We can see in chapter 1 that Pip has no power during his meeting with Magwitch, as we see when Pip addresses Magwitch as ‘Sir’ as he talks down to him. The language that Pip uses, ‘Pray don’t do it, Sir’ suggests that Pip has a lack of power as he pleads in terror of Magwitch. The use of physical contact by Magwitch to assert his dominance also shows that Pip is weak, with a lack of power as he does not even attempt to run away or escape Magwitch’s grasp. Yet still Pip replies in a positive tone, ‘yes, Sir’, ‘There, Sir’, which shows that Pip has lass power than Magwitch, because of the terror filled way he acts during his meeting with him.
Magwitch is presented as a fearful character through his tone of voice, ‘a terrible voice’ which add to the overall fear that impacts Pip upon his arrival and lets him take control of the conversation. It is also through Dickens compares Magwitch to animalistic description, when he suddenly turn Pip upside down and empties his pockets, finding nothing but a loaf of bread, but still eats is ‘ravenously’. This sudden change in physical contact suggests these animal like traits in Magwitch. The language that Magwitch uses towards Pip also presents him as a fearful character, ‘Keep still, you little devil, or I’ll cut your throat!’ this use of exclamatives combined with threats creates quite a menacing atmosphere and makes Magwitch seem unpredictable.
However, there are also aspects of Magwitch that makes the audience pity him, in the description when Pip first sees him it states that he is, ‘A man without a hat’ , which at that time would say that you were poor, and that he had, ‘broken shoes’ as well as being, ‘A man who had been soaked in water and smothered in mud’ , ‘who limped and shivered’ which presents Magwitch as a very desperate, needy man, which is exactly why Dickens wants us to pity him.
The weather in chapter 1 creates a bleak and lonely atmosphere. Dickens uses pathetic fallacy to match the setting to Pip’s life, and presents Pip as being surrounded by death. When he says, ‘raw afternoon, towards the evening.’ This suggests the sky is dark and grey and not going to get any brighter as it continues into the evening. The landscape described, ‘marsh country’ also presents Pip’s surroundings as dull and unpleasant, which adds to the overall atmosphere. The colours that are used suggest a sunset, but Dickens uses this to suggest two things: ‘horizontal line, not nearly so broad nor yet so black’ , this adds to the use of pathetic fallacy and to also show how bleak Pip’s life seems to be. The sunset in chapter 1 describes, ‘a row of long angry red lines and dense black lines intermixed.’ this is cleverly done by Dickens as it foreshows the anger and fury of Mrs. Joe waiting for Pip upon his arrival at his house.
I chapter 39 the quotes used by Dickens to described the weather, ‘so furious had been the gusts’ and ‘violent blasts of rain’ remind us of the weather in the marshes in chapter 1. Dickens cleverly uses the phrase, ‘like discharges of a cannon’ to describe the wind, which is a reminder of chapter 1 when Magwitch appears and how we learn that a cannon was fired if a convict escapes, this also foreshows the return of him further on in chapter 39 when he visits Pip. Dickens also uses these descriptive phrases for both chapters to again foreshadow the arrival of Magwitch.
The change in setting to London is contrast to chapter 1as London is associated with money, wealth , power and at the time eccentric manners and behaviour. However chapter 1 describes quite a baron, bleak marshland and an old rickety houses, which shows how Pip’s surroundings, along with his lifestyle, has changed dramatically.
In Pip’s chamber, there are many clues that show us how Pip has become a gentleman: the many books he possesses shows that he is educated and with some of them in foreign languages shows that he is educated well; his possessions such as his watch, reading lamp and clothes all show the wealth that Pip has acquired.
Something that also shows how Pip has become a gentleman is the formal, posh Speech, ‘Pray what is your business?’ ,this is contrast to chapter 1, when Pip cannot barely pronounce his own name. Where as now he talks down to everyone and appears to be very elegant and well spoken. Pip’s attitude has also changed as he talks to Magwitch , ‘If you are grateful to me for what I did when I was a little child’ , ‘If you have come here to thank me, it was not necessary.’ his language used towards Magwitch clearly states that he does not want to see him again. He appears to be quite snobbish too and lectures Magwitch about how he hopes he has, ‘mended your ways’ ,implying that he sees Magwitch as nothing other than a common criminal.
During Magwitch’s visit to Pip, we see the many ways in which he has changed. Firstly, he appears to be healthier and more presentable, ‘he was substantially dressed’ ,which contrasts to chapter 1 when he was, ‘A man with no hat, and with broken shoes’ ,which presents him as a beaten, poor man, running from the Hulks, however now he is wealthy, nicely dressed and overall healthier and happier when he visit’s Pip. He has also bettered himself by leading a more honest life, which is shown by his clothes and hat ‘this being a sign of wealth at the time- as well as his health, which is very different form chapter 1 where he is an escaped convict , running from the law. Magwitch came across his wealth after being re-captured and transported -which would usually be to Australia, and was common at the time- where he explains to Pip, ‘I’ve been a sheep farmer, stock-breeder, other trades besides’ ,telling Pip how he has done well for himself and better than others, which is contrast to his way of life in chapter 1.
Also, unlike in chapter 1, he is much more affectionate towards Pip, ‘I reluctantly gave him my hands. He grasped them heartily, raised them to his lips, kissed them.’ this contrasts to chapter 1, where Magwitch is quite a brutal towards Pip, ‘turned me upside down, and emptied my pockets’ , as Pip is thrown onto a tombstone and sits there in fear of Magwitch. Here Magwitch appears to be kinder and gentler towards Pip.
However, Magwitch is still the same character in some ways, his facial appearance, ‘long iron-grey hair’ the idea if the iron reminds us of the iron ball attached to his leg in chapter 1. As well, he also still strikes fear into Pip, eventhough he has no intension to harm Pip as we know. He strikes fear into Pip when Pip says, ‘my blood ran cold’ this give us the impression that Pip is Still wary of Magwitch and doesn’t seem to feel any other emotion for him except for fear.
In chapter 39, Pip shows how he has power over Magwitch as he is upper class and feels superior to him, he also uses imperatives, ‘“stay!” Said I, “keep off!”’ this shows Magwitch is lower than Pip as he talks down to him, which contrasts to chapter 1 where Pip talks politely to Magwitch.
However, Magwitch has the upper hand and manages to turn it around so he once again has the power over Pip, using the information about him being the benefactor to his advantage, ‘well, you see it wos me, and single-handed.’ This new benefactor startles Pip, as he always thought that Miss Havashim was providing the money so that he could impress Estella. Magwitch has power over Pip through the way he refers to him as his, ‘owner’ and that he, ‘created him’ this language used shows that Magwitch –through paying for Pip not to work- is responsible for his good life and the way Pip has turned out a gentleman, Magwitch also refers to Pip as his, ‘second father’ implying he cares about Pip and his welfare, but that he is in control as he made Pip into who he is today.
In conclusion, ‘Great Expectations’ has a cleverly thought out story line and personalities that keep you guessing as the power flows though the characters. I particularly like how the moral has such a big part of the story line, with it being: don’t lose yourself in money, there is an almost constant reminder throughout the book.