Murdstones in Charles Dickens' Great Expectations

Murdstones in Charles Dickens' Great Expectations

I think the Murdstones are the two main villains in the story.

Mr.Murdstone, step dad of David, he is evil, cruel and treats David

harshly. He hates David and wants him out of the way. Mrs Murdstone,

sister of Mr.Murstone also vicious and self-centred. Both of them

together ruin the early childhood of David and have control of the

Copperfield family. The sheer evilness of the Murdstones resulted in

the death of David's mother-Clara, although at one point he did love

Clara, but her pretty house and her income probably added to her

attractions in his eye. I think worst of all the Murdstones tormented

David both physically and psychologically.

Dickens is very clever in describing the appearance of the Murdstones,

it very much relates to their ruthlessness. He describes the eyes of

Mr.Murdstones as "…. with his ill-omened black eyes…." Already we are

given a warning of impending disaster from the looks of his eyes.

". Shallow black eye…an eye that has no depth in it to be looked into"

This just shows the wretched character he is. As much as I hate the

character, I noticed that Dickens have put a touch of gentleness to

the character of Mr.Murdstone. This is stated when David notices his

'handsomer' side.

"…In spite of my misgivings, a very handsome man." I think this

description is very cleverly done. It makes the character more real

and life like so we can relate to. It emphasizes "never judge the book

by its cover".

Miss.Murdstone, sister of Mr.Murstone, doesn't perform well either,

description wise.

". Gloomy-looking lady she was: dark, like her brother…" This shows

the similarities of the characters, not only connected by blood, but

also by appearance and by heart.

Jane Murdstone is stronger, colder, and more heartless than her

brother. Dickens makes her seem inhuman by comparing her to metallic

objects, especially locks, chains, and prisons. In a society where a

spinster is a dependent creature, she uses her power over her brother

to secure a home for herself.

"…Hard lack boxes…" "Hard brass nail."

". Hard steel purse…" ". Jail of a bag…."

". Heavy chain." ". Metallic lady."

All the above quotes describe the 'characters' of the things she carry

and how they resemble her. The word "hard" have come up several times

and so has anything that has got to do with it. This just shows how

much wickedness she posses only in her belongings.

I think the main feature in which Dickens expresses that really brings

out the villainous of the characters are the things they do. Ever

since entering the Copperfield household they have been controlling