Great Expectations and High Hopes

As we look at the titles of both the movie (High Hopes) and book (Great Expectation), we can see both of the main characters struggling to get of out their Socioeconomic class for what they believe to be a better lifestyle. However both movies ask the true question; Does money really buy happiness or is it something you're create for yourself and the people around you? In his childhood Pip, from the great expectation wanted to follow on his father footsteps and be a blacksmith. Once he started to work with his father, he could not take it anymore and had greater aspirations. He was “lucky” enough to come into a property which changed his socioeconomic status and started to prepare to become a gentleman. As he goes through his life he realizes he keeps losing things close and precious to him, like his sister, the girl he loves, and the reality of where his money comes from. As the book come to an end, he realizes that’s there were all these hollow expectations that he did not want to accomplish. He wanted to cherish the relationships and the people around him not money. Thus he runs back home to find rekindle relationship with Biddy but finds out Joe and Bibby are going to be married. Even though he could not find his happiness, he was content with their marriage and happy for them. The same goes with Cyril and Shirley from High hopes, where they are marxists hippies who are very content with their lifestyle and each other. This is compared to Cyril sister, Valerie, who has everything she can ask for and more but a cheating husband and a miserable life. At the end of the movie you can Valerie in the bathtub drinking and crying her sorrows away. In both we can how money does not bring happiness but only despair and sorrows.