Great Expectations Essay

How does Charles Dickens introduce his characters, setting and themes at the tooth root of his novel, large(p) Expectations?The world that Charles Dickens creates at the beginning of his novel Great Expectations is one of isolation, lone situationss and sorrow. This is beca part he portrays the world in this novel by dint of dash, whose childhood is spent in loneliness because he was deprived of his line of credit and the comfort of his siblings at an early age. His sis Mrs Joe Gargery brings him up and is highly assertive and abusive towards him. She pushes him to the extent that he isolates himself from the world, and pass a miens part of his childhood grieving any positioning the death of his parents in the graveyard. The atmosphere at the beginning is shown as universe really distant and sorrowful, when describing the atmosphere where stumble is first introduced as, the small pack to dispirither of shivers growing afraid of it all and beginning to cry was patch.Dick ens has chosen to use a variety of linguistic devices to process the reader visualise what the landscape looks desire. For example he uses a series of adjectives to describe dapples immediate surround Dark, straight extraneous wilderness. In particular he uses metaphors to compare the different aspects of the environment the distant savage lair from which the mite was rushing, was the sea. This presents the sea in such(prenominal) a course that the readers are presumption the impression that the sea is aggressive and hostile. This relates back to the way rack ups babe be applys towards him, continuously aggressive towards germinate and takes every opportunity to execration him both mentally and physically.Bleak place overgrown with nettles. This describes come tos surroundings as universe overcrowded with nettles. The link that is signifi cleart between the nettles and remove, is that the place is hazardous seeing that the nettles often sting and hurt when one come s into intercommunicate with them, signifying smart and distress. This relates to how the convict ( subsequent known as Abel Magwitch) treats fool away, when he comes in to middleman with him at the graveyard. He handles clear up in an intimidating and aggressive way he is very insulting to him partially because he wants dispatch to help him. The picture that Dickens creates of Magwitch, contrasts with the church, especially because the church is a religious image where you can seek sanctuary from the rest of the world and its problems.The river wound, twenty miles of the sea. This gives us the impression that the river is alive and is unwinding. in any case the image of the long river comes in to mind.The fenes were except a long dull horizontal line then. A marsh is a great expanse of wetland, mostly useless because you cant build every subject on it.The river was barely another horizontal line, not near so broad nor yet so black and the sky was just a row of long ang ry red lines and dense black lines intermixed. This represents the environments as macrocosm a place of isolation, deserted because of a pass of inhabitants. People would not normally want to be in such an area. In the beginning of the novel, it reveals that Pip is found at this place. He is sole(a) and secluded from everyone, trying to find run on and refuge amongst the dead slightly(prenominal) of them creation his parents and his brothers. The adjective in this bring up shows how the graveyard has a exsanguinous atmosphere, generally to signify the connection between the dead and the unfortunate helping that they died in.The character of Pip in Great Expectations is portrayed as existence very tolerant and silent when compared to the rest of the characters in his surroundings. He is always very diminutive when confronted by other people. Throughout the novel he is seen as being serene and distinctive, possibly because of his parentage and his social background.I never saw my father or my niggle, and never saw any likeness of either of them. Pip had not seen his parents since he was born, as both of them had been deceased when Pip had been very small however he was brought up by his only living relative his sister.My sister Mrs. Joe Gargery, who married the blacksmith.As Pip had never experienced the fill out and care of his parents he utilize to spend most of his eon in the graveyard, trying to comfort himself with the battlefront of his family. The shape of the letters on my fathers, gave me an odd idea that he was a square, stout, dark man, with curly black hair. From the character and turn of the inscription, Also Georgiana Wife of the Above, I drew a childish conclusion that my mother was freckled and sickly. Although Pip didnt know how his parents appeared, he tried to smorgasbord that by observing their graves stones to visualize what they looked like. The isolation that is felt at the beginning is apparent in the fact that he tries to imagine what his parents looked like from the shape of the letters on their tombstones.Pips brothers also died at a young age, which deprives Pip of having any companions to play or spend his time with. Of five little brothers of mine who gave up trying to fixate a living, exceedingly early in that universal struggle. This leaves Pip being more isolated and alone than he would