This essay will analyse the opening scene of the BBC production of 'Great Expectations' by Charles Dickens

Authors Avatar

Media assignment

(Great Expectations)

        This essay will analyse the opening scene of the BBC production of ‘Great Expectations’ by Charles Dickens. It will comment on the different sounds, lighting, editing, camera movement and mise en scene I will also observe how these techniques create dramatic tension and how they can set a mood for the rest of the film.

        The novel ‘Great Expectations’ is about a boy named Pip. His parents die and leave him under his sister and her husband Joe Gargery’s care. In the opening scene, which is what we will be analysing, Pip meets an escaped convict called Magwitch. Magwitch chases him through a corn field and corners him in a graveyard. Pip then helps the convict by bringing him food and rum. His sister craves money and a high social status so she sends Pip off to Miss. Havisham at Satis house to play with her niece, Estella. Miss. Havisham and Estella both humiliate Pip; he becomes ashamed to come from such a poor background. He then decides he wants to be more than a blacksmith’s apprentice and he is given the chance to become a gentleman. He is helped by a secret benefactor who he assumes to be Miss. Havisham. Once he finds out his benefactor is actually Magwitch the convict he is embarrassed to know his fortune is just a sham. The lesson to be learnt is that money and status isn’t everything.

Join now!

        Lighting is used during film making to create all sorts of moods. A bright light could mean something loving or happy is happening this is typical lighting in films such as children’s. Darker lighting is most commonly used to symbolise something creepy or scary, used in horror films to create suspense. A tinted light such as red may symbolise danger, blood or passion used in a romantic scene. When tinted lights are used colour wheels come into action for example if blue the scene may be cold or bright vivid colours like orange may suggest a warm, foreign scene. ...

This is a preview of the whole essay