Posted in: Musicouching by thats my nerd name on May 18th, 2009 | 2 Comments
To works separated by 100 years are actually very similar.
It is not very often that a foreign influence can unite a country and influence a generation, generally though, this happens in times of war. World WarII brought the American people together, to a one single force rallying against the Japanese, who so daringly raided pearl Harbor, or the British, who so unjustly taxed us. Sometimes though it is in times of peace, or when the populous demands peace that brings us together, and it takes one person, or one small group to do this. Both Charles Dickens and The Beatles accomplished this. Weather it was cramming at the docks for the new installment or cramming at the concert, we were united.
And the themes of the story Great Expectations that Dickens wrote, and the lyrics Lennon wrote weren’t so different. A great example of this is the song day tripper. This song describes a girl that is untouchable unloving, and unwilling to go in to a relationship, as described in this line. “ Tried to please her but she only played one night Stands.” The girl described in the song, sounds just like Estella, she is unloving, untouchable and unwilling. Another thing that is similar In the song and the story is described In this lyric “ She was a day tripper” which means , all I could think about was her, and Pip is obsessed with Estella. Even after, several years of not seeing her, he is still obsessed, just like the person in this song would be. The final lyric In this essay is the key similarity in the song and Great Expectations. “ She was a one way ticket” this means once you get a little bit, it will drive you crazy and you have to have more. Just like when Estella kissed Pip. This drove him over the edge, this made him obsess, and he couldn’t stop thinking about her. Just like in the song.
Mezaa March 26th, 2011 at 9:46 pm
great article
Tabitha March 28th, 2012 at 8:14 pm
I would consider myself to be a Beatles music enthusiast, so when I saw this connection, I almost freaked out. (I am currently reading Great Expectations, the line, “here and there and everywhere” has been mentioned, which reminded me of this song.)
In the song, Here, There, and Everywhere, Paul sings of a girl who is similar to Estella in some aspects, just as the girl is Day Tripper is similar to Estella.
”Changing my life with a wave of her hand,” could be alluding to the scene where Pip falls in love with Estella, when he first meets her.
“I want her everywhere, and if she’s beside me, I know I need ne’er care, but to love her is to need her… Everywhere.” this could be, obviously referring to Pip’s obsession with Estella, fighting for her love, he needs her, he wants her… To put it in Shakespeare’s words, “it is the east, and” Estella “is the sun”…
Romeo was saying Juliet was the center of his world, but in this application, Estella is Pip’s center… Pip’s main focus, much like Romeo’s was his tender Juliet.