The Relationship between Pip and Magwitch and how Dickens establishes the Relationship in the Novel 'Great Expectations'.
The Relationship between Pip and Magwitch and how Dickens establishes the Relationship in the Novel
Max Kamath 10T
The novel 'Great Expectations' is possibly one of Charles Dickens' most famous novels. Written as a bildungsroman it follows the life of a young orphaned child raised by his sister and her husband. Charles Dickens also started from a poor beginning for his father was bankrupt. Pip was raised modestly as a child for his family were not very wealthy as his brother in-law was a blacksmith. Although the novel is written very interestingly on an imaginative plot, it is not the plot that makes the novel so popular. It is the series of surprising twists in the plot based upon the relationship that young Pip shares with other characters of the novel, the most emotionally capturing relationship being the relationship between Pip and a man called Able Magwitch.
It is notable that Dickens favours names which hold subtle connotations. The name 'Pip' suggests that he may be small but he will one day be much bigger and stronger. The name 'Able Magwitch' has several connotations. The word 'Able' means that he is able to overcome dire situations and pull through optimistically. 'Magwitch' may be thought to suggest magic, or witchcraft. This means that he can control Pip and have a significant impact on his life.
The first chapter of the novel consists of the first meeting between a young Pip and Able Magwitch, though we know very little of Able Magwitch at this early stage, not even his name, the novel tells us many things about him and his effect on Pip.
The meeting of the two characters is set in a churchyard where young Pip is visiting the place where his parents were buried. It is clear that Pip was affected by the location mentally as pathetic fallacy is used to dictate Pip's anxiety and the emotion of the situation.
'The distant savage lair from which the wind was rushing'
Such imaginative language is used by Dickens to reflect upon the way Pip was feeling on such a dreary afternoon in a graveyard. The atmosphere set by the use of pathetic fallacy is perfect for Pip's first encounter with Able Magwitch.
Magwitch heard Pip's crying by the grave of his parents and opened dialogue with Pip.
'Hold your noise. Keep still you little devil or I'll cut your throat'
He appears to be very aggressive with no reason to be. This is because he too is very frightened and anxious. He is said to be ...
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Such imaginative language is used by Dickens to reflect upon the way Pip was feeling on such a dreary afternoon in a graveyard. The atmosphere set by the use of pathetic fallacy is perfect for Pip's first encounter with Able Magwitch.
Magwitch heard Pip's crying by the grave of his parents and opened dialogue with Pip.
'Hold your noise. Keep still you little devil or I'll cut your throat'
He appears to be very aggressive with no reason to be. This is because he too is very frightened and anxious. He is said to be not wearing a hat, which in those times was considered to be rough, as all gentlemen wore hats when outside in cold weather. He wore broken shoes and an old rag around his head. The rule of three is used as well.
'Soaked in water, smothered in mud, stung by nettles'
This use of a simple device enforces the idea that the man is clearly not a regular man of the times. He has been exposed to the harsh climate of the marshes and has been hardened against the weather. Charles Dickens chose to write some of Able's speech as though it were a fairy tale,
'What fat cheeks you ha' got'
This makes the convict seem even more frightening to Pip, as young children are notorious for being scared easily by things such as fairytales. We know that Pip is a timid, skittish young child as he was crying, and was frightened even by his surroundings.
The first time that Magwitch properly shows his weakness is when he asks Pip;
'Where's your mother?'
This tells us that although Magwitch appears very hardened and rough he too is frightened by things as simple as the whereabouts of Pip's mother. He would not have acted in such an unnecessarily harsh way to Pip if his mother was present.
Magwitch's relationship with Pip is clearly one based on fear as Pip is clearly very scared of Magwitch and Magwitch is frightened that some of Pip's relatives may be present. Even when he finds out that Pip's mother and father are both deceased he continues to protect himself from the threat of relatives by making up stories to scare the imaginative young Pip. This shows that Magwitch is clearly more cowardly than he likes to show.
'A boy may lock his door, may be warm in bed, may draw the clothes over his head, but that young man will softly creep his way to him and tear him open.'
Magwitch made up a 'young man' to frighten Pip, as because Pip has not seen this 'young man' his imagination will play him up about him. Magwitch basically told Pip that there was no way of getting away if he failed to bring food and a file for Magwitch the following day. Magwitch was obviously a desperate man as he took such extreme measures to ensure he gets food soon.
