Not only does the scene make the atmosphere seem very tense, this is also done by the way Dickens describes the weather. The atmosphere is like something you would see in a horror film. The weather seems terrible. This is conveyed in the text when it says, “the wind was rushing”. The use of the word “wind” makes the weather seem very bad and the word “rushing” makes the wind sound as though it is rushing past and is moving extremely fast. The use of personification is very effective and it helps the reader build up a picture of a frightening atmosphere in their minds.
If I was in Pip’s situation or in this scary churchyard I would feel very scared. Pip’s feelings also help to build up a tense atmosphere. Before Magwitch arrives Pip is telling us about his family and that his parents and his brother is dead, because Pip is talking about something upsetting the reader feels that something is going to happen . This builds up tension and also interests the reader and makes them want to read on. Pip would be feeling neglected, upset and lonely. I know that Pip is scared because Dickens writes that the “small bundle of shivers growing afraid of it all and beginning to cry”. The “small bundle” is Pip; it is saying that Pip is shivering which implies that he is scared.
When Magwitch first speaks Pip is terrified. The things that Magwitch says make the audience feel sympathy towards Pip. In the text it says Pip was “beginning to cry”. This quote shows that Pip is very upset even before the arrival of Magwitch. When Magwitch talks the first thing that he says is threatening towards Pip. He says, “Hold your noise! ... Keep still you little devil or I’ll cut your throat!” Magwitch seems very scary even though we have not yet heard much about him. Pip’s life is being threatened and he has not even done anything wrong. He has not yet even spoken and is being told to “hold” his “noise.” Pip’s reaction top this is that he is terrified. This is highlighted when in the text it says, “I pleaded in terror.” The word pleaded means that he is begging for his life and the word terror implies that what he feels is not just fear but a lot more than that. He refers to Magwitch as “sir” this shows that he is so scared he is being respectful to a stranger.
Magwitch’s appearance would be threatening towards Pip. From what we hear about him, he seems petrifying. We know that Magwitch has escaped from prison because in the text it says “a great iron on his leg.” This shows that Magwitch is a convict. This would make Pip even more scared. Magwitch is dressed “all in coarse grey.” A stereotypical uniform for prisoners is grey and therefore again we are shown that Magwitch is an escaped criminal. Another way that we know that Magwitch has escaped from prison is because we are aware that he has been through an ordeal. We know this because it is conveyed in the text when Dickens writes, “cut by flints, stung by nettles and torn by briars.” This shows us that Magwitch has been through suffering. The leg irons that Magwitch is wearing give us the impression that he has escaped from the Hulks. The Hulks were old sailing ships used as prisons for people waiting to be transported. Conditions in them were appalling. During outbreaks of disease, numbers of prisoners died because of the terrible conditions on board.
Since Chapter, One Pip has changed dramatically. Now Pip is living in London with a man called Herbert Pocket. He found out that he had a benefactor and therefore has now turned into a gentleman who is rich, mannerable and respectable. By Chapter thirty-nine Pip does not want to be reminded of his past and about how poor he was. He thinks that his benefactor is Miss Havisham. He also thinks that he is much respected and does not want anything to do with poor, lower class people. This is conveyed in the text when Dickens writes “I shuddered at the thought that for anything I knew, his hand might be stained with blood”, this quote shows that in chapter 1 Pip was willing to help Magwitch but now that Pip is wealthy when Magwitch touches him he is horrified and ashamed. This shows how much Pip has changed since he has become rich.
The point in the novel when Magwitch is telling Pip that he is his benefactor there is a lot of tension. Dickens created this tension by making Magwitch ask many questions until eventually Pip realises what Magwitch is trying to convey. This is reflected when Magwitch asks the first question “might a mere warmint ask what property?” After hearing, this Pip has not yet suspected what the convict is trying to say but may be worried about why Magwitch is asking personal questions. Pip tells Magwitch that he does not know and then Magwitch repeats the question. “Might a mere warmint ask whose property?” Pip then gives the same reply. When he answers, he is faltering which means that he might be lying or could be beginning to get scared. It could also mean that Pip is stuck for words because he does not want Magwitch to know that the house does not belong to him. Magwitch then begins to ask questions that give Pip and the reader more hints that he is Pip’s benefactor. He asks, “Could I make a guess … at your income since you came of age!” Pip would by now be wondering why Magwitch is asking strange questions but he may think that Magwitch is being nosey. At this point, the atmosphere is very tense. The reader will be eager to know what will happen next. Magwitch does not pause to hear Pip’s answer to this question but instead makes what seems to be a guess at what Pip’s income is. “As to the first figure now. Five?” From reading about Pip’s reaction, the audience know that the guess is correct. Pip’s reaction to this is that “his heart beating like a heavy hammer of disordered action.” Dickens makes use of a simile here that is showing that Pip is nervous. His heart is not beating in order and that he has an irregular heart beat. This shows that he is very frightened.
