"Dickens, in Great Expectations, presents us with a range of ideas, but the most powerful is that the individual is shaped by the worlds they live in and the experiences they have." To what extent did you find this to be true? To what extent one's environment and life experiences shape the individual is an often debated topic that can be pursued to many different levels. I agree with the statement that the most powerful …showed first 75 words of 2287 total…

…showed last 75 words of 2287 total…is not what a gentleman is. A gentleman is an individual who thinks of others before himself and gives of himself to aid those around him. Pip finally begins to understand this when his dreams are shattered. He takes control of his life and is no longer shaped by the experiences he has with the people around him, and after many years of mindless wandering, Pip finally discovers the right path to becoming a gentleman.