How Effective is the opening of the novel Great Expectations.

Authors Avatar

How effective is the opening of the novel Great Expectations?

This chapter is set among desolate marshes in a ruined graveyard. The weather plays an important part in the opening chapter. Dickens describes the weather as “raw”, and “bleak”. This creates a sympathetic but chilling mood. This is ironic as the setting is ominous for a story entitled “Great Expectations”.

In the first extract we are told that Pip is from a poor background and also that he has never known what his parents looked like or knew them as people.  ”My first fancies regarding what they were like, were unreasonably derived from their tombstones. “

We also know that Pip had five little brothers who died very young as they gave up the struggle of life. We first meet Pip visiting the graves of his parents and brothers, which shows he is an orphan, this makes the audience feel sympathy for Pip, as he is so young, and without his parents. In my opinion I think we are meant to feel sympathy towards Pip, as he is all alone in the graveyard with no one to turn to. He is at a very low point and is very vulnerable; “…the small bundle of shivers growing afraid of it all and beginning to cry, was Pip.” This is how the adult Pip describes himself as a child. He makes himself sound so pathetic and inferior. This makes the reader feel pity towards Pip.

Join now!

In the novel Great expectations Pip has narrative authority, which helps us to feel Pips pain and happiness. Dickens develops empathy for Pip in the first few pages dickens states how Pip lives with his sister also by the way Magwitch scares Pip. Suddenly a frightful convict man (Magwitch) appears from behind the graves as if like a zombie. “…a fearful man all in coarse grey, with a great iron on his leg… A man... A man...” This repetition of “A man” allows the reader to see that although Magwitch is scary, and intimidating he is still only just ...

This is a preview of the whole essay