have been if they had been alive. The only thing that he knew about his brothers was their names Alexander, Bartholomew, Abraham, Tobias, and Roger, infant children of the aforesaid, were also dead and bury and that the dark flat wilderness beyond the churchyard The dark flat wilderness reflects the emotional feelings of Pip and the acetousness of the atmosphere. This is pregnant because it explains his isolation and surroundings, and how he seeks shelter in this dark deserted environment. The phrase memorable tender afternoon, directly relates to how c of age(predicate), uncomfortable, rough and pain ful life is for Pip.There is also around importance in this extract interpreted from the novel. The low leaden line beyond, was the river and that the distant savage lair from which the wind was rushing, was the sea These phrases describe the surroundings that Pip grew up in. The metaphors in this are given a clump of importance as they relate to the severity and loneliness in Pips life.The role of Abel Magwitch in the start of the novel is considerable, although we do not see much of him other than in the opening and final passages, he is arguably one of the most influential characters in Pips life. Charles Dickens depicts Magwitch as extremely aggressive and impertinent this presents him as a fearful and a cautious man. A fearful man, all in course grey, with a great iron on his leg. This is a really menacing image of him, as when he threatens Pip for food and suck up Pip immediately responds to him by agreeing to steal the food.There have been more incidents in the opening extracts of the novel where Pip has been threatened by the convict. concord still you little devil or Ill cut your throat. This gives the audition the impression that Magwitch is violent and aggressive. He treats Pip with the same violence and antagonism when he asks Pip to get things for him, not at all considering how old or small Pip is. This shows us how Pip is abused and insulted by Magwitch, for his own personal gain. You get me a file. He tilt me again.And you get me wittles. He leaning me again. You bring em both to me. He tilted me again. Or Ill have your heart and liver out. He tilted me again. The way Magwitch speaks is so different to the Standard English that Pip uses, this is because he uses colloquial language. This citation also proves that Magwitch is selfish and passionate, as he is so desperate to get what he desires that he will do anything to relieve oneself sure he gets it, no matter how much turmoil and ado it could cause. Furthermore, it shows that he is very dangerous and the influence he has over Pip can lead Pip to carry out a condemnable act.The instant image that is created of Magwitch is of danger and neglect, because of all the exploitation and torment that he furnishes on Pip.A fearful man, (). A man with no hat, and with disconnected shoes, and with an old rag tied round his head who limped, and shivered, and glared and growled and whose teeth chattered in his head as he seized me by the chin. You can tell that that Pip is petrified of Magwitch due to his appearance and the way he conducts himself. This has an immense amount of adjoin on Pip as he still has nightmares regarding the convict, which frightens him.However this image of Magwitch is shown in a different light as we advance in to the novel. Pip is courteous and kind to him, as a result he decides to make Pip a gentleman of great expectations. It is possible that because of the pain that was inflicted on to him in his past, he treats Pip in that way. Neverthe less, when Pip is being questioned about the theft of the food, Magwitch takes the blame on to himself, it is a possibility that he felt guilty about all the pain he caused Pip and also because Pip had been prepared to do so much for him. other reason for Magwitch to make Pip a gentleman of great expectations- is because, although he was intimidating and traumatizing to Pip, Pip showed draw plays of respect and politeness towards him, in appendage to bringing him what he requested. Yes sir. This shows that even though he is being physically abused, he is being respectful this may be because Pip is open and is in a sense of helplessness and danger.Abel Magwitch becomes Pip benefactor as he perceives Pip as being trustworthy and well mannered. It is shown later on in the text that Magwitch had a daughter. Therefore bearing in mind that Pip had lost his parents at an early age, Magwitch felt come to about Pip and sought to replace the parental love that Pip was deprived.The theme o f abuse is also present finished out a variety of chapters. Thereve been many another(prenominal) incidents in this novel in which Pip has suffered from abusive behaviour, physically and mentally, from numerous characters. Those of which includes Pips sister Mrs Joe Gargery, Estella and Ms Havisham.The type of abusive behaviour that he endures from his sister is revealed during the opening scenes of the novel. His sister is revealed as being very stern and intolerant towards Pip. She beats him sternly and also attacks his mental state of mind. Her way of speaking to him is really harsh and her actions provide the audience with the assumption that Mrs Joe Gargery loathes Pip.Knowing her to have a secure and heavy hand, and to be much in the habit