To add tension and atmosphere Dickens describes the convict as “a man… who shivered and limped… and whose teeth chattered in the head”. This shows us that the weather was so harsh even a man who has been though what he has, could not endure it. As it was written at a time were Prison conditions were very severe, and wearing shackles and hard labour were very common for convicted felons.
It gives us an image of a cold and hungry man whose desperation has been magnified by the intensity of the weather. This desperation makes the convict seem even more frightening. And because it is already darkening and cold the convict seems more malevolent.
Dickens describes the landscape and setting to add atmosphere and tension. He describes the churchyard as a “bleak place overgrown with nettles”, which gives the impression of a neglected place left to its own devices. By this dickens suggest a place of wilderness within the churchyard as well as a harsh environment outside the churchyard. Dickens constantly describes the place as bleak and dark through out the first chapter and as the story was written at a time were hunger, disease, and thick divides between the rich and the poor were very common in all places it really gives the impression that Pips settings were that of a really horrible and gloomy place. The churchyard surrounding are illustrated as “the dark flat willerness beyond” which mimics that of a horror setting. By using the word wilderness he gives the impression of a place that is dark and creepy, full of wild savage creatures. In the book, the churchyard isn’t described as much as the marshes are. I think this is good because it allows you to use your imagination and the reader will begin to draw conclusions which will add to the atmosphere as well as the tension. Although the description of the marshes is more vivid and leaves very little room to imagine, it has fundamental details that are essential to create atmosphere and tension. Dickens describes the marshes as “ dark flat wilderness beyond… Intersected with dykes and mounds … with scattered cattle feeding on it was the marshes”, such a description Builds up a sense of dread and foreboding. The reader starts expecting the worst as the description gives the impression of a horror movie. Certain word like dark and wilderness make the reader uneasy. That combined with the suspicious image of scattered cattle bring up, eyebrow-raising questions as to why they weren’t in a herd like most cattle. The reader is left with an eyrie feeling.
Dickens uses the last paragraph to create atmosphere and tension. The last paragraph describes the departure of the convict. During this time his settings are mostly described as black, this adds to the horror like surroundings and makes pips thoughts even more frightening. Pip sees the beacon as something ugly, and the gibbet is described “with some chains hanging to it once held a pirate”. At the time the book was written Gibbeting was saved for crimes our colonial ancestors considered most heinous. Reference to a connection between the Gibbet and the convict suggest the convict did something dark and unimaginable. The Gibbet held the rotting corpse of an executed criminal together for several weeks. The mention of chains, and a corrupt being such as a pirate in the book, invokes panic within the reader. Pip imaging the convict as the pirate “ going to hook himself up” making us think the convict belongs in chains, and is just as corrupt as a pirate. Dickens description of the cattle looking up towards the convict creates tension because it suggests that they might know what pip knows. It also creates tension because it adds to the strange events of that day.
When Dickens changes the viewpoint, from an older Pip remembering, to a younger Pip reliving his experience. This affects the reader’s perception. He makes sure you live every moment of the experience to make you understand exactly how Pip feels at that moment in time. By doing this Dickens has emphasised the importance of this experience. And because the experience is relived the detailed is greater and important information is retained. This sudden change grabs the reader’s attention and dialogue is introduced to stress the convict’s threat toward Pip is captured.
Pips Description of the convict contains a lot of aggressive verbs. Most of the verbs refer to what has happened to the convict, e.g. “soaked in water… cut by flints... stung… smothered and torn”. This showed us what the convict had been through, which in turn gives the reader the impression that the convict is a very desperate man. His desperation highlights his determination to escape. The convict seems intimidating which increases the element of tension in the chapter. Some of the things pip says later on in the chapter also help add to the tension, “ He came closer to my tombstone…” Although the tombstone obviously isn’t Pips he thinks he is going to die because of how the convict is acting physically and verbally. It feels personal to him and this is a fear-building phrase. Pip is portrayed as being venerable and young. Dickens wants you to see him as an innocent, to see him scared of what is going on as it is a new and shocking experience. Dickens wants us to understand and sympathise with him.
Pip describes the convict as “a fearful man” and the convicts first words as “a terrible voice”, which tells us that Pips first impression of the convict is a fearful one. The convicts orders are written as if they were directed at the reader. For a second we become pip and undergo what Pip is going though. This creates tension as the reader begins to understand what pip has felt.
Dickens uses colour as another factor to create atmosphere morbid