The relationship between Pip and Magwitch is a very peculiar one, as Magwitch appears very threatening, he means to do no harm to Pip, and his aggression is purely out of desperation. Magwitch clearly has little or no experience communicating with young children as he was very graphic in his brutal descriptions of what would happen to Pip if he failed to return with food and a file to cut his shackles off. Nonetheless, a bond is formed between Pip and Magwitch, as Magwitch clearly feels no hatred for Pip and may even be partially fond of him as he takes the blame for food that went missing from Pip's house when Pip's family members singled Pip out as responsible for the missing food and alcohol. A fairly strong bond is then formed between Pip and Magwitch, a bond which would mean 'Great Expectations' for young Pip.
Pip and Magwitch's second encounter is under very different circumstances from their first, although Magwitch is clearly still a frightening figure.
'The circle of light was very contracted, so that he was in it for an instant.'
This description is detailed enough to tell us that Pip cannot make out the person's identity as the person was only visible for an instant. A stranger in London was a very dangerous thing at the time, so this stranger must have been a great cause for concern to Pip. The man matches the description of Able Magwitch given at the start of the novel.
'He was browned and hardened by exposure to weather.'
This tells us that the stranger to Pip has made a voyage from warmer climates, as his skin is browned by the sun. He has obviously partaken in physical labour as he is strong and well built.
The novel indicates a relationship between Pip and the stranger using a gesture from the stranger.
'He was holding out both his hands to me.'
By holding out both hands, the stranger is showing that he knows and remembers Pip with dear affection. The man also makes it apparent that he is not in the same social class as Pip by calling him 'Master'.
Although the man seems to know Pip so well, Pip fails to recognise him at first, but gradually remembers that the stranger is the convict whom he helped many years ago.
'Even yet I could not recall a single feature, but I knew him. To the churchyard where we first stood face to face on different levels.'
As Pip gradually came to recognise the convict, we find that he is disgusted by him and is obviously still frightened by the lost memories of their first encounter. We discover why the convict Able Magwitch has remembered the child with such fondness.
'You acted nobly, my boy, Noble Pip! And I have never forgot it!'
The act of kindness from Pip as a child clearly meant a lot to Magwitch, as when the world was against him, Pip showed him kindness, which has never been forgotten.
Obviously the kindness meant more to Magwitch than to Pip as we find that ever since their first encounter, Magwitch has been Pip's benefactor and was responsible for Pip's large wealth and lavish lifestyle.
'Yes Pip, dear boy. I've made a gentleman on you!'
This news comes as a terrible shock to Pip as he had greatly wanted Miss Havisham to be his benefactor, so that he may be good enough to marry Miss Havisham's adopted daughter Estella. Pip hates the convict who is rough and frightening so it is to his horror that he finds out that Able Magwitch is his secret benefactor.
It is ironic that Magwitch had dashed Pip's hopes as he had genuine affection for Pip. Dickens has used Able to show how badly Pip has treated His brother in-law Joe. When Pip became wealthy he also became a snob, condescending to his past friends. As Able Magwitch had remained loyal to Pip all of the years since their first encounter, Pip comes to realise how he has neglected Joe, a man who loves him dearly and had helped raise him. Magwitch has been a loyal friend to Pip, as he had not been to Joe Gargery. By the end of the novel Pip loves Able Magwitch dearly. Able had given Pip a lesson in love without knowing it. Pip was willing to die for Able, and was willing to value Able's life above his own.
The relationship between Pip and Magwitch after their first encounter was a guilty bond, based upon pity and fear. They met under very dire circumstances and clearly felt great awkwardness in the company of each other. Upon Magwitch's return Pip felt as though he was a class above the convict, until he came to realise the degree of love and compassion which Able felt for him. When Pip came to terms with this unrequited affection which Able felt for him, he realised how badly he had acted towards those who cared about him most and how having great expectations had changed him as a person. He realised the Able Magwitch had been greatly loyal to himself, and realising that he did not deserve such a loyal companion, he lost the condescending classist attitude which he had once felt and was able to return the love for his true friend Able Magwitch.