In chapter one, we are introduced to two main characters – Pip and Magwitch. We are not yet aware of Magwitch’s name. Pip’s dead parents and five brothers, his sister and brother-in-law are also mentioned. The story is told by Pip and is in past tense. We feel sympathy for Pip, we find out most of his family is dead, and then he is threatened by a criminal and is very scared. Pip is described as small for his age and weak. The criminal – Magwitch – is described almost animal-like. ‘…lamed by stones…cut by flints…torn by briars; who limped, and shivered, and glared and growled; and whose teeth clattered in his head…’ This is a large contrast to Pip. We as the reader fear for Pip and later do not suspect the benefactor is Magwitch. The character of Pip is very autobiographical – he is based on Dickens early life. Charles Dickens was brought up by his sister because his family was in debtor’s prison. Pip was brought up by his sister because his family was dead.
It is set in 1980 at the time of Dickens’s own childhood. At this time, there was no way to move up the social ladder and there was high infant mortality. The weather is very vividly described as ‘raw’ with a ‘leaden sky’ with a ‘fierce wind’. It being set on the Kentish moors it is described as the ‘cold, wet flat’. The horrible weather adds to the atmosphere and tension of the story and makes Pip more scared ‘…that the small bundle of shivers growing afraid of it all and beginning to cry was Pip.’ Dickens uses pathetic fallacy in that the weather reflects Pip’s feeling of misery and fear.
The mood of this chapter is dark, miserable and fearful. Pip is miserable because of his dead family and Magwitch is miserable because of his situation ‘…he hugged his shuddering body in both his arms – clasping himself, as if to hold himself together – and limped towards the low church wall.’ Pip is fearful of Magwitch and his threats and Magwitch is afraid of being caught. ‘…“Where’s your mother?” “There sir!” said I. He started, made a shot run and stopped and looked back over his shoulder…I timidly explained…’He increases tension through language and through repetition. ‘“You get me a file” He titled me again “And you get me wittles” He tilted me again “You bring ‘em both to me” He titled me again “Or I’ll have your heart and liver out” He titled me again. I was dreadfully frightened and so giddy…’ This makes the reader tense and worried for Pip. \dickens breaks this tension with the use of humour ‘“If you would kindly please to let me keep upright sir, perhaps I shouldn’t be sick, and perhaps I could attend more.”’
Dickens uses very vivid language in the first chapter to describe character, setting and atmosphere. The afternoon is described as ‘raw’, the sea a ‘savage lair’. Pip tells us that Magwitch gave him a ‘tremendous dip and roll’ He uses metaphors like ‘…the small bundle of shivers growing afraid of it all…’ to make us feel sorry for Pip.
After reading the first chapter the reader wonders who the threatening man is, does Pip takes him the stuff, does he tell anyone, does the man get caught, how is the first chapter relevant to the story? Dickens uses interesting characters and descriptions to hook us into the story and leave us with lots of questions that we want answered and only will be answered if we read on.
