A different technique that Dickens used to make ‘Great Expectations’ successful is the use of universal themes, i.e. crime and violence. For example in chapter two, Pip's sister “applied tickler to its further investigation”. The above quote shows that Dickens used violence – a universal theme. He also used death and loss as a theme. This is evident as in the first chapter we find out that his parents have died. This makes us – the reader – want to sympathise with him. He also uses crime as theme. For example in chapter five, “oaths were being sworn, blows were being struck (…) both were bleeding and panting, and execrating and struggling”. He does this to add excitement to the story and persuade his readers to continue reading the novel. Dickens also used universal themes as everyone on the planet has experienced them and understands them; hence the term ‘universal’.
Humour was another technique used by Dickens in ‘Great Expectations’ to help engage the reader in the story. It was used to break the tension. This was effective because when the tension was built up again it was more apprehensive. One example of this is “Tickler was a wax-ended piece of cane, worn smooth by collision with my tickled frame”. This suggests that Pip was beaten so much with the cane that it smoothened. Victorians would have found this funny but if this novel was written at the present time the readers would think that it was harsh and child abuse. This quote also has a rhyme to it, which makes it more memorable.
Dickens included dialogue of all characters to help engage the reader in ‘Great Expectations’. In chapter 2, Mrs Joe says, “You’ll drive me to the churchyard, betwixt you”. Dialogue makes the novel more interesting because it adds variety to it. Further still, the dialect gives a sense of reality to the story. Consequently, this helps to engage the reader. Dickens included both first person and third person throughout the story. If you try to read a book written all in the third person, it becomes tedious. Having dialogue also teaches us more about the characters and the way they speak. From the quote, we can see that Mrs Joe is speaking informally because he says, “betwixt” which is colloquial speech for “between”. We learn more about the characters personality when dialogue is included and it makes the novel more interesting so the reader is likely to continue reading. Not only this, the dialogue sentences are generally short; this compliments the description.
In conclusion, Dickens uses different devices to help engage the reader and make them want to read on. These include strong characterisation, descriptive setting, varying structure and plot, universal themes, comic relief and use of dialogue. These devices complement each other whilst building tension and anticipation successfully. Universal themes are used because everyone understands them and they can sympathise with the characters. This way the reader can understand Dickens’ message on the crime system and put it into practice. Dialogue and colloquial speech is used to create a sense of reality and this way the readers can relate to themselves. Humour is used to break the tension before the story gets too tedious which, therefore, ensures that the readers are entertained. Strong characterisation is used to make the reader develop and emotional involvement with the characters. The emotional involvement creates a complex, absorbing relationship between the reader and the characters. This makes the reader want to find out what happened next. Overall, all the devices that dickens uses only help to engage the reader. They cannot engage the reader on their own, just like a group of bricks put together will make a house. A brick on its own is no good.