By now, we are beginning to find out what Magwitch is trying to say but he continues to ask questions alternately. “There ought to have been some guardian… Would it be J?” After this question, it is clear to everyone that Magwitch is Pip’s benefactor but Dickens continues the tension with even more questions Magwitch asks, “However did I find you out?” He then answers the question he is asking and continues to ask another one. “That person’s name? Why, Wemmick.” This is the final question. The scene is very tense and Dickens builds up the tension very well.
Since Chapter One there have been many changes in Magwitch’s character as well as Pip’s Magwitch seems like a more developed character because he tells us about his life and background. We are told that Magwitch worked in a sheep farm in Australia in order to make Pip a gentleman. Magwitch tells Pip “when I was a hired-out shepherd in a solitary hut, not seeing faces but faces of sheep!” This shows that Magwitch is telling Pip about his past and background. This is like something a father may say to his son when they have not met in a long time. This shows that Magwitch thinks that Pip and he have a father-son relationship. I do not think Pip would approve of this because he would not want to have anything to do with anyone who is not as wealthy as he is. Magwitch talking to Pip about his background is a big change because before we did not hear much about who he was. The only thing we knew about him was that he was a convict and we were not told this we worked it out by Magwitch’s appearance. We also now see a caring side to Magwitch. This is shown in the text when Magwitch calls Pip his “Dear boy.” This shows that Magwitch cares about Pip and treats him like his own son. Magwitch makes this point very clear because again he says, “Look’ee here Pip. I’m your second father. You’re my son.” Magwitch must think that this is an important thing because he repeats it. Again, this shows that Magwitch has become more caring. I do not think Pip will be very happy when Magwitch keeps telling him that he is his second father because upper class people tend not to mix with lower class people and therefore it would be seen as wrong for Pip to mix with Magwitch.
Although Magwitch has become caring, I do not think Pip appreciates what Magwitch has done for him. Pip feels many emotions when he finds out that Magwitch is his benefactor, the person who has given him “great expectations” and has made him a gentleman. However, none of these feelings Pip feels are positive towards Magwitch. Pip feels very disappointed that Magwitch is his benefactor because he thinks that it will ruin his reputation. He says “disappointments, dangers, disgraces.” This quote makes the use of alliteration to emphasise the shame that Pip is feeling. The fact that Pip is disappointed is because although he has the qualities of a Victorian upper class gentleman (he is mannerable, has nice clothes, has a good education and is rich) people would think that it is wrong that his money comes from a convict and therefore people will dislike him for it. Pip thinks that having Magwitch as a benefactor will have negative effect. He thinks that people will dislike him and that his reputation will be ruined. This is a reflection of the strict class system that took place in Victorian society.
Magwitch has returned from Australia. In Victorian times, prisoners were transported to Australia and were not supposed to return alive. The punishment for returning was death. Magwitch would have been hanged however, he was already ill due to an accident when the ships crashed. He was put into prison before he was hanged however, he was seriously ill and died before they killed him.
When Magwitch was lying down dying in prison, we saw that Pip now cared about Magwitch and we also saw that he appreciated what Magwitch had done for him. One example of where this is shown is when Charles Dickens writes, “I could not forget I had once meant to desert him“. This quote shows that Pip feels guilty about the way he had previously treated Magwitch. He feels even guiltier because Magwitch had thanked him for always supporting him. Pip knows that he has not always been there for Magwitch and therefore feels even guiltier.
Another way that we know that Pip does not feel embarrassed about Magwitch being his benefactor is when Magwitch touches him before he was abhorrent but now when Magwitch embraces him he does not mind and instead is helping him. This is shown in the text when it says, “my yielding to it and assisting it, raised my hand to his lips.” This shows that Magwitch is trying to take Pip’s hand and kiss it and Pip helps by moving his hand towards Magwitch. Another way we see changes in Pip’s character is before in chapter thirty-nine when Magwitch was calling him “dear” Pip felt abhorrent but now he is calling Magwitch “dear Magwitch.” This shows that Pip has affection for Magwitch.
Magwitch also returns the affection. He says “God bless you!” This shows that he cares about Pip and he knows that he is going to die and is therefore giving Pip all his blessings. To make sure that his second father dies peacefully Pip tells Magwitch that his daughter is still alive and that he loves her.
I think that Magwitch changes a lot throughout the novel. At the beginning, he is seen as a terrifying character and towards the middle of the novel, we see a more caring side to him. This loving side develops more towards the end of the story. At the beginning of “Great Expectations”, I feel sympathy towards Pip but then at the middle of the novel Pip came across as a snob and so our feelings about Pip change. However, at the end we regain our respect towards Pip when he realises the true meaning of a gentleman. At the start, Pip is nice to Magwitch because he is scared of him but towards the end, Pip respects Magwitch for helping him.
Through Magwitch, Dickens gives us the message that criminals can be reformed and deserves a second chance. Dickens also gets the message across that money can change a person but we should not forget who we really are and who our true friends and family are. Pip realises this throughout the course of the novel. He goes back to live with Joe and lives happily ever after. He realises that a gentleman is not someone with wealth, education and social status but is someone who is caring and knows the true values of life, someone like Joe or Magwitch.
