Great Expectations Similarities Between Chapter 1 And Chapter 39

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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

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