People are unique and therefore experience elements of life in a multitude of complex ways. Charles Dickens's 1861 novel "Great Expectations" employs the older and younger Pip in a dual-perspective novel to show how he discovers a sense of belonging and acceptance. Gary Ross, director of the film "Pleasantville", uses a teenager's point of view to show the different aspects of belonging to different "worlds" which show the destruction of acceptance and the positive aspects of inclusion. Both texts collectively show that the need for a sense of belonging rarely changes over the time in which both texts take place. Relationships can harm our sense of belonging because they can distance us from our true friends and ultimately lead to regret. Dickens uses Pip, the orphan, to criticize the rigid social hierarchy of Victorian society and explores how our relationships can negatively affect our sense of belonging. Pip's lack of nurturing and nurturing early in life, being raised "by hand" by his "rude" sister; Mrs Joe, left pip "ashamed of home" and tries to find comfort in the social inclusion of a "gentleman". However, his impressionable stay at Satis encourages Pip to pursue the inaccessible "star" Estella and to aspire to social pretensions like Drummle who is "idle, proud, avaricious, reserved, suspicious". Therefore, severing ties with Joe and the “mesh” (swamp) leaves him becoming “the loneliest I (Pip) ever knew.” Pip's initial attitude of horror at Magwitch's sudden arrival transforms into a willingness to care for Magwitch after learning that he is the benefactor and not Miss Havisham. The arrival of Magwitch arouses in Pip a need for forgiveness, which h...... middle of paper ...... having a sense of belonging, she does not need to sacrifice her "intelligence", which is established in the final scenes of the film; by saving a library book about to be burned by rioters. "It's the only book I've ever read in my entire life, and you're not going to put it in that fire!" and choosing to stay in Pleasantville to receive an education, an option she had not considered before entering Pleasantville. “Great Expectations” highlights the variety of ways in which Pip discovers a sense of belonging and causes us to question our own life choices and how belonging is not always apparent in the moment. Relationships and places are closely linked to a person's feeling of acceptance and can make all the difference in mentally thriving in life, which is reflected in both a negative and positive rating in "Great Expectations" and “Pleasantville ».’.