character. The fact that she is unknowingly destroying the leaf proves that she is a passionate person and also genuinely concerned about Pip and Joes relationship. Biddy wants Pip to realize that if Joe can be satisfied with who he is then Pip can be satisfied with him too. As a minor character, Biddy serves as an educator and informer to Pip. Dickens describes Biddys hands as, always want[ing] washing (40), and comfortablethough roughened by work (121). It is important that Pip notices the roughness of Biddys hands because he also notices the coarseness of his own hands. Dickens wants the reader and Pip to come to the realization that the type of roughness that comes from hard work is something to be proud of rather than being ashamed. Pip must endure pain and suffering before he is able to realize that simple lesson. Dickens describes Pips hands and uses hand imagery to prove that his main character has changed and learned. As a child Pip is afraid of the handcuffs, which he imagines are for him, and ashamed of his coarse hands (56). Pip is afraid because he hasnt been taught self esteem and he has no self awareness. He is afraid of the handcuffs because he thinks what he has done for Magwitch is a terrible crime rather than a frightened childs attempt to stay alive. Pip thinks of his life as something to be ashamed of because a snobby young Estella laughs at him and makes him cry. The reader knows that Pip is still running from himself when he willingly allows Herbert Pocket to rename him Handel. Once again, Dickens is playing off the word hand in order to characterize Pip. Dickens has Pip choose this name because of a musician named Handel who wrote The harmonious Blacksmith (165). The fact that Pip chooses this name illustrates that he is still conflicted about who he wants to be. Pip longs to be associated with the society that idly chats about art and music, but he is still drawn to the simple life that Joe prov...
