How important are the chapters one too three in Great Expectations? What does the reader learn about the social and historical, from these chapters?

The graveyard is the most important place in the story. It gives Pip the place where he meets Magwitch, which also provides a very important piece in the story. When Pip meets Magwitch for the first time, Magwitch asks him. "You get me a file. And you get me wittles" Magwitch tilts Pip each time which makes him feel defenceless, and later on threatens Pip by saying "Or I'll have your heart and liver out." This makes Pip very frightened and has no objection to getting the items.

Later on in chapter two, Pip asks his sister's husband, Mr Joe Gargery "was that guns Joe?" later on in the conversation about convicts, Mrs Joe Gargery interrupts the conversation by saying "I tell you what young fellow, I didn't bring you up by hand to badger people's lives out. It would be a blame to me, and not praise, if I had. People are put in the Hulks because they murder, and because they rob, and forge, and do all sorts bad; and they always begin by asking questions. Now, you get to bed!"

This is very important to Pip as this makes him very secretive, but also it makes him feel like a future convict. But Pip goes along and gives Magwitch the file and food, which comes in great riches for Pip as later on he finds out that Magwitch is his provider for his riches.

The graveyard is set in a very remote marsh which has a very big affect on the book. The remoteness of the marsh setting adds to the story, making it mysterious and spooky and making the reader want to continue on in the book. Quote: end of chapter two, "But, now I was frightened again, and ran home without stopping."

The setting also influences a very close relationship between Pip and Joe Gargery, as the setting provides Pip to explore and to get into trouble with Mrs Joe Gargery, which Joe helps stick up for Pip and helps him to get out of trouble as much as possible. Quote: "she's been on the Ram-page, this last spell, about five minutes, Pip. She's a coming! Get behind the door, old chap, and have the jack-towel betwixt you."

The book gives the impression that Pip misses his family, by being at the graveyard and risking another beating from his sister. It also gives the impression that Pip doesn't like the company of his parents. Quote: "she was not a good-looking women my sister"

Graham Adams