Dickens presents the character of Pip to us as pathetic. Dickens uses different methods to inspire pathos. This emphasises our sympathy towards Pip. When Dickens describes his parents, it gives us an odd picture of who he may look like. Dickens says, “Small bundles of shivers growing afraid of it all and beginning to cry was Pip. This quote gives me a picture of a little boy huddled up in a little corner just about to cry.
Charles Dickens presents the character of Pip to us by creating pathos for him. He uses many different methods to inspire pathos. This emphasises our sympathy towards Pip. When Dickens describes Pip’s parents it gives me an odd picture of whom he may look like. For example “The shape of the letters on my fathers grave gave me an idea that he was a square, stout, dark man, with curly black hair. I drew a childish conclusion that my mother was freckled and sickly.” This quote tells me that Pip doesn’t even know who he looks like whether he has inherited his mother’s characteristics or his father’s characteristics. It also tells me that he had to imagine what they looked like by reading the lettering on their tombstones. When Dickens says, “ Small bundle of shivers growing afraid of it all and beginning to cry was Pip.” He gives me an image of a little boy huddled up in a corner just about to cry. The name “Pip” describes everything about him. It tells me that
Dickens also creates pathos for Pip because of his reaction towards Magwitch. For example “ O! Don’t cut my throat sir,” I pleaded in terror.” This makes Pip more scared. Pip is already small and vulnerable but with Magwitch jumping out from behind the tombstone telling him that he’s going to slit his throat really puts the shivers into Pip.
At the start of the description of Magwitch as a scary monster out of a Childs worst nightmare, “A fearful man, all in coarse grey with a great iron on his leg. A man with no hat, and with an old grey rag tied round his head.” This quote portrays Magwitch as a frightening, fearful scary old man. In a Childs imagination he is portrayed as fierce and frightful. The words “an old rag tied round his head.” Gives me a picture of a pirate with a bandana on his forehead. Often a pirate is referred to as someone who whose really really scary so children are really frightened of Magwitch.
As Magwitch turns Pip upside down it creates a frightful moment for Pip. Pip is so small and vulnerable and compared to Pip Magwitch is a really big giant. For example “The man after looking at me for a moment turned me upside down and emptied my pockets.” This quote gives me a picture of a little terrified little boy getting terrorised by this great big giant in comparison to Pip.
Dickens describes Magwitch as scary but when he doesn’t use any colons he just goes straight into a recurring description of all the pain he has been through. For example “ A man who had been soaked in water and smothered in mud, & lamed by stones & cut by flints & stung by nettles & torn by briars who limped & shivered & glared and growled.” This quote shows that Dickens has gone straight into describing the pain he has gone through to create pathos for Magwitch even though Magwitch has been portrayed as a really fearful and fierce man.
Dickens creates pathos for Magwitch by expressing how he feels. “He hugged his shuddering arms clasping himself.” This quote makes me feel sympathetic towards Magwitch because from him being a really evil man he has gone to having normal emotions. It shows that Magwitch does have feelings even though he is portrayed as being evil and fearful. It brings out the side to him which shows he is alone, cold, lonely and desperate and in need of company.
Dickens manipulates us as readers through his description of Magwitch, At one point when he describes Magwitch us as the readers we would feel sympathetic towards him but then when he describes him as monstrous, as the reader you wouldn’t expect to feel sorry for him. “He ate the bread ravenously.” This quote makes you feel sympathetic towards him because that quotes makes it sounds as though he hasn’t eaten for ages.” His teeth chattered in his head as he seized me by the chin.” This quote represents the fierce and cunning side to him, it shows that he has a split personality; at times he’s happy when the mood suits him and sometimes he’s angry and really violent.
Charles Dickens portrays sympathy for Magwitch by giving us an impression of Magwitch being desperate for food. “I was seated on a high tombstone, trembling while he ate the bread ravenously.” This quote describes Magwitch’s desperation as he eats “ravenously” The word “ravenously” evokes both a bestial and a pathetic image.
Dickens shows that Magwitch may not seem as monstrous as he is portrayed. For example “ He started, made a short run and stopped and looked over his shoulder.” This quote shows me that he aint as tough as he seems. It shows me he has the feeling of being afraid of someone or something.
Dickens portrays Magwitch as desperate for company. “I aint alone, as you may think I am. There’s a young man hid with me, in comparison with which young man I am an angel.” This quote tells me that this would be extremely scary for Pip because he already thinks Magwitch is scary but Magwitch says to him that he has someone hidden that is scarcer than him; this probably makes Pip feel really unsafe and scared. As a reader I notice that this may just have been a ploy to get attention from Pip so he could have some company. The phrase “I am an angel.” Shows the kind, and considerate side of Magwitch.
Pathos is increased for Magwitch in the following quote “ I wish I was a frog or an eel.” This quote makes me feel sympathetic towards Magwitch because he says he’d rather be a frog or an eel rather than a human. This clearly shows that he has problems keeping himself together mentally and physically.
Conclusion
Great Expectations is a novel about an orphan named called Philip Pirrip otherwise known as Pip. He calls himself Pip because he cant pronounce his own name. Pip’s parents died when he was small along side them his brothers also died when they were infants. It seems that Pip had a really rough childhood because nearly all his family had passed away. Pip was living with his sister Mrs. Joe Gargery wife of Mr. Joe Gargery the blacksmith. Pip almost spent his time in the churchyard watching his parent’s tombstones. He has no idea who he looked like so he imagined what his parents looked like by reading their lettering on the tombstone and then imagined who he looked like. From this statement we get an idea of him having a really wild imagination. Pips imagination is a key role in this novel. Pips imagination comes into action when he meets the convict Magwitch. Magwitch is a convict who has escaped from prison. Magwitch is portrayed to be bestial, monstrous, fearful and fierce. When we first meet Magwitch we see his evil, bestial side to him but later on in the novel we also see the emotional and good side to him as he gets to know Pip. When I realised Magwitch was only in need of a bit of company I felt so much sympathy for him. Magwitch introduces the “young man.” To Pip just to get some company from him. Magwitch compares himself to the young man as an angel. This tells me that he is trying to tell Pip he isn’t really as monstrous as he seems.” Now, he pursued, you remember what you’ve undertook, and you remember that young man, and you get home.” This quote tells me that Magwitch is trying to get Pip scared by reminding him about the young man. To me it seems, as it may be a desperate ploy for company. Magwitch has trouble keeping himself together mentally & physically because he wishes he’d rather be a frog or an eel rather than being who he is.
