The First Stage

With that quote, Pip is referring to being born into a certain life. The "one memorable day" is the day that you were born. The links symbolize days or years that form one big chain that is your life. "Iron" is the common life, "gold" is the wealthy, high class life. Similarly, the "thorns" means a life of work and hardship, while the "flowers" represent a life of ease and admiration. People usually look upon thorns as being bad, but flowers are seen as pretty, fragile, and better than other plants, like a bush. Pip is saying once you are born into this life, you are bound to it. This has altered Pip's character because he now wishes to be a gentleman after spending so much time at Miss Havisham's house, but he knows he will never be anything but a common worker. Our young Pip has grown up and now cares about his social standings, as his character development shows. He is in love with Estella, thus wanting to be a gentleman so she will love him back. He is no longer the little boy that "believed in the forge was a glowing road to manhood." (106) Pip longs for something more than being a common blacksmith. He wants to be a gentleman.

It must've been the summer before sixth grade, or the summer of 2006, if you prefer, when i first got the insane idea to write a book. The concept seemed so impossible at the time, but just crazy enough to make me want to do it. That one day changed my life into one of unsure to one destined to write. I am always writing now. I have no idea what I would do with the little free time i have if I never started writing. The book is not finished yet, mind you, but give me a few years and you'll see my name in the book store window.