“Great Expectations” by Charles Dickens Task: “How does the novel present Pip’s relationship with Magwitch, when he meets him in the graveyard and later when Magwitch returns form abroad to see Pip?” ‘Great Expectations’ is a novel that is set in the late 1860’s, in Victorian society, during the start up of the industrial revolution, which was speedily changing society. In chapter 1 of ‘Great Expectations’, the reader meets a young boy, ‘Phillip Pirrip’, although he is known as ‘Pip’, due to the reason that he can’t pronounce his full name. The fact that this issue is introduced to the reader right at the beginning of the story, and that the story is narrated by Pip and his own ‘voice’, is attention grabbing; his youthful innocence and naivety is interesting, and immediately gets the reader close to the character. Dickens introduces Pip at a graveyard, where he sets the scene. Pip is visiting the graves of his deceased family, trying to find his identity as well as remind himself and imagine what his parents looked like. Pip is an image of vulnerability, and this is a target for ambiguity to come. Dickens does not state that Pip is an orphan; instead he allows his powerful use of words to demonstrate this. “My first fancies regarding what they were like, were reasonably derived from their tombstones. The shape of the letters on my father’s, gave me an odd idea that he was a square, stout, dark man, with curly black hair… ‘Also Georgina wife of above’, I drew a childish conclusion that my mother was freckled and sickly.” Dickens introduces Pip’s childish imagination into the sequence. Dickens implies that Victorian life and society was like this; there were masses of orphans, like Pip, due to numerous epidemics sweeping the nation, diseases like cholera and smallpox which were rife, and regarded as a ‘universal struggle’, this resulted in high mortality rates. You were generally considered lucky if you survived the high mortality rates. The involvement of this fact early on shows that death, and poverty was an everyday occurrence; it wasn’t an unusual nature, hence the matter of fact writing. The weather in this scene creates a solemn yet dramatic tone. A negative pattern exhibiting raging storms, adding to the bleak and cold winter’s day atmosphere is vividly painted. It is a gloomy Christmas Eve’s day. Pip ventures out into these eerie ‘unknowns’, which later on prove to be a symbol that his life is going to change drastically too, where peril and ambiguity await. This also reinforces Pips perception on his situation. While Pip is attempting to bring up recollections at the graveyard, he is surprised by an escaped convict who jumps out rather cynically, from a ‘savage lair’, among the looming mists and graves, scaring Pip. The opposite usage of some comedy, at the beginning, and a sharp dramatic twist is attention grabbing. A contrasting backdrop, on to which the messages of the tale can unfold, is created. The reader can tell that the ‘mysterious man’ is a convict because of the way he is described. His condition is in disarray because of the poor living conditions in the hulks. They were overcrowded, leading to diseases that ended up killing many of the prisoners, and there was malnutrition from poor food. Hard labour was primed everyday too. He has escaped from prison and the hulks (old ships moored on the coast), whilst awaiting exile (to penal colonies in Australia) for 14 years hard labour. (Returning before the end of his term he will face execution). “A fearful man, all in coarse grey, with a great iron on his leg. A man with no hat, and with broken shoes, and with an old rag tied round his head”. This gives us an insight into the harsh conditions that were faced by prisoners during these times. This plight is shown further more; by the way this convict- Abel Magwitch is portrayed ferociously and pathetically. The harsh and unjust judicial system at the time was the cause of this. Forging banknotes (like Magwitch had done) carried the same penalty as murder! Criminals were brutalised. They were not given chances to reform, instead faced beatings, as forms of punishment. At least 10 hours of daily hard labour was forced on prisoners. “Soaked in water, and smothered in mud, and lamed by stones, and cut by flints, and stung by nettles, and torn by briars…and glared and growled”. Dickens gives Magwitch with animal like qualities, and so we are provided with a greater understanding that he is at the end of his tether. He is a human that has literally been ‘weathered’, like a mere object. “A man with no hat and with broken shoes…soaked in water, smothered