Analyse the opening chapter of the novel 'Great Expectations' by Charles Dickons

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Introduction

The first chapter of Great Expectations is about a young boy called Pip and a terrifying event in his life, which is being looked back on by the voice of an older more mature Phillip Pirrip in the first person which gives limitations as we can only see his viewpoint and knowledge. Dickens uses Dual Narration; at first the older Phillip Pirrip introduces himself, and then the younger, innocent Pip experiences the events as the main character. The novel was written in the Victorian age and really does show how difficult life was during that age for the poorer people. Dickens uses his own experiences working in a blacking factory which help him describe in detail the problems of Victorian life. The opening chapter is very exciting and achieves the main target; to get the reader interested and want to read on, Dickens does this using a Narrative hook.

Setting

The setting is in a graveyard which is surrounded by the marshes, the river and the sea. The weather is grim and the graveyard is 'bleak' and un-kept; 'a bleak place overgrown with nettles was the churchyard'. Pip does not fit this dull setting as he is innocent and vulnerable, Magwitch, however, matches the doleful setting perfectly as he is impious and evil. The extensive description of the grave yard and the area it is within builds up towards the end of the third paragraph gives the reader a sense of tension. Pip is quite happy and comfortable in the graveyard at the beginning perhaps because of his immaturity and that reality of the world, where people live, and die, hasn't hit him yet and he doesn't yet understand danger and that a graveyard represents death. However, as the tale progresses and realisation and fear, developed with age strikes young Pip he starts to feel uncomfortable and scared as he realises that the graves surrounding him are inhabited by dead people. He realises that the scenery and the weather surrounding him is scary. And he realises that he is alone, an orphan, and has nobody nearby to help him. To make Pip contrast with the setting is a fantastic way to establish a sense of sympathy for him.
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Pip

Pip is introduced by the adult narrator in the novel in a humorous way to show his innocence, laughing at his own naivety; 'My father's family name being Pirrip, and my Christian name Phillip, my infant tongue could make of both names nothing longer or more explicit than Pip.' This name is symbolic as it represents a seed that will grow. Pip is of the working class and was raised in a Victorian religious period by Mrs Joe Gargery; his elder sister, and her husband Mr Joe Gargery; the blacksmith, Pip is an orphan. Pip calls ...

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