of laying it upon her save as well as upon me. This implies that she used to hit Pip.The way that his sister used to punish him, would be unacceptable in todays society as it would be seen as child abuse. And whats worse, shes got tick ler with her. What is meant by the term tickler is that it is a wax-ended piece of cane, emaciated smooth by collision with my tickled frame. Mrs Joe Gargery used canes to beat Pip. The audience can imagine how much pain must have been inflicted on to Pip at such a young age. Not only does she use canes to beat Pip she also hits him with her hand. She concluded by throwing me.In the opening passage Mrs Joe Gargery also insults Pip and attacks his mental state of mind by making him feel unwelcome and unwanted. If it warnt for me youd have been to the churchyard long ago, and stayed thither. She keeps reminding Pip that she is the only person left for him, and if it wasnt for her he would have been cast away and left to die.Its bad ample to be a blacksmiths wife (and him a Gargery) without being your mother. This quote is also saying that Mrs Joe Gargery has unwillingly had to look after him and replace his mother, and she is to approximately extent ashamed and unhappy of being Jo e the blacksmiths wife and their relationship in concert is not what it should be of a loving husband and wife.The novel illustrates that Pip also receives abuse and neglect from Ms Havisham and Estella together. Although they may not be as violent as Pips sister, they do mentally abuse him and make him feel extremely small and neglected.Sometimes, she would coldly concentrate me sometimes, she would condescend to me sometimes, she would be quite familiar with me sometimes, she would tell me energetically that she detest me. This shows that Estella enjoys playing with Pips feelings and thrives on playing with his heart and emotions. Estella has acknowledged that Pip has taken a liking to her and she entertains herself when Pip tries to engage with her.Ms Havisham builds up the love in Pips heart for Estella. She fuels the fire in which Pip burns for Estella. Does she grow prettier and prettier, Pip?She is also seen to have a lot of influence over Estella and it seems that it is u nder her directives that Estella strives to ascertain Pips heart. fly the coop Havisham would embrace her with lavish fondness, murmuring something in her ear that sounded like Break their wagon my pride and hope, break their hearts and have no mercyMs Havisham has brought up Estella and it is under her instruction that Estella is directed to play with his emotions and gradually break Pips heart.The reason that Dickens had to write this story was that it reflected some of his own experiences he presented Great expectations in such a way that some of it included some aspects of his own autobiography.Great Expectations does draw on my own experiences. Like Pip, I grew up in the marshy awkward around Chatham and Rochester like him I raised myself up in locating in society. Pip discovers his secret benefactor, a kind of father to the divest boy, is actually a criminal my own father spent time in prison for debt.In addition to this, there were many events in his life that had an imme nse impact on him as a writer.The sterling(prenominal) was my experience as a young boy when I was taken from school and sent to do low and demeaning work in a Blacking Factory, pasting labels onto bottles of boot-blacking. I felt miserable and abandoned, and even at my most successful as an adult the horror of that time returned to me. It gave me a peculiar accuracy and empathy for childhood and the childrens point of view and for the downtrodden and abandoned in general. The relation that this states between Charles Dickens and Great Expectations is that in some stage in his life he felt abandoned and isolated. This being the reason that Dickens had empathy for children and had experienced as a child on what their feelings and thoughts were.My personal view of Great Expectations and why it is still such an important book is it reflects the organization of todays society and why there is such a huge status gap between the lively and the poor. It also relates to how Pip has to str uggle in life as a child, and how much torment and abuse he has to face all through his life. This reflects the life of many children today who face abuse and neglect from their families and relatives, or that when a child is kidnapped, they are physically and mentally harmed whilst being abandoned, away from the rest of the world alone and isolatedMy reaction to this novel was that it was extremely emotional and had a powerful story to it, which had the readers engaged in every moment of the novel. I found that the story which was based on Pip had a huge impact on me, and I got involved and animated to know what happened next. The emotions and the way that Pip was treated, had been emphasised in the novel to a great extent, so that the audience felt truly apprehensive and human towards Pip.I think that this novel has been very successful in attaining the support of the audience. Charles Dickenss novel Great Expectations represents the heart breaking accounts and feelings of many unfortunate children. All the more reason for the work of Charles Dickens to be appreciated and praised through out society.