Settings in Great Expectations

Show how Dickens uses settings in Great Expectations to enhance our

understanding of character and the symbolic elements of the plot -

Great expectations

Show how Dickens uses settings in Great Expectations to enhance our

understanding of character and the symbolic elements of the plot.

As we notice in the novel 'Great Expectations', Charles Dickens uses

many different narrative techniques other than the usual description.

One of these techniques is that of describing character through a specific

setting. There are a few of these very detailed descriptions in chapter

eight (Satis House), chapter twenty (Mr. Jaggers' office), chapter twenty-one

(Barnard's Inn), chapter twenty-five (Wemmick's castle) and chapter twenty-six

(Mr. Jaggers' house).

When Pip first arrives at Satis House (chapter 8 pages 52-53) we have a

great description of the setting, and by looking at the adjectives we get

more of an idea of the atmosphere it conform to: "old", "dismal", "empty",

"disused", "walled up, "enclosed" and "rustily barred". There is an

overall sense of dilapidation, and the last three adjectives in particular

remind us of the image of a prison, which appears throughout the whole book.

Moreover, to confirm the presence of this imagery, the "great front entrance

had two chains across it outside" (chapter 8 page 54). From the description

of Satis House we understand more about the character of its inhabitant, Miss

Havisham, who has made the house grow old with her, without looking after

it as she doesn't look after herself, and has actually blocked out the outside

world and made Satis house her own 'prison'.

Mr. Jaggers' office is another very much illustrated location (chapter 20 page

160):

...

... middle of paper ...

...ttle used" and "three

dark brown rooms on the first floor"(chapter 26 page 207). The "carved garlands

on the panelled walls" (chapter 26 page 207) remind Pip of nooses, returning to

the element of death. We also notice that Mr. Jaggers' bookcase contains only

books about "evidence, criminal law, criminal biography, trials and acts of

parliament", and that there is also a "little table of papers with a shaded

lamp" (chapter 26 page 208): unlike Wemmick, he has no private life, but brings

his work home too. He has no family, no friends: the only important thing

in his life is his job.

From this analysis we can see that in 'Great Expectations' Dickens uses very

successfully many other different narrative techniques other than basic

description, and that the portrayal of settings can give us a great deal of

information on character and other aspects.