poems The Human Abstract and the School Boy by William Blake the representation of growing up is evidently depicted through the development of the character or object focused on within the writing. This evolution of growing up is mainly triggered by experience, especially in Pips case in Great Expectations. Nature vs. Nurture plays a crucial and integral role in the development of growing up because it is the influential catalyst. The Human Abstract, a song of Experience, depicts growing up with the influence of Nature whereas The School Boy, a song of Innocence, takes the other route and portrays growing up with the influence of Nurture. These two different paths cause an excellent comparison between the poems, and Great Expectations involves a pinch of both Nature and Nurture affecting Pips development from a village boy to a gentleman.
In the novel Great Expectations, Dickens creates a combination of Nature and Nurture to present Pips exponential growth from a poor village boy into a typical Victorian Gentleman with boundless amount of money and giant opportunities. Of course, Pips opportunity to become a gentleman does not come from a relative nor a deceit friend but Magwitch who becomes a nurturing figure for Pip after Joe is discarded. Joe is originally Pips nurturing figure, as Pip is not brought up by his biological parents. Joe takes the role as Pips guardian, caring and looking out for the young lad as he matures while keeping him quite innocent...