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Introduction

How does Dickens use language and other techniques to establish the environment, setting and characters in the opening chapter of Great Expectations? In the novel Great Expectations Charles Dickens has tried to establish the following aspects in the opening chapter: environment, setting and character. He has introduced to the reader the two main characters of the novel, Magwitch and Pip. With the introduction of each character, we have a background to their life, for example we find out that both of Pips parents have died, and that Magwitch has escaped from prison. The main plot of this book is about a boy whom everyone had great expectations for. The opening chapter of any novel is important because it introduces us to all of the main characters, and without this introduction we might not realise what they have already been through, and it would be hard to understand the character properly. ...read more.

Middle

Dickens has established the character Pip Very well by repeating his name over again, he has done this to make it seem very childlike, as this book was written as a child's perspective, "Pip so I called myself Pip" This point has come across well ass it makes us realise that Pip is a little boy, as not many adults would constantly repeat their name. In the opening chapter, we feel sorry for Pip as we find out that his parents are no longer alive. We know this because Pip says, "unreasonably derived for their tombstones" We feel sorry for him as now we realise that he has no parents and that he is alone in the world. It is very possible for the reader to feel both revulsion and sympathy towards Magwitch, because he has clearly been through a great deal, yet he still attacked Pip. ...read more.

Conclusion

Also you can tell it was read aloud because you would remember a name if it was repeated, "pip so I called myself pip". It is very repetitive. Pip is portrayed as Dickens as a young boy; it shows how he was discriminated against as a young boy because of his encounters in debtor's prison. This novel is based on the recurring thought that this prison was the worst possible place for a young boy to live. Dickens has established character, setting and atmosphere very well. It prepares the reader well for the rest of the story, because you expect the novel to end happily like some kind of fairy tale, when infact it ends in great sadness as Magwitch turns out to be Pips benefactor, Estella says that she refuses to be loved by anybody, and Pip ends as a gentleman, but without much happiness. ?? ?? ?? ?? Olivia Harriman Prose study coursework Great expectations1 ...read more.

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