Great Expectations Magwitch Alienation Quotes

Writers often highlight the values of a society by using characters who are alienated from that society because of gender, race, class, or creed. In the bildungsroman Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens, Magwitch is alienated by his class. As the novel carries on, the readers find out the true person he is when he is not harshly judged by Pip and others. Magwitch starts out as a creepy, horrifying, poor convict. However, as Pip continues his “great expectations” through his benefactor, he is told that his benefactor is, in fact, Magwitch. Pip decides to start a relationship with Magwitch and later becomes one of his best friends because he did not feel the need to classify him; he learns to see Magwitch for the true person he is. People

In the Bildungsroman, Magwitch, “frightens the little boy,” (xxviii) who is Pip. This quote shows how Pip saw Magwitch for the first time; Pips visual classification alienates Magwitch. Magwitch lurks in a shadowy figure and appears negative and scary to others. Magwitch is classified and discriminated due to his debts. He is not a criminal, he is poor, but seen as just a frightening convict. When others judge Magwitch they think nothing of him, assume he has no soul, no wife, no children, no sympathy. Pip judges this convict by his appearance without getting to know him. All of the assumptions made about Magwitch have classified him and made people discriminate against

Magwitch’s character is best explained when he says, "As I giv' you to understand just now, I'm famous for it. It was the money left me, and the gains of the first few year wot I sent home to Mr. Jaggers—all for you—when he first come arter you, agreeable to my letter," (77). Magwitch gives money, to better people, not to harm- how it appears. Also Magwitch says, "Look'ee here, Pip. I'm your second father. You're my son—more to me nor any son. I've put away money, only for you to spend, " (286) Pip wonders, how this can be? From what Pip has assumed about Magwitch, there is no way he could be his benefactor. The assumed position of Magwitch was a convict, a prisoner, a scary man in Pip’s eyes. But, he is the benefactor. Magwitch only wants to help Pip. By Giving Pip money to create a gentleman from a scrub, although Pip is confused as to why Magwitch has done this, he begins to see the meaning of Magwitch and the true fatherly figure he gives off. In addition this quote symbolizes the closer relationship between Pip and Magwitch as the classification goes away. Magwitch does have a heart, and he has goals for Pip, he is not some crazy and scary convict. He is a giving loyal