Dickens creates a negative impression of Magwitch by the way he describes him because he uses terms such as ‘A man’. Straight away this puts a mysterious thought to the readers mind. At this point the reader is busy building up an image of Magwitch in their minds. Dickens also describes Magwitch in ‘coarse grey’ uniform, this gives the reader a full image in their minds of Magwitch as a prison convict, which builds up the negative impression. The adjective ‘coarse’ is a synonym for ‘rough’ and ‘harsh’ which allows the reader to consider Magwitch as an untidy and messy person. In order to make it sound more obvious that Magwitch is an escaped convict Dickens uses terms such as ‘iron on legs’. This suggests to us that Magwitch has shackles on his legs which bring the reader to certainty that Magwitch is an escaped convict. He is a bad man; Dickens has also mentioned that Magwitch is not wearing a hat. This implies that Magwitch is no gentleman, he is not well bred and he doesn’t have a decent background. Dickens describes Magwitch through a list of injuries he faces. ‘soaked in water’, ‘smothered in mud’, ‘lamed by stones’, ‘cut by flints’, ‘stung by nettles’ and ‘torn by briars’. Dickens has listed all these injuries to show how Magwitch has been through a lot. He has travelled tough which suggests that he was very determined to get out of prison. It also suggests that Magwitch is a strong and fearful man who is able to resist a lot, he is a frightening man. “Old rag tied around his head”. From this we can understand that Magwitch is trying to hide his injury or as a disguise. We can understand that Dickens has done a clever job with creating a negative impression of Magwitch. Dickens has deliberately used the name Magwitch which also creates a negative impression because it contains the word ‘witch’. This symbolises ‘evil’ and ‘fear’.
Dickens has used exclamation marks to illustrate shouting. “Tell us your name! Said the man”. From this technique we can understand that Magwitch was a very temperamental and violent man. “Pint out the place”, this suggests that his accent is also different. Dialect has been used which is when a characters speech is often grammatically incorrect. In Magwitch’s case, his use of dialect suggests to us that he has lack of education. We can understand that he may have been on the prison ship for a long time. Magwitch is also very violent as he speaks. He threatens Pip in a way to show readers that he is the villain of this novel. Also, we can realise that Dickens has made Magwitch’s speech short with shuddering sentences. This implies that Magwitch is afraid of being caught; he is shortening his sentence to hurry up the conversation and get back into hiding. Dickens has also used imperatives, “You get me a file”. Imperatives are performed by a character to give orders; they are used to express a command or request. Magwitch has used his power advantage. Dickens has also used strong language which reflects Magwitch’s character once again, ‘uncouth and coarse’.
Magwitch’s actions are very violent and threatening. While threatening little Pip he tends to keep looking over his shoulder. This implies that he is nervous and afraid of getting caught. The violence side of Magwitch is exposed when he turns Pip upside down and shakes him. By now, the reader is afraid of Magwitch, and he is definitely the villain of this novel. However, the reader may also feel pity for Magwitch from the way he limps and shivers. This explains how Dickens was able to create two sides of the character Magwitch, this way the reader is able to feel some sympathy but, they are also afraid of him because he is a criminal and he is relying on the help of a child. Magwitch tries to be evil, but between that he shows his vulnerable side. Dickens uses adjectives such as ‘ravenously’. The purpose of this is to give the reader an image of a wild animal in their minds. Dickens is comparing Magwitch with a wild animal to once again remind the reader that Magwitch is uneducated and deprived. Magwitch used his gaze to overpower Pip. This suggests that Dickens was able to write in a way to show who’s in power. Also, Magwitch tilts Pip over a grave to frighten him and show power. However, we can understand from the novel that Magwitch is also afraid of the graves as he creeps over them.
Dickens has created the character Pip as a polite and well-mannered young orphan. This makes the reader feel even more afraid of Magwitch since he threatens an innocent child. We can understand Pip is an educated boy because his English is correct and clear, “yes sir”. Dickens repeatedly uses the word ‘sir’ which implies that Pip as a child is well-bred and has a good background because he respects his elders, even a criminal. Later, in the novel we realise that dramatic irony has been used as readers discover that Magwitch is not the villain of this novel. As we know, Pip becomes a gentleman in the future because he has a benefactor who pays him. Soon, he finds out Magwitch is his benefactor. From this, Pip is shocked, whereas, Magwitch is simply paying Pip back for his kindness and politeness many years back. Dickens was able to change Magwitch’s character from an escaped convict to a grateful gentleman who is wealthy. Pip’s character is very naïve, even though he is afraid of Magwitch, he was still curious and he pities him. For this sympathy, Pip as a child grew up to become a fine gentleman thanks to the man he once feared.
‘Hard Times’ is about Thomas Gradgrind, a wealthy Victorian businessman who lives in the industrial town of Coketown in a house called Stonelodge. Dickens has set this novel during the 1850’s. In chapter one of this novel, Gradgrind has come to inspect the school which he supports financially and is giving advice on education to the teacher, Mr M’Choakumchild. The pupils of the school are the children of poor workers. This suggests that Gradgrind’s attitude towards the children is very rude and overpowering. Gradgrind has status because he is wealthy and as an adult he treats the children like objects. In my opinion, Gradgrind is an intimidator; he is too proud of his wealth and power.