by mud, and lamed…limped and shivered”. Magwitch is desperate. This is shown by the way he speaks to Pip aggressively, and threatens him “keep still you little devil”, and also by the way he roughly handles Pip. “The man, after looking at me for a moment, turned me upside down and emptied my pockets”. When he tips Pip upside down a piece of bread falls out of his pockets. Magwitch scurries towards this. “He ate the bread ravenously”. The reader is reminded of his desperate, animal like status, and his plight. The tentative weather mirrors Magwitch’s character-a vast wilderness in the vein of a storm, which rushes into Pip’s life, suddenly, causing an upheaval of ambiguity like disturbance. Dickens tries to connect the characters with a descriptive background, to create a realistic character, building up a reinforced feeling to the passage, which ties in with characters personalities. Upon discovering that Pip lives with Joe- who is a black smith, Magwitch continues to act aggressively towards Pip, as he is useful to him. He makes a threatening demand. “You get me a file…You get me wittles…You bring them both to me…or I’ll have your heart and liver out”. He continues to threaten Pip, telling him that he can even be hurt in his own home if he betrays the convict. He tells Pip that he is not alone, and if he gets caught then the man along side Magwitch will attack him. “A boy may lock his door, may be warm in bed… but that young man will softly creep and creep his way to him and tear him open...in comparison with which I am a angel”. Pip is petrified. The prospect of this occurring (made worse by his youthful innocence), has given way to the sensation of helplessness that clearly covers him. “His eyes looked most powerfully into mine, and mine looked most powerfully up into his”. This highlights a key detail of status/position that will be seen in depth throughout the story; it’s a running thread
for which it is a major theme. This is the ‘first landmark’ of Magwitch and Pip’s relationship. It is one of intimidation, and fear. Dickens uses of short, descriptive sentences help to achieve these visions. Magwitch is a colourful, cunning and manipulative character, yet he loosens up his anger slightly towards Pip, when he learns that he is an orphan. It may show that Magwitch is an orphan too, and so shows slight sympathy towards him. Dickens may also be implying that Magwitch was provoked to turn to crime, as a result of becoming an orphan- fending for his self. ...
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for which it is a major theme. This is the ‘first landmark’ of Magwitch and Pip’s relationship. It is one of intimidation, and fear. Dickens uses of short, descriptive sentences help to achieve these visions. Magwitch is a colourful, cunning and manipulative character, yet he loosens up his anger slightly towards Pip, when he learns that he is an orphan. It may show that Magwitch is an orphan too, and so shows slight sympathy towards him. Dickens may also be implying that Magwitch was provoked to turn to crime, as a result of becoming an orphan- fending for his self. This signifies a (very) subtle change in a relationship that was full of fear and intimidation, to one with a form of dependence, and some sympathy attached alongside it too. Pip agrees to follow the commands of Magwitch-a criminal, and therefore despite not really knowing, performing a noble act. In chapter 2, Dickens delves deeper into investigating the life of a typical orphan; in the era. We learn more about the harsh realities of life for an orphan. If you weren’t killed by the numerous epidemics around, then you were considered ‘lucky’. Ironically, the situation is written about quite comically to lessen the impact of the powerful opening chapter. Pip lives with his abrupt, and shrewish sister, Mrs Joe Gargery-who now ‘looks after him’, and her husband, Joe Gargery, who is a blacksmith. Pip is regularly the victim of angry beatings delivered by his sister, who has established a reputation by bringing Pip up ‘by hand’. “… Knowing her to have a heavy hand and to be much in the habit of laying it upon her husband as well as upon me, I suppose that Joe Gargery and I were brought up by hand”. The channelling of problems faced in childhood evokes feelings of sympathy from the reader towards Pip- Dickens successfully does this to make the reader see that society was unjust, he explores this further through out the story. Mrs Joe isn’t afraid to let Pip know that she thinks of his as a burden, and so uses him as a ‘cannonball’, she regrets looking after him. “If it wasn’t for me