In the first chapter Dickens uses the technique language to create sympathy for Pip. His own language quite childish. When Magwich speaks he comes across as very threatening, “Keep still, you little devil, or I’ll cut your throat!” He also is uneducated, “Tell us your namel”. When he first meets Pip he is really threatening and Pip pleads for him to leave him alone. “O! Don’t cut my throat, sir,” ‘I pleaded in terror.’ “Pray don’t do it, sir.” This makes the reader sympathise for Pip because of the situation he’s in.
Dickens again creates sympathy for Pip in the opening chapters by using characterisation. Pip tells the reader a bit about himself at the start and then the reader picks up little pieces about him throughout the chapter. “My father’s family name being Pirrip, and my Christian name Philip,”. The reader finds out Pip is an orphan, with his sister Mrs Joe Gargery acting as his mother and her husband Mr Joe Gargery. The convict is a very threatening man who is very intimidating towards Pip and this shows the reader Pip is all alone and frightened of the convict because he threatens to kill Pip.
Chapter eight is set in Mrs Havasham’s house where Pip has been asked to visit, “Mrs Havasham’s house, which was of old brick, and dismal, and had many great iron bars to it.” This shows the reader she likes to keep herself to herself and that she doesn’t really look after it as they are all rusty. When pip walks into the room where Mrs Havasham is the room is really unorganised and messy, “and half packed trunks, were scattered about. She had not quite finished dressing for she had but one shoe on, the other was on the table near her hand, her veil was but half arranged, her watch and chain were not put on, and some lace for her bosom lay with those trinkets. And with her handkerchief, and gloves, and some flowers, and a prayer book, all confusedly heaped about the looking-glass.” This shows the reader she is very careless.
The language in chapter eight is much different than chapter one because Mrs Havasham’s and Estella’s language is much more formal but Pip’s language is still fairly uneducated but quite common. “He calls the knaves, Jacks, this boy! ‘Said Estella with disdain,’” Pips language when he speaks is quite common, “Mr Pumblechook’s boy, ma’am – come to play.” This shows the reader that Pip is uneducated, but still polite and is trying to set a good impression. Estella thinks she is better than Pip because she has been educated and had a posh upbringing, “With this boy! Why, he is a labouring-boy!” This makes the reader realise that Mrs Havasham has taught Estella to be like her and want to be hurtful to all men and boys.
In chapter eight Dickens uses characterisation to create sympathy for Pip. The reader finds out Mrs Havasham only wants Pip to go to her house so he can be treated harshly because of her misfortune with marriage and so she can get back at all men for her getting stud up, also so Estella can toy with his head just to do the same thing that Mrs Havasham is doing. In this chapter Pip is a very sensitive boy, who doesn’t like what Mrs Havasham and Estella are doing. ‘I knew she was lying in wait for me to do something wrong; and she denounced me for a stupid, clumsy labouring-boy.’
In the opening chapters of ‘Great Expectations’ Dickens creates sympathy for Pip by using a range of techniques, language/voice, setting, characterisation are perhaps the most important. Throughout the novel Dickens has created sympathy for Pip in the difficult situations he faces in his life, meeting Magwich/Miss Havasham, becoming a gentleman, ant the value of his close friends that never let him down Magwich, Biddy and Joe. This all creates sympathy for Pip.
Emma Keaney 10PH
Biddy Monologue
(Sat in a chair, reading a book)
He’s such a kind man. (Pause) He’s given me everything I’ve ever needed. Love, protection…… (Sigh and look up) But what about Pip?
About fifteen years ago, I remember that this book was the one that I first helped Pip read. He was so happy when he read it, and in a way so was I. I can still remember every word that he read to me like it was yesterday.
(Sighs)
……I have loved him for so long now! But I haven’t been able to tell him how I feel.
(Pause, shuts the book, stands up and starts to walk around)
S’pose I’d be better off with Joe. He’s such a kind man
I remember when I was looking after Mrs Joe, and I read her this book. And all the way though reading it, it reminded me off all the good times I had with Pip.
(Sighs)
It made me smile and filled me with hope that he would come back for me……
I remember when Joe asked me to marry him. I was so shocked it made me so happy, though not long before I had just got my teaching job so it felt like all my luck was finally changing for the better.
(Pause, and look down)
But then Pip came back.
He… He asked me to marry him.
(Sits back down and puts the book on the table)
I was so confused. After all this time, he came back, just after I had got with Joe. Why after all this time?
I remember when Pip gave me this book. I remember every word he said, it was ‘I will come back Biddy, I will.’ And I believed him.
How stupid was I!
(Pause)
Well it’s too late now, I’m with Joe, I’m happier then I have been in ages, he’s such a wonderful man, I don’t know what id do without him.
(Pause)
But I can’t help thinking about Pip.
I really want him to be happy, I really want him to find someone good that will take care of him and I hope he is happy.
