How far does Charles Dickens encourage the reader to feel sympathy for Magwitchin "Great Expectations".

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Michelle Kelly                                                             May 2002

10 Reynolds

How far does Charles Dickens

encourage the reader to

feel sympathy for Magwitch

in “Great Expectations”

Charles Dickens wrote the novel “Great Expectations” in 1861, however the main action of the novel is set between 1807-1823, and the opening scene is set in a churchyard upon the Kent marshes. It is here where we first meet the character of Magwitch.

A young, orphan boy named Pip is visiting the graves of his parents when he is scared by Magwitch and told to “Keep still you little devil or I’ll cut your throat”

As the reader meets the character of Magwitch the reader doesn’t feel sympathy for Magwitch as the reader sees him through Pips eyes. Pip sees Magwitch as this big, scary, rugged prisoner who could be very violent. Pip could possibly be in fear of his life.

In some ways Pip is a victim because all Magwitch wants from Pip is to own a gentleman.

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In the genre that this novel is set, the idea that a convict (who would have been considered as the lowest class of society) could produce a sophisticated gentleman would have been a comical idea and virtually unheard of.

Pip is an orphan boy who is living with his horrible sister as he grows up. The reader learns that as Pip is growing up, he becomes an apprentice to Joe the Blacksmith. As he is being apprenticed he becomes very discontented with the direction that his life is heading because he wants a wealthier way of life for himself. Pip ...

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