As a boy, Dickens saw literal meanings in things (53), but as he developed into a professional writer, he learned to take common things like a persons hands and turn them into a metaphor that would instruct the reader about themes that were important to him. The most common definition of the word hand in the American Heritage Dictionary is: the terminal part of the human arm below the wrist, consisting of the palm, four fingers, and an opposable thumb, used for grasping and holding. There are eighteen other literal meanings for the word hand as well as innumerable metaphorical meanings. In Great Expectations Dickens uses literal meanings, symbolism, and repetition of the word hand in order to develop his characters; in particular, the repetition of the word hand assists Dickens illustrate two of his major themes: the importance of education and the idea that wealth and position are corrupting. Dickens uses hand imagery to develop several of his major and minor characters. The characters range from Drummle (Pips adversary) all the way to the main character, Pip himself. Drummle is depicted as a man of shady character. During a conversation at the Jaggers estate, Drummle hides his hands in his pockets. Drummle attempts to use physical violence to settle an argument rather than communicating like a true gentleman (G.E. 201). Though Drummle is a minor character, his actions play a major role in the lives of Estella and Pip. Estella is the possession/person that creates bad blood between Pip and Drummle. She is one of the major characters that Dickens develops through the use of hand imagery. Dickens describes Estella as having keys in her hand (50) and leading Pip through Satis house with a candle in her hand (73). The keys are for opening the gate to Satis House, and the candle is for leading him through the dark hallways to Miss Havisham. However, these images also symbolize the fact that Estella holds the key to Pips hea...
