Pip is an “undersized” boy that is challenged by the harsh living conditions that he inhabits. Most of his family members have died which shows that the infant mortality rate was high. This is shown in the first chapter when he is in the graveyard: “five little lozenges …” This create sympathy towards Pip as he has lost his parents and siblings, “ I never saw my mother or father.”
As “their days were long before photographs” it leads Pip to make some naïve assumptions when he is young. For example, he had an odd idea that his parents looked like “ the shape of the letters” on their tombstones. He then looks back on this and finds his comments humorous. By this it makes Pip sound like a matured, educated narrator. This makes you want to read on and see what happens to him and how he has changed because when he was younger he was a poor boy that couldn’t afford education and seemed helpless and he couldn’t cope with pressure from others. This is shown when he meets Magwitch and describes him as “a fearful man” and constantly calls him “sir” to be polite, as he feels intimidated by him. Where as now, his use of language and vocabulary has improved greatly and he uses phrases such as “I earnestly express…” This draws the reader’s attention in focusing on how his fortune will change and gives them an opportunity to work out what will happen in the rest of the novel.
He belongs to a working class family and his sister, Mrs Joe Gargery, is “married to the black smith”, Mr Joe Gargery. He finds his sister threatening with his weak physique: “… crying and rubbing myself.” This makes Mrs Gargery sound “powerful.” Pip’s fear shows him as pitiable making it easier for him to be taken advantage of. Although Pip is terrified of her he is expected to grow into something better because his name is symbolic. It represents a pip that will eventually branch into something giving him a change to progress. This makes the reader want to read on and leaves them questioning the novel.
Pip’s vulnerability opens up availability in people being able to control and overpower him when interacting with others. He comes across as shy and fearful to others, which raises more sympathy towards him: “I was dreadfully frightened.” The verb that is used shows clearly how Pip behaves. When he is put in a situation where he is forced to meet of socialise with others a tense atmosphere is created making the readers realize that something is going to happen which keeps them interested. As Pip is intimidated easily, when his meeting with Magwitch occurred it was like power vs. powerless which made it easy for Magwitch to manipulate Pip. This builds more sympathy as the reader begins to feel helpless and afraid for Pip. He is portrayed as naïve and having an increasing feeling of inadequacy as when he is asked by Magwitch where he lives, he tells him with no hesitation but at the same time is very threatened by him making him feel more lost and unconfident.
Not only does Dickens grab the reader’s attention through Pip but also through the character of Magwitch. Magwitch is an escaped convict that comes across Pip when he is visiting his family in the graveyard. He has a “great iron on his leg” and looks worn down and tired. This makes the reader want to read on as it raises questions such as what has he done wrong and how long has he been there for? It also makes them think that something bad might happen as a villainous character has been added to the story, which adds suspense. Magwitch is associated with negative thoughts as his name is harsh sounding and makes you think of something evil. He is linked with animals when he is described as “licking his lips” which sounds bestial and when he says “ what fat cheeks you ha’ got”, it is intertextual with Little Red Riding Hood so he has been related to the villainous wolf. This shows that he could be perilous and violent. As he knows that Pip is weak and inexperienced, he is seen as clever in this situation making the reader increasingly fearful for Pip because he comes off as a malicious man.
Magwitch appears to be fierce from the start when he “ravenously” turns Pip upside down to empty his pockets. “Smothered in mud, and lamed by stones…” This is viewed as a wild nature hooking the attention of the reader as he sounds dangerous and it makes them feel worried for Pip when he unexpectedly meets Magwitch. With “broken shoes” and “an old rag” Magwitch sounds dirty and abandoned. This description makes it easy to picture the character and could create sympathy towards him as he sounds injured and isolated. It also suggests that he may turn into something better although his appearance reflects his rough personality. Dickens uses powerful verbs to describe him such as “soaked”, “lamed” and “smothered” to create a more vivid picture of this unusual character. This may make the reader feel intimidated by him. Magwitch not only has a strong personality but he also shows that he is physically powerful and not afraid by tilting Pip to threaten him. This makes the reader feel continuously anxious for Pip as he could be in danger and also makes them feel as if they are involved in the situation as Pip is describing how he feels and what is happening thoroughly.
Magwitch could also be interpreted as lonely and remorseful; this is shown when he tells the police that he stole the pie to make sure Pip is out of trouble. This shows he cares and that he could be a good person. At the same time he would be considered as dangerous and menacing from his appearance.
Magwitch’s tone and language is uneducated and demanding. This makes the reader fell insecure and adds tension making them want to read on. He is portrayed as impatient and intimidating: “Tell us your name!... Quick!” He uses interrogative and imperative statements excessively towards Pip to make him sounds more Powerful and frightening. He also does this by using repetition when he’s threatening Pip: “your heart and your liver…” His improper sentences and imagined husky voice makes him seem more connected with animals. This is shown through the vocabulary “growled” and “you young dog.” This makes the reader think that Magwitch is insane and inhuman revealing increased danger and tension to the reader. This is also uncovered through his interaction with others. He is very controlling: physically, mentally and verbally. “‘You get me a file.’ He tilted me again.” The repetition of this is used to build up a higher intensity of suspense and tension. The exposes the harsh character that Pip is confronted with and how the reader may become fearful of him.
The settings, which Dickens uses, are a strong part of the plot that keeps the reader interested. This is because he uses scenes that are connected with clinches to build tension and suspense.
The first setting that he uses is the churchyard. This is thought as a typically gothic location so makes the reader automatically think something’s going to happen. This “bleak place” is described as “overgrown with nettles” and surrounded by marshlands. This makes it seem unkempt and wild and gives off a sense of abandonment that makes the reader feel intimidated and anxious. This depressing atmosphere established the monotony of Pip and his life.
In this particular scene, the wind is described as “rushing”, making it sound strong; the verb symbolises a change in power with Magwitch and Pip later in the book giving clues to the reader to unravel the ending. The atmosphere is portrayed as dark and gloomy. This creates an eerie impression and makes it sound cold, damp and inhospitable: “a bundle of shivers.” This also leads the reader to believe that something terrible might happen. This untamed nature mirrors Magwitch and his personality. His appearance is also closely joined with this. This makes the reader see Magwitch as unruly. The “red” and "black” sky symbolises warning and death increasing the suspense. This also shows the change in power and raises questions about Pip’s future. Nature is seen as the omniscient on looker and so whatever happens to Pip cannot be stopped. The marshes around the churchyard seem as if they trap anyone who visits. They’re “intersected with dykes and mounds and gates” making them sound forbidding. The countryside, where Pip lives, resembles his life and family and gives the impression that it may improve. The river is described as a “low leaden line”, this creates an image of a dark grey and monotonous streak that follows straight across the marshes. The alliteration used here is to emphasize the qualities that the river processes which are dull and miserable features. Dickens wants to make the atmosphere daunting and build a picture for the reader by using these adjectives. In the distance, Pip makes out two objects, which are a beacon and a gibbet. These are representing anti-thesis of life and death – this makes the reader wonder what will happen.
The opening of Great Expectations gains the reader’s attention well with influential adjectives and memorable vocabulary. The title of the book is significant as it relates to Pip’s life and his symbolic name. The novel is part of a serialisation which is a continuous story broken into smaller parts which can be published either together or separately. This meant Dickens could attempt to make an impact on the division between the rich and poor. He wanted to gain interest so that the upper class would take notice, understand and act upon his teachings. This was very important to him as he has been part of both classes so now has a lot of sympathy and perceptive towards the lower class. His books were all closely linked and had similar narratives and structures so he could hopefully create a foundation of knowledge for the upper class.