you’d have been to the churchyard long ago, and stayed there. Who brought you up by hand? And why I did it, I should like to know...I’d never do it again! I know that”. Mrs Joe believes that Pip should be grateful to her for what she has done for him. She is also quick to say that she is ashamed of her situation. “It is bad enough to be a blacksmith’s wife (and him a Gargery), without being your mother”. This shows that Mrs Joe feels burdened by her position-‘looking after’ Pip, she is continuously working. Pip and Joe are in understanding of each others situations and so try to make the best of their situation. Joe tries to protect Pip, rather than lashing out on him too. When Pip hides some bread for Magwitch, Joe thinks that he has been bolting (swallowing without chewing). Mrs Joe makes both Pip and Joe drink repulsive tar-water (disinfectant mixture-wood & tar); the cruel conditions of childhood are again depicted. In Dickens' view of childhood, he felt that children have certain needs: guidance in a nurturing home, to be free from emotional and physical abuse, to have a good education, and to be allowed to be ‘happy’. Lack of parental love and support; in these circumstances have inclined Pip to long for a better future for himself, thinking it be possible if he can become a gentleman, he tries to pursue this ambition. Firing from the Hulks announces the escape of another convict. At dawn he steals food and a file, and hurries to meet the convict, despite his conscious questioning him-he feels that this is a criminal act, although he still carries it out. Chapter 3 opens to a ‘rimy’ (frosty), miserable morning, where key events are about to occur. Pip’s guilty conscience is exposed, he thinks that his surroundings are talking to him, ‘everything seemed to run at me’ and accusing him of crime. “The gates and the dykes and banks came bursting at me…’A boy with somebody-else’s ‘pork pie’! Stop him...The Cattle came upon me with like sadness…’Holloa young thief!” Dickens shows through the narrative, that he knew how children thought, and so the reader is able to enter Pip's mind and see the world through the eyes of a child. Pip sees another convict in the dangerous fog and escapes from him, assuming that he is the murderous young man Magwitch mentioned was with him. The first convict-Magwitch is waiting for Pip. He devours the food with animal relish, and works to remove the leg iron with the file. He shows a different side of emotions when Pip comes back to meet him, and gives him food, “something clicked in his throat as if he had works like a clock, and was going to strike”. The usage of a metaphor tries to convey the fact that his burst of ‘softer emotions’ is surprising, as he has presented his intense, and angry side, the narrative suggests that his presence is not human like, more like a machine. Alliteration helps to pinpoint this “And he smeared his ragged rough sleeve over his eyes”. Pip’s fear of him is mixed with pity, “pitying his desolation, and watching him as he gradually settled down”. The convict had obviously invented the young man to frighten Pip. Their relationship has shifted at this point-it’s a ‘landmark’. Magwitch doesn’t act violently towards Pip (although he when he hears about another convict he gets angry-suggesting a mysterious connection between them), although the element of violence is still mentioned. “He shivered all the while so violently” and “ He was already handling mincemeat down his throat…more like a man putting it away somewhere in a violent hurry, than a man eating it”. This shows us that Magwitch has indecisive violent qualities. Magwitch’s almost ‘unsettled’ state is highlighted again. His manners are compared to that of dogs. The politeness of Pip’s sympathetic conversation with the convict is an attempt to normalise an abnormal situation, but also, as recognition of the convict as a fellow human being. He is becoming somewhat comfortable with the situation now. Pip: “I was glad you enjoyed it” (the food Pip bought for Magwitch). Magwitch even thanks Pip, thus creating a noticeable change in their relationship-it is significant. Pip’s initial referral to Magwitch as ‘my convict’ shows that an emotional bond/relationship between them is felt and has formed incomparison to previous fear. Pip leaves Magwitch to work on his leg-iron with the file, whilst he runs back home (for Christmas). In Chapter 4, at the forge an abundant dinner is held. Pip has got a guilty conscious, and is feeling terrified that his theft will be discovered. The tar-water that Pip substituted for the stolen brandy is drunk, and the pork pie can’t be found. When Pip finally runs for the door but is met by a soldier bearing a pair of handcuffs. We are faced with the worrying question ‘will Pip be arrested for his act?’ This end on a note of suspense reminds us that Dickens was writing to please a wide audience. In chapters 5-6, we learn that Joe is asked to repair the broken handcuffs. Everyone is forced to follow the soldiers on the search for the convicts, although Pip is reluctant-and worried about what Magwitch will think. “Would he believe that I was both imp and hound in treacherous earnest, and had betrayed him?” Pip is clearly feeling anxious and guilty about the situation, he is unsure about what may happen to both himself and Magwitch. The convicts are eventually found. Our curiosity about the convicts is aroused when one of them is called a ‘gentleman’-a topic that is at the core of the story is questioned. We see Joe’s humanity when he recognises Magwitch as a ‘poor miserable fellow-creatur’. Joe says “We don’t know what you’ve done, but we can’t have you starve to death for it…Could we Pip?” to Magwitch. The reader learns that Pip gains his good morals and humanity from Joe, and his teachings. Dickens tries to bring into view of the audience that many convicts like Magwitch) weren’t necessarily bad people, you should consider that they may have been driven to commit crimes. Before being rearrested and taken back to the Hulks, Magwitch admits that he has stolen food from the forge, but doesn’t reveal that Pip helped him; this public spew of protection shows gratitude and reassurance between the pair. Their relationship is still developing, and there has been a rapid shift since their first encounter the previous day, where a whirlwind of violence, and tension was displayed. Since the morning their relationship and attitude has turned into something more meaningful-loyalty has been conjured up; Proving that Magwitch must have been really touched when he was shown kindness from Pip. Criminals like Magwitch were pushed to the bottom of society. It was rare to see any affection shown towards them, as they were treated so badly. Magwitch shows emotion when kindness is shown to him from Pip and Joe. “The something I had noticed before, clicked in the man’s throat again, and he turned his back”. Magwitch’s turn around implies that he doesn’t really want to show his ‘softer’ emotions, this may be because criminals were believed to be ‘hard’ and their emotions weren’t taken into consideration, as if they lacked them. Pip decides not to confide in Joe about his own part in the theft either; this signifies the start of a break between them. Chapter 18/19 is a link between the first stage of Pips ‘Great Expectations’ and the third stage. Pip is in the 4th year of Pip’s apprenticeship to Joe. A stranger unexpectedly approaches with bullying legal manners. The stranger is Jaggers, a London Lawyer, who announces that Pip has inherited ‘great expectations’ and therefore great fortune from a mysterious benefactor. He will now have to leave the forge and be educated as a gentleman. Pip is warned that the terms of the contract. He must not seek to know the name of the benefactor, and must also keep his nickname of ‘Pip’. This reminds us that there will be continuity between the apprentice and the gentleman. Due to circumstantial evidence Pip assumes, and is convinced that Miss Havisham is his benefactor. (Miss Havisham is a wealthy spinster, turned fanatical and cruel, after being jilted on her wedding day. He spent many childhood days at her house-Satis house to play with Pip’s ‘love’, Estella, her adopted daughter-regardless of being made bitter hearted by Havisham). He remembers seeing Jaggers at Satis house and notes that his tutor to be Matthew Pocket. It is best if she is his benefactor as they are ‘related’. This is the only way he can be a ‘real’ gentleman. However, Jaggers warns us that we have no authority for this opinion. Joe refuses to accept compensation for the loss of his apprentice, Pip. He exclaims “Pip is that hearty welcome…to go free with his services, to honour, and fortun’ as no words can tell him. But if you think money can compensate to me for the loss of the little child-what come to the forge-and ever the best of friends! – -“This tells us that Pip’s happiness and wellbeing is genuinely important to Joe, he has no qualms about the ‘greater opportunities’ that Pip can gain. Not only are they relatives, on a more sincere level, they are good friends too. Pip is very happy about the fact that he is going to finally be able to follow his ambitions of becoming a gentleman. Before