A Sense Of Belonging

Finding a place where you feel a sense of belonging is the most important concern in every story involving an orphan. Pip strives to end his outsider status through improved social standing and education. In Great Expectations, the prevailing culture values people based on the attainment of a certain social status, not for any enduring moralistic attributes. This rigid, arbitrary evaluation permits the wealthier characters to completely ignore personal growth by resolving some of their mental defects. The characters of lower social standing thereby appear more balanced and sympathetic.

Pip attempts to change his outsider status by spending a great deal of time with Herbert Pocket, learning to become a gentleman. Pip and Herbert go to the theater and attend church at West Minister Abbey. Pip engages Matthew Pocket to further educate him. He ends up spending time with people who really don't like him (Bentley Drummle, Mrs. Camilla and Georgianna), who only indulge his presence because they believe he has money. It seems that Pip mainly attempts to change his outsider status by spending time with the 'right' people, perhaps because he isn't quite ready to admit that he misses Joe and Biddy.

London should have been a wonderful place for Pip, being a young, wealthy gentleman, especially since he was now free from his uninspiring apprenticeship, his abusive sister, and other repressive people like Pumblechook. While in London, Pip finds his trus self by finally learning to place virtues like kindness and loyalty above any immature desires for social advancement.