Pip makes a fundamental judgement call that could result in detrimental consequences for himself. The stealing of the valuable and ‘sacred’ pork pie, which has been reserved for Christmas dinner. Although Magwitch praises Pip for this deed, he feels he has committed a great crime, begins to feel very guilty for his actions. When Pip delivers the pork pie to Magwitch there is still some tension between them, this is broken by Pips comment “I am glad you enjoyed it” This took Magwitch by surprise, as it comes apparent to the reader that Magwitch has never received such comments before. The tension had gone now, but Pip changes the mood again “I am afraid, you won’t leave any of it for him” Once again Magwitch is surprised by what Pip has said. The tension rises between them again “He held me by the collar and stared at me” Although Pip is being his kind self, thinking of others, it has caused the tension to rise between the characters.
When Pip has a brief reunion with Magwitch, in chapter 5, when the police arrest him with the other convict, Magwitch and Pip’s eyes meet. At this point a lot is said without a single word being said. Pip tells Magwitch that he is innocent “Slightly moved my hands and shook my head… try to assure him of my innocence” Pip is not sure if Magwitch got this message but Pip is not sure what Magwitch’s facial expression means “For he gave me a look that I did not understand” Pip describes the look as being the most “attentive” look Pip has ever received. This is an important moment of foreshadowing in the book, our first impression that Pips kindness has moved Magwitch to strong feeling of love loyalty towards Pip. It is also an important moment of character development, our first glimpse of something in Magwitch’s character beyond menace and bluster of his early scenes in the book.
In chapter two we encounter Mrs Joe Gargery. Mrs Joe Gargery is Pips older sister who is his guardian. Many times during the book does it refer to Pip being “brought up ‘by hand’” The “by hand” part is saying that she punished him physically. Mrs Joe Gargery is very uncaring and cold towards Pip, this is shown many times throughout the book “she concluded in throwing me” This is just one of the many things she does to Pip. Another feature of Mrs Joe Gargery was “Mr Tickler” Mr Tickler was “A wax-ended piece of cane, worn smooth by collision with my tickled frame” There is tension between the characters but I Believe it not to be much. The fact that Mrs Joe Gargery has raised Pip ‘by hand’ would mean Pip is used to the treatment and does not feel much hatred towards her.
We first meet Joe Gargery at the beginning of chapter two, before Mrs Joe Gargery comes in. Joe Gargery is very kind and caring towards Pip. He treats him with the love and respect he deserves. Although in the house Pip is treated roughly by Mrs Joe Gargery the house is seen as a ‘safe haven’ for Pip, steeped in Joe Gargery’s quiet goodness despite Mrs Joe Gargery’s roughness. Joe Gargery and Pip have a very strong relationship, in a way that Pip looks up to him, possibly as a father figure. Pip asks him questions all the time and follows his example.
Pip first heard of Miss Havisham when Mrs Joe Gargery and Mr Pumblechook burst into the room where Joe Gargery is admiring a piece of written work by Pip. They reveal their plans for Pip that he is to go to Miss Havisham’s house and ‘play’ The importance of this visit is not obvious to Pip, so Dickens uses Mrs Joe Gargery and Mr Pumblechook to convey the importance to the reader who are obviously ecstatic at the idea of Pip befriending the wealthy old women. With the meeting of Miss Havisham and Estella the themes of social class, ambition and advancement move to the forefront of the book. Pip was afraid and uncomfortable before he had even entered the room, “This was very uncomfortable… I was half afraid” There is a lot of tension between Pip and Miss Havisham, mainly because Pip is afraid and is reluctant to ‘play’ for her. Miss Havisham insists that Pip should play. Pip ends up playing cards with Estella. There is a lot of tension between them at this point. Estella is constantly insulting, cold and also criticizing Pip’s low social class “Why he is a common labouring boy… He calls knaves, jacks, this boy!” Pip believes he hears Miss Havisham say “Well? You can break his heart” Pip is uncertain to whether he heard her say that but he is, none the less, confused by the comment. The relationship between Miss Havisham and Pip grows, as he visits her more frequently. They talk about Pips life and relationships “asked me questions as what had I learnt and what was I going to be”
The Darkness Out There is written by Penelope Lively. She begins with a lot of description of the girl (Sandra) walking through ‘Packers End’ The Story starts off slow, with a lot of description of Packers End. The girl has been asked to help out at Miss Rutter’s house “Mrs Rutter…she’s a dear old thing… could you make her your Saturday afternoon session?” Several times (before meeting Mrs Rutter) they state that Mrs Rutter is “really sweet” So, without meeting her they have formed an opinion of her, this would that when they meet her there would be no tension between the characters.
Mrs Rutter is described as “compound of circles, a cottage-loaf women…chins collapsed one into another, a creamy smiling pool of a face” This is what would seem to sound like an old kind sweet women, but looks can be deceiving “her eyes snapped and darted” this finishes off the description of Mrs Rutter, it changes our ideas from a nice sweet old lady to a somewhat suspicious old women, which makes the reader suspicious of her.
With there first conversation Mrs Rutter seemed ‘normal’ and there was no tension between the characters. One thing that could become more obvious is that Kerry is described as “the boy”
Mrs Rutter sends ‘the boy’ outside to work while Sandra stays in the house to dust and talk with Mrs Rutter. Mrs Rutter asks her questions regarding her person life and Sandra answers them honestly. Sandra comes outside to Kerry with some chocolate, Kerry makes it clear that he is suspicious of Mrs Rutter “I don’t go much on her… they way she talks and that”
Kerry brings up about the story about the German plane crashing into Packers End, and to their surprise Mrs Rutter has seen the plane, when it first hit the ground. “The boy stared at her over the rim of the cup, blank-faced” Kerry was confused and surprised by what Mrs Rutter was saying “We cheered I can tell you!” Mrs Rutter had described how there was a survivor and that he was saying something to himself “Mutter mutter” It shows Mrs Rutters ignorance to what he was saying and what it meant, also when Mrs Rutter had finished describing the crash site and the injured German she “Liked her lips; she looked across at them, her eyes darting” Mrs Rutter was obviously looking for a reaction from either of the children. Kerry was shocked by what he was hearing, and seemed to be the only one who spoke. There was a lot of tension in the room at this point, with both children obviously very shocked and sickened with what Mrs Rutter was telling them. Kerry couldn’t take anymore of Mrs Rutter’s story “The boy shoved his chair back from the table… The boy got up… Dunno bout you, but I’m going”
The way in which Kerry is referred to as “The boy” is how Miss Havisham tells Estella to treat Pip, this is an attempt to belittle the person (Pip or Kerry). Also the relationship between Miss Havisham and the relationship between Mrs Rutter and Sandra are similar (Early on in story) as Mrs Rutter takes a liking for Sandra and treats her better than Kerry. Another comparison is between the Mrs Rutter and Mrs Joe Gargery. Although Pip has been raised “by hand” meaning physically punished, Mrs Rutter is seemingly punishing him by making him do manual labour, it is physical punishment in some aspects, meaning he is physically doing something but Mrs Rutter is not inflicting the punishment on him physically.