he goes he notices something, “I saw Joe…he never smoked so late, and it seemed to hint to me that he wanted comforting, for some reason or another”. His recognition is hindered by the reason that he can not understand how much Joe cares about him, or why he is even sad, this signifies a further crack in their relationship. Pip resents the touch of sadness in the congratulations of Joe and Biddy. As he goes to bed, he is surprised that his good fortune makes him feel considerably lonely, “lost in the mazes of my future fortunes… could not trace the paths we had trodden together”. A key emotion that deepens is illustrated. On Pip taking a last walk on the marshes, he dismisses the memory of the convict-thinking that he will never see him again, after all these years. He already starts acting like a snob, planning generous disdain towards the villagers. He even asks Biddy (Joe’s wife after the death of Mrs Joe) to improve Joe’s manners in order to fit him for a ‘higher sphere’. When Biddy answers that Joe has his own pride, Pip accuses her of envy. Pip’s snobbish demeanour results in his refusal to be seen with Joe, despite Joe being a continuous, stable and almost father like, loving figure to him. Pip leaves for London alone, but is seized with remorse on the coach “ So subdued I was by those tears..I deliberated with an aching heart.” The reader has little sympathetic approach to see him feeling terrible. Joe and Biddy’s dignity contrasts with the behaviour of everyone else. Everyone else contains hopes to use Pip’s fortune for their own ends; demonstrations of artificial kindness/warmth towards him are made. Dickens lets us know that there are many people around who are quite selfishly on the pursuit for filling their own short comings, but there are also some people who aren’t. Lower class people are depicted ‘truly loving’. The last phrase in this chapter creates a stepping stone for the climax of the story. “The world lay spread before me”. This indicates that Pip is losing his innocence and is about to enter a world of sin. Pip’s division of mind’, is illustrated by rapid changes in mood; elation to resentment (‘I feel offended’) and condescension (‘handsomely forgiving her’). We are bought about to a sense that things may end with wistfulness and loneliness for Pip. In chapter 39 the narrative shows that Pip isn’t completely happy about the way his life has turned out.” I was alone and had the dull sense of being alone”. This shows that Pip’s pursuit of his ‘great expectations’ has led him to great loneliness. Pip is ‘dispirited and anxious’, he is still ‘long hoping’, and ‘long disappointed’. This suggests that he has some issues about what he has happened. Even though he has got the big opportunity to become a gentleman, his life still feels like there is a missing element, which he has been yearning for, for a long time-shown by the repetition of the word ‘long’, this could be love. The scene is set on a particularly ‘ferocious’, ‘gloomy’ stormy night. The weather is very unsettled. “It was wretched weather; stormy and wet; mud, mud, mud, deep in all the streets. Day after day…”Dickens uses repetition to emphasize the significance and effects of Magwitch’s resurface. Irony plays a major role here, compellingly helping to set the mood of the scene. Stormy weather/atmosphere is used to convey an artifice of uncertainty embarking around Pip, connecting first chapter. Pip’s feelings are expressed, throwing us back to the graveyard scene. Dramatic irony is finely tuned here preparing us for Magwitch’s much anticipated return. The lights have gone out, due to the bad weather. Dramatically this shows that Magwitch has arrived, and ironically he is about to ‘blow out the light of Pips life’-being a gentleman. Magwitch has come to meet Pip, he represents the voice from the ‘darkness beneath’ coming up. Pip can’t see Magwitch properly, and so does not know that it is him. The expression on the mysterious visitors face both puzzles and annoys Pip, he feels unsure about the person, but the man gives off the impression that he is happy to have met him.