Although Magwitch is portrayed as an unpleasant man throughout the text, there is a hint of kindness in his cold character and our feelings about him begin to change. Unexpectedly, Magwitch shows his sense of justice and loyalty when he admits to the theft of the pie, "Then I’m sorry to say, I’ve eat your pie" ensuring that Pip does not get the blame for the theft himself. There is a sense of gratitude on his part which the reader has to respect. We see this kindness again when Pip goes to the pub with Joe, Mr. Wopsle and a stranger one night. During the course of the evening, the stranger brings a file out of his pocket to stir his drink. The file he uses is identical to the one Pip gave to Magwitch that night on the marshes. Later the stranger gave Pip a shilling rapped in two pound notes. This generosity soon becomes obvious to the reader and that the money is from Magwitch. It is these moments of compassion which alter the reader’s view of the violent bully and create a sense of respect for him.
Magwitch describes his life as "in jail and out of jail" and in his own words he tells us that he is a criminal, but that he is not ashamed. It is not surprising considering that he was abandoned from an early age and so he was "ill brought up" and "a thieving turnip" was the only way for him to stay alive. Jail was his second home and he soon became a juvenile offender in trouble with the police all the time and eventually got the reputation of being "hardened". You can hardly be envious of Magwitch’ life and you begin to pity him. Magwitch is prepared to stare death in the face to get what he wants and he isn’t afraid of death because he has had to face it so many times. You can hardly blame him for stealing because if he hadn’t stolen, he would be dead and if he had a better upbringing then he probably wouldn’t have had to resort to stealing. Society did little for him, classing him as "a terrible hardened one" and giving him items that he was unable to read or lectures that were too complicated to understand. His answer was simple, "I must put something into my stomach" Magwitch has to commit crime to survive. Ironically, it is a deserting soldier who teaches him to read, and a travelling giant who teaches him to write, both outcasts themselves.
Soon Magwitch became involved with some rather dodgy characters, and the one that caused him so much trouble was Compeyson. Compeyson caused misery throughout ‘Great Expectations’. He destroys Miss Haversham’s life by leaving her at the altar, treats his fellow criminals with contempt and manipulated many people, including Magwitch. It is no wonder that he is described as "that evil genius." Compeyson was an educated man with money. He knew he could make Magwitch do whatever he wanted him to do, "make me his black slave." There followed acts of crime, "swindling, handwriting forging" where Compeyson benefited and Magwitch was” a poor tool".
When caught they were tried in court together, but because the justice system favoured the rich, Magwitch received fourteen years where as Compeyson only received seven. The judge also commented that if Compeyson hadn’t met Magwitch, he wouldn’t be in trouble at all. This shows clearly how Magwitch is a victim of society. Compeyson has had the benefit of "public-boarding school" and "learning".
He also had the ways of "gentlefolk’s". In court he uses his money to employ the best lawyer while Magwitch had to sell "all the clothes I had". Compeyson’s education, gentlemanly ways, dress and friends convince the judge of his innocence; after all Magwitch had a criminal record. This is certainly an attack by Dickens’s upon a corrupt legal system where Magwitch and others like him are victims. It is surely criminal that Compeyson wastes his talents in the way he does and in the way he manipulates the less fortunate, that being Magwitch.
Magwitch had spent "some four of five years" of his life with Molly and between them they had "a little child". He was "exceedingly fond" of her and this is one of the proudest moments of his life. Sadly, this ended when Molly, out of jealousy, murdered another woman who she suspected to be having an affair with Magwitch. She also swore that she would destroy the child. This is described as the” darkest part of Provis’s life" because he "hid himself" in order not to be the cause of the child’s death. This is a sad moment as we are told "he grieved for the child". Our impressions of Magwitch change as we realize that he hid the truth of his wife’s behaviour to prevent her from falling into deeper trouble. It was this information that Compeyson used to blackmail Magwitch.
It is no wonder that Magwitch hates Compeyson so much and it is an indictment of society that he feels that the only way he can achieve justice is to take matters into his own hands. Dickens uses this opportunity to state his anger at a justice system which is unfair," I saw two-and-thirty men and women put before the judge to receive that sentence together" Magwitch dies at least knowing that the child he once loved was alive and well. There is no doubt that Dickens wanted the reader to feel sorry for Magwitch and he certainly succeeds, “O Lord, be merciful to him a sinner!"
Magwitch being Pip’s benefactor was responsible for most of Pip’s success in becoming a gentleman. Pip begins to turn into a snob during his time in London, and develops bad feelings about his past life as a blacksmith. When Magwitch returned to visit him, he helped Pip become much more of a gentleman and he became far more understanding of Joe and his origins. This is hardly the behaviour of a criminal.
It is obvious to everyone that Magwitch is in fact a victim of society. Dickens intended us to have pity on Magwitch and to grow to feel sorry for him. If he had had a decent childhood, then he might have had a chance in life. He had a purpose in life, he just didn’t fulfil it. He is a criminal because as an orphan he had to steal to survive and with no education jobs were unavailable so a life of crime became a necessity. However, he has a strong sense of loyalty, justice and compassion. If society had cared there is no doubt that he would have succeeded. It is when Magwitch is placed alongside Compeyson that the reality becomes clear. Magwitch is the victim, Compeyson the criminal.
