The novel ‘The Great Expectations’ was written by British writer in the nineteenth century Charles Dickens. Charles Dickens was born on 7th February, 1812 and raised in Portsmouth, England. With a little background in formal education, he spend most of his time reading imaginative literary works in his father’s library. He was obliged to go through a lot misery due to the poor economic conditions of the family and later his father’s imprisonment. Per se, this novel encompasses primarily the issues revolving around poverty, love, prejudice and hope to have a better life. Great Expectations is arguably a comprehensive account of the moral life lessons a young orphan boy (Pip) has to undergo. Moreover, it is important to mention that the plot is somehow correlates with the famous novel ‘Les Miserables’ of Victor Hugo given that in both books, there is a story of orphan salvation from the side of the convict (West & Dickens 13). Against these background, the principal focus in producing the film should be based on prejudices in society and love due to the subsequent reasons discussed in this proposed film adaption.
Brief Background Information
It would be of interest to create a film with the title ‘Chance’ as it will be a viable portrayal of the possibility of Pip escaping from his poor conditions and to become an independent and useful person both his actions and general life condition. Notably, Pip is made to resort to stealing as a way of survival by an escaped convict, Abel. ‘Chance’ will be dedicated to the group of people that are above the age of eighteen given that its plot is quite difficult to understand for a much younger audience. Arguably, this is a story about an orphaned boy Pip who was lucky to get the ‘chance’ to receive some benefits from the affluent social class. For the second reason, love between Pip and Estella Richmond may depict the story about lost feelings. For example, in the book, the affection is portrayed the moment when Estella was alluring Pip to excuse her but her desires are not accepted.
Plot Summary
The moral theme of ‘Chance’ is quite comprehensible: love, allegiance, and morality are arguably more significant given the socio-economic status of the character Pip and Abel among other characters. The themes are a depiction of the young orphaned boy learning his lessons the hard way. In the process, the boy is forced to review his self-life ambitions and self-improve when he gets the chance to redeem himself. ‘Chance’ will revolve around such thematic variables of self-ambition and self-improvement coupled with the psychological contrivance that inspires Pip to initiate the ascertained life improvements and development. Being an idealist, Pip takes every chance he gets to conceive more knowledge and an inner desire obtain the progress and to escape from his apparent socioeconomic status. For instance, he is inspired to ultimately overcome his moral inadequacies given his inner desire to be good and to learn basic literacy skills of reading and writing. Pip’s aspiration to escape his social life and live a morally upright life will inspire the movie ‘Chance’. Being a strong believer in the possibility of progression in life, Pip has ‘great expectations’ about his future prospects and is determined to make use of every ‘chance’ he gets to self-improve and prosper.
Notably, Pip’s ambitions and craving to self-improve defines and motivates Pip’s best and worst behaviors. Due to the social prejudice, he is extremely hard on himself and is prompted to be immoral sometimes. The works of the novel ‘Great Expectations’ gives the movie ‘Chance ’a basic plot. For instance, Pip’s life, though largely unsatisfying and no different from his previous life as a son of a blacksmith, is still an illustration of social injustices and prejudices propagated by the society. When he gets the ‘chance’ to pursue education, he takes it seriously and sees it as a means of social progression. The novel ‘Great Expectations’ reignites the social class systems of the Victorian England. Social class and prejudice as themes in the proposed movie ‘Chance’ defines the moral lessons that Pip derives from his social life. Pip realizes that his desires to be a wealthy young man are of less significance compared to his affection, loyalty and love he has towards Estella. He retorts that ‘…Truly it was impossible to dissociate her presence from all those wretched hankerings after money and gentility that had disturbed my boyhood….’ He is not happy with his socio-economic status and is determined to seize any chance to become wealthy. He confirm this to Biddy, his childhood pal when he reiterates that ‘… I am not at all happy as I am. I am disgusted with my calling and with my life…’
The costumes in the movie ‘Chance’ will be symbolic to depict the social class transformations and self-advancement. For example, Pip is transformation will be depicted from the more decent cloths he puts on compared to the meager cloths such as secondhand pants and shirts he used to put on. His style of dressing changes when he gets the chance to be ‘good ‘to that of a gentleman with a nice hat and cane coupled with other higher social class accessories. Pip takes the chance to transform and ultimately be useful in the society. He refuses to bow down to his social limitations and being raised in a lower-class society.
Pip, the lower-class gentleman, comes into contact, more or less by ‘chance’, with immense affluence and elegance and automatically becomes extremely mesmerized and boisterous. He has good experience and understanding of how different social classes treats each other given his struggles across social divides to make an impact in the Victorian society. Pip’s pursuit for purpose and making meaningful life decisions on his future is realized when seizes the ‘chance’ to make things right in his life.
Conclusion
Throughout the proposed movie ‘Chance’, different feelings ranging from empathy to compassion towards the orphaned boy are explicitly depicted who has to go through traumatizing social experiences. The audience will be able to relate the social mistreatments experiences Pip is obliged to pass through as he struggles to cement his place among the social classes.