“In the instant I had seen a face that was strange to me, looking up with an incomprehensible air of being touched and pleased by the sight of me”. Pip resents the ‘bright and gratified recognition that still shone on his (strangers’) face”, he is weary of the ‘stranger’. He doesn’t want to respond to him and he shows this by inhospitably asking him questions, he thinks that he doesn’t know who he is. The description of ‘the strangers’ appearance is an indication from Dickens that shows that ironically this is Magwitch. Magwitch looks ‘substantially dressed, but roughly’, showing that although he has made a great deal of money, his old habits/ status have still stayed with him, his look ‘voyager by the sea’ indicates that this man has travelled far to get here, Magwitch came from Australia, where he was last taken. He is muscular, in particular ‘strong on his legs’, shows that he could runaway quite easily in spite of his age. Magwitch is ‘browned and hardened’ as a result of exposure to harsh weather and labour. His hair is ‘iron grey’; like irons that convicts would wear to prevent them from escaping. Dickens is trying to relate Magwitch to the realities of crime, to show Pip and both the reader that it was near impossible to shake of the image of crime, even if you had made a large fortune to show as well, at the time. The man’s actions are a clue that he is in fact Magwitch. He continually holds out both of Pip’s hands, which Pip ‘reluctantly gives’, ‘grasping them heartily’ and kisses them. This shows a relationship between them, although a large number of years since contact have passed. The narrative shows Pip’s reaction to be ‘a stupid kind of amazement’ towards the stranger holding out his hands to him. Pip is ‘half suspecting him to be mad’, and ‘wished him gone’, which shows the lack of affection that Pip feels towards a man who clearly shows him some. Dickens is carefully dripping in the truth for added affect. The dialogue explains how Pip recognises the ‘stranger’, (shaking his head with deliberate affection): “You’re a game one’…I’m glad you’ve grown up, a game one! But don’t catch hold of me. You’d be sorry afterwards to have done it”. Magwitch tells Pip that he shouldn’t try to stop him, last time Pip almost got into trouble for helping him. Magwitch just wants to meet Pip and then he will leave. The audience knows that the ‘stranger’ is Magwitch, where up until now Pip doesn’t. The dialogue and narrative proves, to everyone, that the man is Magwitch. He reveals news about his life in Australia. He lets us know how he made his fortune, through land and stock, especially the tough agricultural industry. He has been a stock farmer, a sheep farmer and ‘other trades beside’. Magwitch reveals, by hints, that he is Pip’s benefactor. He coyly pretends to ‘guess’ important facts about Pip and his coming of fortunes. “…income since you come of age…first figure, now. Five... there ought to have been some guardian (while he was a minor) …the first letter of that lawyer’s name, now. Would it be J?” Pips’ reaction to the news comes as a blow to him; the moment of truth of his position is powerfully portrayed through the language, narrative, and description. “…its disappointments, dangers, disgraces, consequences of all kinds rushed in such multitude that I was borne down … struggle to breath”. The effective use of descriptive alliteration and long sentence structure vividly highlights Pips overwhelming flight of emotions that come ‘flashing down’ upon him. He is especially disgusted as his hopes of being a gentleman have come crashing down, almost like a feeling reflected by the weather, ‘a vast heavy veil driving over’ him. His distress is exemplified by the fact that he deserted his loyal friend Joe for the life that the convict Magwitch has given. Pip shudders when Magwitch comes close to him, he feels dread, and repugnance, and so shrinks back from him, as if he were ‘some terrible beast’, and recoils from him ‘as if he had been a snake’. The referral to animals reminds the reader about Magwitch’s mannerisms which were displayed in the early chapters. We know that the convict has more emotions apart from anger; love is shown, as well as happiness and astoundingly ‘…his eyes were full of tears’. The relationship of Magwitch and Pip has come to deeper levels, and it shows, almost contrasting to that of the first few chapters. Pip’s idle life has been the basis of a convict’s hard work. Magwitch is his benefactor, who has financed and provided him with the fortune to provide him with an education; to make him a ‘gentleman,’ he feels chocked, it is a ‘violent blast’ . Becoming a gentleman is now isn’t possible; the fortune is ‘blood money’. The source of the money and the fact that the two aren’t related raises more issues. If Ms Havisham was the benefactor like Pip hoped, than he could certainly be a gentleman. Reality is that Pip has been educated by a criminal, even if indirectly. Magwitch justifies his actions and intentions, he is proud of his ‘achievements’. Magwitch: “You acted nobly, my boy… noble Pip! And I have never forgot it!”