Mr. Startop

Mr. Startop is a fellow student and friend, a young gentleman of delicate, almost feminine beauty whose gentle nature reflects his upbringing under a weak, indulgent mother. Though his mother's overprotection deprived him of a proper school education, Startop has emerged as a kind-hearted and genuinely affectionate young man. He remains devoted to his mother and admires her beyond measure, and his capacity for genuine feeling and his lack of the sullen pride that characterizes Bentley Drummle make him a far more congenial companion to Pip (Philip Pirrip). Together with Herbert Pocket, Startop represents the possibility of achieving gentility through genuine goodness of character rather than inherited wealth or calculated self-interest.