”A small bundle of shivers growing afraid of it all” Pip describes himself as this after his first encounter with Magwitch in the churchyard.
Pips emotions at the beginning of Great expectations are isolated and lonely , dickens shows this in many ways .One way is because Pips parents and brothers are dead and Pip is also an orphan. In the opening chapter of Great expectations Pip is at the grave yard all on his own, this shows isolation and loneliness too. This also reflects on people in Victorian Britain’s emotions too due to poverty and the bad environment. When Pip meets Estella he is lonely and even though she is mean to him he still likes her because he wants to get away from his life and family and wants wealth and an apprentice that shows Pip is very lonely and isolated if he is okay with people being mean to him as long as he had friends. Also after Magwitch leaves in the first scene Pip says the view was “Long black horizontal line” as it is described so miserably after his tragic attack and doesn’t no what to do next this shows Pip sees no future.
Pip uses polite and formal language because in his household Mrs. Joe Gargery isn’t that polite because she brought him up by hand. Therefore Pip subconsciously wants to change and by meeting Mrs. Havishm and Estella pip attempts to present himself better; as a result he becomes more polite and uses more formal language. Pip is very polite because at home he is brought up by hand buy his elder sister .He has been disciplined to have manners .Pip is option less and doesn’t choose to be polite but he has to so he can impress Estella. Estella is very horrible to Pip but he tries to be fine about it because she and her mother are his way out off poverty and un happiness.
Also when Pip first meets Magwitch in the graveyard Pip is scared this strange aggressive man has come out of nowhere and is threatening Pip. Pip is extremely nice to the man because he is too young to understand and doesn’t want to be harmed , But that is anther way Pip is polite and formal language.
The setting at the beginning of Great expectations plays a big part in the spectacular novel because it is based and set in Kent , dickens home town. It was dark and lonely at the time and a tough place to grow up in if you were working class , “The dark, flat wilderness beyond the churchyard”. The setting is like this because it reflects and adds more effect to the fact that Pip feels lonely and isolated himself .Because he is at the graveyard alone, among tombstones and a derelict gibbet. The surroundings are scary and are effective to the mood of the story at the time
Magwitch is seen through the eyes of Pip, this is effective because
it lets the reader see the story through the eyes of a young boy. Therefore Charles Dickens exaggerates a lot at the beginning. This is good when he describes Magwitch because he appears a lot more fierce and meaner.
Making the readers want to carry on reading. Also even more in the first chapter because his thoughts about his dead parents and the environment which he is in effect Pips views and thoughts on Magwitch . Magwitch at the beginning is so much scarier for young children so putting it in a little orphans perspective makes the first chapter a lot more effective.
Magwitch’s language is a lot different to Pips because at the beginning Pip is young and innocent this is shown in his voice and tone.
Whereas Magwitch’s is scary and less feeble, Magwitch’s language is manly, more matured and he has a sharp accent, this extremely contrasts with pips. There’s such a difference between the two characters, but as the story develops they become close and good friends this is unexpected but never judge a book by a cover, because as dickens reveals Magwitch is Pips benefactor.
Charles Dickens is trying to say to his readers that Victorian life was hard and had lots of expectations of people. Also when Joe goes to London to see Pip and it’s very awkward and he’s trying to be ‘’proper’’ because he thinks Pip will think bad of him if not. This makes us think that Victorian life was full of criticisms and ideas of what’s the proper way to be. When Pip found out that it was Magwitch who was his benefactor it is clear to see that even if you are a convict but have money then you can buy all you want. This makes you think that Victorians were quite money orientated.
The message that Dickens is trying to show about Magwitch is that at the beginning he comes across as a fierce, mean angry man. He uses harsh and aggressive language .But as the story develops and Pip and Magwitch’s relationship get stronger Magwitch turns into a changed man and turns out to be Pips benefactor and a kind and loving man. Pip even says that he loves Magwitch as he tragically dies. Therefore Dickens is trying to say don’t judge a book buy its cover and don’t be so prejudice based on appearances because you don’t no what they are actually like.
The atmosphere relates with the Victorian reader because its set at the same time and the setting is the same too because people in them days lived in either rural areas or city’s. London was central and home to disease, poverty and the very poor. Whilst also being home to the very rich and well looked after. Pip and Estella are both from different classes of people. So Victorian readers can relate to the settings the characters are in and that makes readers more interested if its based around there area.
When we first meet Pip we feel sorry for him because he is a young orphan, His sister brings him up by hand and is working class. Charles Dickens refers to this because he was brought up in a working class too. We feel sorry for Pip in the first chapter, because he is an innocent young boy. Pip doesn’t do anything wrong therefore Pip is represented as good. Dickens version of a perfect gent is Mr Joe he is shown as the ideal man because he stood by pip when he went through changes and was there when anyone needed him.
Pips character is the complete opposite to Magwitch because he is an ex convict and the language he uses is rough and scary and a thief so Magwitch is represented as evil. Magwitch is this way because his partner in crime betrayed him and stitched him up so Magwitch ended up on the run and became more rough and violent. The theme he represents at the beginning of the novel is dark and scary this is important because it sets the scene of the story and has to entice the readers to read on. Dickens is trying to say that humans are as simple to judge people by appearance and the way the present themselves but as we now as the story conclude, both characters are not how they seem. Magwitch and Pip grow an unexpected bond and become unlikely friends and help each other. This shows Magwitch is capable of love.
In conclusion I think that Great Expectations was an effective novel which Charles Dickens wrote based on his thoughts on Victorian society.
Dickens was successful in his character of Pip and succeeded in making the audience feel sorry and like Pip. I feel a lot of sympathy for Pip from when you find out he is an orphan .This is quite typical for Victorian times and makes people sympathize and persuaded the readers to carry on reading .
However I do not think Dickens portrayed Magwitch as well as he portrayed Pip because I think he could have had a bit more speaking and language involved in there first encounter . If I was a Victorian reader reading this first chapter I would definitely read the next chapter. I would do this because Dickens made you feel so much for Pip so soon into the novel and makes you wonder about Magwitch therefore you want to find out what Pip and Magwitch do next. Overall I think the first chapter is good, readable and appealing.