...’and at a change in his manner as if he were even going to embrace me’. This grateful, unforgotten act passed by Pip was the basis of Magwitch’s intentions of making a gentleman. He feels as this will compensate for the ‘noble act’ performed to help him. Not many people would stop to help a convict; they were looked down upon, and had the lowest status possible. Kindness shown to him spurred him on to reach this goal for Pip. As Magwitch is kissing Pips hands again, the narrative explains how while this is happening Pip feels as if his ‘blood ran cold within’ himself, despite having no contact for several years, Magwitch still came back to him. Magwitch has clearly missed him, however, Pip doesn’t return the affection, he is unhappy about the situation.However, gratitude is not the convict’s only motive. Magwitch tells us that he is Pip’s second father. “I’m your second father. You’re my son-nor more to me than any son”. Magwitch doesn’t have a son, but treats Pip like he is. Magwitch goes on to explain why he has built up a fortune for Pip. “I’ve put money away only for you... I goes out in the open air to say it under the open heavens…if I gets liberty and money, I’ll make that boy (pip) a gentleman! And I done it.” Similarly, Ms Havisham uses Estella. In a sense, Magwitch has used Pip, as revenge on society which has pushed him to the bottom of the social hierarchy. Pip gains the readers sympathy because he is partly a victim. His vices have been partially forced upon him externally. The conflicting emotions and feelings Pip has at the end at this point are ones of anger and annoyance. This is shown through the repetition of the word ‘wretched’. Pip still refers to Magwitch as ‘my convict’ which shows that an emotional bond/relationship between them is still felt and is present. Because of the double narrative Dickens chose to employ throughout the story, the reader never really loses sympathy for Pip. The relationship of Magwitch and Pip can be summed up as an emotional journey, facing fear and intimidation, gratefulness, and affection which have sprung from each stage. Magwitch is like Pip’s ‘second father’. He is seen as Pip's father figure because he is making Pip become a gentleman. This is something most fathers want to do for their children, they love/care about them, want their children to be happy, and give them all that they can. The issue with this is that Magwitch's desire to give Pip a better life is that he mostly is doing it for his own reasons, to attack the social hierarchy, and not for Pip's best interest. Pip’s final redemption comes when he is able to see his faults and recognize that he is guilty of snobbery, and that he has become a negative person. The story takes the reader through an insight into Pip’s maturation from child to adult, the fact that the narrative is looked upon with a critical analysis, makes this clearer. He feels guilty about what has occurred and what he has done. Behaviour wise, he rejected him ‘humble origins’, Joe and Biddy who showed him nothing but love and affection. He comes to terms with the fact that his ambitious ‘great expectations’ have led him to loneliness and disappointment. Pip discovers that his life is in his hands. Many events have taken place such as forgiving Ms Havisham, Magwitch eventually being hung for escaping from exile, and discovering that he has a daughter, Estella, and that Pip is going to marry her, they have definitely have had a turn on perceptions. Pip decides to return to his ‘humble origins’ in the symbol of Joe and Biddy, who gladly accept him again. Pip then gains a ‘middle ground’ job, and makes an honest and decent living, which he is truly pleased and grateful to have it is a rags-to-riches-to-grace tale. The morals that the story is wrapped up in the story.Dickens uses his writing as a tool to explain his criticisms of the various facets of Victorian life. They are attacks on social evils, injustice and hypocrisy. Dickens is making a point about Pip and the attitudes of a ‘gentleman’ that he has acquired. Dickens helps to justify, and show that being a gentleman doesn’t just necessarily mean having a lot of money/education etc. Most importantly, ‘a true gentleman’ must have good morals/principles, not just wear ‘fancy clothing’. His aim is to shed light on this issue, and hopes that the reader sees this; different styles of writing are woven together to make this a novel to capture a wide audience. Dickens succeeds in splitting our sympathies between Pip and Magwitch (the convict). We learn that an outcast (in many ways) may still be capable of courage, endurance and gratitude.