When Magwitch first appears it is almost as though he is apart of these dreary marshes, “A man who had been soaked by water, and smothered in mud, and lamed by stones, and cut by flints, and stung by nettles” Magwitch knows how he lives as a hunted convict and wishes he more suited the environment, “I wish I was a frog. Or a eel!” Magwitch plays a very important role in Pip’s life, because he helps Pip a great deal in the future, being a secret benefactor, giving Pip incredible sums of money. I believe Magwitch has done this because Pip was the only one to help Magwitch when he was stuck out, on his own, in the Marshes. When Magwitch drowns in the marches, it is almost as if the Marshes are taking him back to his home, it is as if that’s where he belongs. “I NEED A QUOTE HERE” Magwitch is linked to some other important characters through the novel that live ‘dark’ life styles, Orlick Jaggers and Drummle. All of these are linked to the darkness, with a few other characters, and come out of the shadows. Jaggers’ room is very dark and mysterious, with facial masks or moulds on the walls, taken of a convicted prisoner just before they are hung. These give the room a slight chill and it a spooky place to be in. Or Drummle, “He would always creep in shore like some uncomfortable amphibious creature” This gives Drummle a very creepy approach to him as well. I feel Dickens has portrayed his views on light and dark very well and described all his characters with great depth and detail.
Another key issue of the novel is the mist within the marshland. This mist represents many key issues within characters and comes and goes often in the novel. “Once more, the mists were rising as I walked away.” The mist gives the marshland an eerie appearance but mainly represents Pip’s understanding and knowledge of the future. When the mist is around the marshes, surrounding Pip, enclosing him into the marshes, he is unsure or uncertain about the future. This happens when Pip senses a bad issue is about to happen. However, when Pip finally realises what is happening or the future is looking good, the mist then clears away, “the mists had all solemnly risen now, and the world lay spread before me” The mist is a very key feature through the novel and has been written in a very knowledgeable way.
Another major area, which influences Pip’s early life, is Satis House. This house and the residents of the house have a major impact not just on Pip’s childhood, but later life too. There are indications that Satis house, once was this beautiful and well kept house, but now has just rotted and warn away, just left, never to be attended to or fixed. “It was so heavily hung with cobwebs that it’s form was quite undistinguishable; and, as I looked along the yellow expanse out of which I remember its seeming to grow, like a black fungus” Daylight also never entered into Satis House, the only light allowed in the house is by the old candle, burning around a few of the old, worn rooms. I feel Dickens has tried to make Satis house represent everything that is cold and bitter. “From that room, too, the daylight was completely excluded.”
Miss Havisham, the owner of Satis house, is a dark twisted woman, who seeks revenge on all men alike. She is the supreme figure of darkness. “I NEED A QUOTE HERE” There are signs that she was not always like this though, but now has just left everything, including herself, to just rot and decay away. “She in her once white dress, all yellow and withered; the once white cloth, all yellow and withered.” Miss Havisham is described as a ghostly figure, or a vampire, never allowing natural light within the walls of Satis house or upon her. “Daylight never entered the house” A strange feature within Satis house is all the clocks have stopped. I believe Dickens is trying to suggest with this is that Miss Havisham believes all time and meaning of existence has stopped. When Compinson betrayed Miss Havisham and did not turn up to their wedding, he made Miss Havisham loose hope and led her to believe all men are the same, therefore wanting revenge upon all men. “That I felt as if the stopping of the clocks had stopped time in that mysterious place.”
Another important character in the Novel is Estella. She stays in Satis house, but is different to Miss Havisham. Miss Havisham is using Estella, this beautiful young woman, for her revenge against men. Miss Havisham has brought her up to be as dark and as nasty as her. “I NEED A QUOTE HERE” Miss Havisham has broken her feelings and is unable to feel love no more, but still, she has a slight glimmer in her eyes, suggesting that she might still be the future for Satis house. Pip strongly believes they are bound to be together and Miss Havisham has brought them up together, so one day they will marry and restore Satis house. “She had adopted Estella, she had as good as adopted me, and it could not fail to be her intention to bring us together” Pip believed it was their job, to be together and restore light into the walls of Satis house. “She reserved it for me to restore the desolate house, admit the sunshine into the dark rooms” All Pip could think of was Estella, and by doing so gave him enthusiasm and hope for the future, “Estella was the inspiration of it, and the heart of it.” However Miss Havisham has kept Estella from sunlight and from leading a normal everyday light, taking all her feeling away from her, which has destroyed her. “that there was such a thing as daylight, but that it was made to be her enemy and destroyer, and she must always turn against it,” Estella is also described, as a “Bright star” for future hope. Estella is the light out of the darkness, wanting to lead a normal day life and love but is unable to due to Miss Havisham. Miss Havisham has brought her up to believe all men are cruel and love is guaranteed to fail.
Pip’s Expectations change a fair few times during the novel and most the time he is unsure or uncertain about his fortunes but Dickens displayed this well with the many themes, surrounding areas and scenery within the novel. Charles Dickens has compiled a novel, clearly illustrated his characters using impressive detail, thought and depth.
