Creating Tension Through the Presentation of Magwitch and Miss Havisham in Great Expectations

How does Dickens create tension through his presentation of Magwitch

and Miss Havisham in Great Expectations?

Introduction

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Great Expectations is about a young boy, Pip, who lives in a deprived

town with his sister (Mrs Joe) and her husband (Mr Joe). Pip meets a

fugitive, Magwitch and after meeting with this runaway he fears from

his life. Pip is then summoned to go and play at Miss Havisham’s

house. He then falls in love with Estella who chooses to ignore Pip,

which makes him feel pitiful and he hates himself for this. Suddenly

his life starts to change as he receives an astonishing gift from a

covert benefactor. Pip becomes rich and decides to go and live in

London. After becoming rich, Pip decides to forget about his friend,

Mr Joe because he is poor and Pip is ashamed of Mr Joe. Pip, the

protagonist chooses to forget Mr Joe and go after the one he loves,

Estella. Estella does not love Pip and she ignores him as if he does

not exist.

Great Expectations is set in the early 1800’s (19th Century), right

after the industrial revolution, which brings hunger, poverty and poor

living and housing conditions. Dickens decides to set the story after

the industrial revolution because Pip and his family are poor; they

live in a small town in the middle of nowhere. My essay is going to be

about how Charles Dickens creates tension through his presentation of

Miss Havisham and Magwitch. My essay will also discuss the techniques

Charles Dickens uses to create such tension.

Paragraph Two – Dickens creates tension through the setting in which

Pip meets Magwitch and Miss Havisham

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When Pip meets Magwitch for the very first time, Pi...

... middle of paper ...

...n though his presentation of

Magwitch and Miss Havisham by creating the fight between Compeyson and

Magwitch, creating the fight between Compeyson and Magwitch also

creates tension created by withholding information because the

audience does not know that Compeyson is following Magwitch.

Conclusion

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In this essay I have argued about how Charles Dickens has created

tension in “Great Expectations”. Magwitch does not die a painful death

because he has Pip by his side and he is not hanged. Whereas Miss

Havisham is burnt alive with no one to say goodbye to her. Therefore

Magwitch dies a happier death and Miss Havisham suffers because

Estella and herself were trying to seek revenge on the male sex by

hurting Pip and Estella broke Pip’s heart. Dickens creates tension

through his presentation of Magwitch and Miss Havisham by creating

death scenes.