Chapters One and Thirty Nine of Great Expectations In the novel 'Great Expectations', chapter 1 and chapter 39 are both descriptions of Pip's encounters with Magwitch the convict. The two chapters have key differences and important similarities. In the first chapter, Pip is alone on the bleak and inhospitable marshes, the wind is cold and violent and creates a threatening and frightening mood for both Pip and the reader. Pip is a poor young orphan boy and is in the wild overgrown churchyard visiting his family's grave. From the fact that most of his family are dead, we learn that in the 19th century, the life expectancy was very low and infant mortality was very high. Pip feels alone and scared and is 'beginning to cry'. …show more content…
He is now a young gentleman of means, sharing rooms with a friend in London, whereas in Chapter 1 he was a poor, young boy living with his sister and her husband on the country marshes. In Chapter 1 when Pip first encounters the convict, he springs upon Pip without warning and begins to interrogate him. The convict is presented as 'a man with no hat', which in Victorian times meant a man who wasn't a gentleman. The convict also has a large list of sufferings, 'Soaked Smothered Lamed Cut' which Dickens uses to make us almost feel sorry for the convict, as we see he is in a lot of pain, even though in this chapter he comes across as evil and heartless. Pip feels very threatened and describes the man as 'fearful'. The convict has control over Pip and the situation right throughout, issuing commands and instructions rather than questions and queries; 'Tell us your name!' and 'Show us where you live!'. Pip is still polite to this fellow even though he is threatening and bullying Pip. Because Pip is so frightened of the convict he fully cooperates with him and agrees to everything the man asks of him. In chapter 39, when the convict returns , he is presented in a …show more content…
The change in the two characters circumstances is one of the main important differences between the two chapters. In terms of dialogue in chapter 39, Pip takes control of the conversation for the beginning of the confrontation, with Magwitch talking towards the end. The speech is also much longer in this chapter whereas in the first chapter the dialogue consists of small sharp commands and answers. When Pip finds out who the man is in Chapter 39 he is not at all pleased to see him and acts like a snob, trying to push the man away as he does not know that Magwitch has been his benefactor for most of his life and is the man who is responsible for the comfortable situation he is in now. He tries to keep him at distance, saying 'Stay!' 'Keep off!' This behaviour by Pip just shows how ungrateful and snobbish he has become. From the fact that Magwitch has given a lot of his hard earned money to Pip, purely because Pip was honest and true to his words back in chapter 1, shows that Magwitch himself is very honourable and has mended his once criminal ways. Dickens obviously wants his readers to now fully respect Magwitch for what he has done for
notices that he is "a man with no hat", the sign of a lower class
warns him that if he does not get any food for him, he will be in
eyes of a child so it will be memorable to him as he will never forget
The settings of Great Expectations are Pip’s homes, one home that he lives in during his childhood in Kent, England, and the other that he lives in when he is grown in London, England. Social status was a big deal in the mid-nineteenth century. The rich were highly respected and liked by all, and the poor were treated unkindly and were sometimes made fun of. The rich could have any job that they liked, but the poor would almost always take over the job that their father had. The narrator of Great Expectations is Pip. If the novel were narrated from any other point of view, it would not have the same effect as it does now.
Originating in the Victorian Era, Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations continues to be a huge success. So much of a success, in fact, that it is being re-released as it originally was (in installments), but now in a digital format for reading on electronic devices.
In addition, he pled guilty to his acts of crime. Therefore, his sentence is more than fair. He will not face execution or torture. He will serve a justified prison sentence for hospitalizing a young boy and supplying underage persons with drugs and alcohol.
bread and scoffs it as if he hasn't had anything to eat for some time.
Chapter 39 is a Pivotal One, Why? How does Dickens communicate the importance of the drama of the chapter to the reader? In chapter 39, Pip's benefactor is revealed. It is around this person. that the mystery of Pip's expectations is built.
throat , keeping in mind that Pip is only around the age of ten and
When one thinks of a strong, influential person, they most likely will first think of a world leader or president. These are examples of influential leaders, but in Charles Dickens' Great Expectations, the most influential characters on Pip are people who would appear to be minor female characters in the novel. One would assume since the time of Great Expectations was set the first half of the 19th Century, which was the time of the Victorian Era, that the men of the novel would have a greater influence on the women of the novel. However, Pip is impacted greatly by women throughout his life, even more so than men. Pip's greatest female influence in life was Estella, but the purpose of this paper is to discuss the influence of more minor characters on Pip, such as: Mrs. Joe, Miss Havisham, and Biddy. Their influences on him change as he grows and matures.
We see Pips sister, who is a bossy person and her husband, Joe, who is
The book that I read is called Great Expectation By Charles Dickens. It is based mainly in London but also has scenes in Pip's home town. Which is a small village in the country? Where he and his sister Mrs. Joe and her husband Joe Gargary live and Pips was raised. The setting of where Pips is is not as important as what is there with him. There are many contrasts to good and evil or more justice and innocence.
I have chosen to look at how the relationship of Pip and Magwitch develops during the novel. I have chosen 3 key scenes in which Magwitch and pip meet and I will look at how each is portrayed in terms of character, development, setting and the messages or morals that dickens is trying to convey.
find out he was a orphan when he was young as he said, "I never saw my
Charles Dickens utilizes his life for inspiration for the protagonist Pip in his novel Great Expectations. They both struggle with their social standing. Dickens loved plays and theatre and therefore incorporated them into Pip’s life. Dickens died happy in the middle class and Pip died happy in the middle class. The connection Dickens makes with his life to Pip’s life is undeniable. If readers understand Dickens and his upbringing then readers can understand how and why he created Pip’s upbringing. Charles Dickens’ life, full of highs and lows, mirrors that of Pip’s life. Their lives began the same and ended the same. To understand the difficulty of Dickens’ childhood is to understand why his writing focuses on the English social structure. Dickens’ life revolved around social standing. He was born in the lower class but wasn’t miserable. After his father fell into tremendous debt he was forced into work at a young age. He had to work his way to a higher social standing. Because of Dicken’s constant fighting of class the English social structure is buried beneath the surface in nearly all of his writings. In Great Expectations Pip’s life mirrors Dickens’ in the start of low class and the rise to a comfortable life. Fortunately for Dickens, he does not fall again as Pip does. However, Pip and Dickens both end up in a stable social standing.