Chapter one begins in the classroom which is described as a ‘plain, bare monotonous vault’. These adjectives appeal to Gradgrind because they reflect his character. The reader can understand that Gradgrind is a tedious and tiresome man without a mind of creativity. Dickens also describes the classroom as ‘intensely whitewashed walls’. Once again this reflects Gradgrind’s character as lifeless because all he cares about is facts, there is no stimulation for the children. The classroom is boring and predictable, like Gradgrind. Dickens has used the word ‘vault’ to show two meanings, for protecting precious things such as knowledge and also to imprison and restrict children’s imaginations. Therefore, we can understand that this is a perfect setting for Gradgrind since he is an unchanging tyrant who is obsessed with education.
Dickens creates a negative impression of Gradgrind by describing him as ‘square’. Dickens repeats this adjective a few times which symbolises boredom. His aim is to give the reader an image in their minds of Gradgrind as a very unexciting man. Dickens also uses other adjectives to describe Gradgrind’s voice and mouth, such as, ‘wide’, ‘thin’, ‘hard set’, ‘inflexible’ and ‘dry’. Dickens also uses the word ‘dictatorial’ which is to impose will on others, when one is fond of telling others what to do, or of using power or authority to make them do it. As Dickens describes Gradgrind’s physical appearance, he mentions that his eyes are ‘in two dark caves overshadowed by the wall’. Once again, this suggests that Gradgrind is a very boring person. Dickens symbolises Gradgrind’s forehead as a ‘wall’. This implies that Gradgrind is a very hard-headed person who is only interested in one thing, and that is facts. Also, we can see that Dickens encourages the reader to laugh at Gradgrind by using similes such as, “like the crust of a plum pie”. He describes Gradgrind’s bald head by using this simile which is figurative language that draws a comparison between two different things, especially a phrase containing the word ‘like’ or ‘as’. We can understand that Dickens has deliberately used this simile to mock and make fun of Gradgrind which will make the reader laugh. Dickens has also used a metaphor which describes Gradgrind’s bald head, “a plantation of firs to keep the wind from its shining”. Once again we can understand that Dickens is using mockery to make the reader laugh. This metaphor also links back to the start because it creates an image in the reader’s mind of planting and growing. It persuades the reader to create a negative impression of Gradgrind. Dickens has also used the characters name ‘Gradgrind’ to create a negative impression. The verb ‘grind’ allows the reader to feel uneasy about the character. Also, the name of the house, ‘Stonelodge’ creates a negative impression to the readers mind because the noun ‘stone’ is a negative word which symbolises stiffness and resistance.
Dickens has used repetition of the word facts to show importance, and capital letters for each word to make Gradgrind sound more boring. Dickens has also used imperatives or commands such as, “stick to facts, sir!” We can understand that Gradgrind’s, speech is usually ended the way he starts it. Also, exclamation marks have been used to show aggressiveness and how serious Gradgrind is about his facts. Dickens has also created Gradgrind’s character in a way to allow the reader to despise him. For example, in chapter two, Gradgrind is very rude, he has a blunt way of addressing pupils, “I don’t know that girl. Who is that girl?” This language used by Gradgrind suggests that his character is cheeky and intimidating. To make Gradgrind sound even more boring, Dickens has repeated the dull verb ‘said’ many times. Dickens has also allowed Gradgrind to take total control in the room. Gradgrind is referred to as the ‘speaker’. This suggests that Gradgrind is able to use his power and statuses to merely mock the students, the students are afraid of him. Dickens has also given the reader a bad impression of Gradgrind by making him sound like a narrow-minded bully, as Gradgrind speaks of “facts alone”. Gradgrind’s purpose is to convince students to think that there is no time for imagination; Gradgrind is robbing them of their creativity side of learning. Dickens has by now, filled the readers mind with hatred for Gradgrind, since he does not listen to anyone else’s point of view, he is too self-centred, and his voice is dry and dictatorial.
Dickens has created Gradgrind’s character to be rude and obstinate. Gradgrind points rudely, and he is always surveying the room. Gradgrind refers to students as ‘reasoning animals’, ‘little vessels’ and ‘pitchers’. This kind of behaviour compels the reader to grow their hatred towards Gradgrind’s character. Gradgrind’s behaviour towards one of the students, ‘Sissy Jupe’ is very rude. The reader is quite upset as they sympathize with Sissy Jupe’s reaction. She is just an innocent young girl, and Gradgrind murders this innocence. Gradgrind’s idea of a model student is Bitzer. The readers feeling about Bitzer would be that he had no sympathy for Sissy. Bitzer may be from a wealthier family than Sissy, therefore, he was able to define a horse. This implies that Gradgrind is stereotypical about the students.
Dickens has created Gradgrind’s character in a way to make him sound like the ‘boss’, he sounds like an important person who is necessary in the students lives. Many students are not responding to Gradgrind, they are afraid or bored. Also, the staff of the school step back in fright when Gradgrind speaks. However, this does not show any respect, only fear.
In conclusion, many techniques have been used to create characters, setting, appearance, actions and others reactions that reveal a great deal about Dickens characters in the status he wanted. It was necessary for Dickens to create both Magwitch and Gradgrind; however, both were not similar characters. Magwitch was not the villain of ‘Great Expectations’, but Gradgrind did fall to the readers esteem.
