Pip acts like this because he believes that he can’t be a proper gentleman with such a shameful benefactor, when the real reason is actually his attitude towards people like Magwitch, and earlier to Joe.
Section Two: The Setting
Dickens uses many techniques in which to create a sinister and unpleasant setting. The main one though is use of the weather is like a mirror of Pip’s thoughts and feelings. This is called Pathetic Fallacy. We know that Pip is troubled and confused by his unknowing of his benefactor. This is reflected by the weather being decribed as ‘an Eternity of cloud & wind’, conveying Pip’s thoughts as cloudy and frantic.
Section Three: The Varnish
Pip may have lots of fancy, gentleman-like things, such as his ring, watch, Latin books & fine linen, but he is not a true gentleman at heart. Pip’s status can be compared to what Matthew Pocket said earlier in the play. When Mr Pocket said, ‘…no varnish can hide the grain of the wood; and that the more varnish you put on, the more the grain will express itself’. This, in terms of Pip’s life, suggests that however many luxurious things Pip has, he will not be a true gentleman until he discovers some compassion and dignity in himself towards others. He regards anyone who isn’t rich and pampered as inferior, such as when Joe came to visit him. Joe, sweet, kind, wonderful Joe, who treated Pip with such caring, like he was his own flesh and bones, is more of a gentleman than grand, rich Pip. This is because being a gentleman is what is on the inside, feelings and thoughts about other people, rather than belongings and titles. This is showed in its entirety when Pip is broke and injured and who saves him from a life of squalor? Joe. With every last penny he’s ever saved in the forge, he gives away to clear poor Pip’s debts.
Section Four: Pip’s Feelings
Dickens manages to express Pip’s feelings towards
Magwitch, mainly with a variety of long, descriptive passages. One example of this is:
‘That I cannot wish to renew that chance intercourse
with you of long ago, under these different circumstances.’
This is Pip being very pompous, and also very patronising towards Magwitch. Pip doesn’t believe that Magwitch is worthy of his time so he tries to be as rude and insolent as possible to his guest.
Also, Pip’s reaction to finding out the truth of his benefactor’s identity is extreme. Instead jumping for joy and embracing Magwitch as his ‘second father’, he ‘seemed to be suffocating…looking wildly…the room began to surge and turn’. This reaction shows Pip’s revolted reaction to the new revelation.
Personally, when I read this chapter I felt very sorry for Magwitch, as he only shows love and care for Pip, yet he is treated so disgustingly.
Section Five: Magwitch’s Feelings
Magwitch doesn’t seem to care, or even notice, how rude Pip is being to him, because he seems to happy to see the man he feels he has made. When he sees all Pip’s belongings (Latin books etc.), he feels that Pip is the perfect gentleman because he is under the same impression as Pip. I mean that of the portrayal of a “gentleman”. They both seem to misinterpret what being a gentleman is all about. They believe that it is what someone owns and education that makes someone a “gentleman”.
When reading this passage, as well as feeling sympathy for Magwitch, the reader may also think that he should stick up for himself against Pip, a nobody from a forge in Marsh Country, who he took to becoming a rich somebody in London town.
By Dan Kilduff C3SB
