Sympathy for Pip in Dickens' Great Expectations

Sympathy for Pip in Charles Dickens' Great Expectations

The settings of Great Expectations have an important bearing on the

storyline; the settings also echo the characters in personality and

circumstance. The theme of the book seems to run parallel with the

settings in some respects, such as the plain but wholesome life-style

of Rochesterand the beckoning but ultimately shallow habitat of London.

Throughout the book comparisons and relationships between story and

setting are made, many subtle and not evident unless reflected upon.

In chapters 1 and 8, Dickens generates a lot of sympathy for Pip. His

writing techniques are very effective and creative as he manages to

relate certain locations with depressing and cold images like prisons

creating that 'fear' factor for Pip.

The setting from the start of the book is very important, from the

bleak and stereotypical graveyard that give the story a starting tense

and exiting mood, and the humble blacksmiths that acts as a platform

for Pip's expectations and the opposite setting to much of the grander

scenery in London. The graveyard at the start of the book is typical

example of how the setting contributes so well to the story and the

atmosphere; this is just one of the more obvious examples. The first

chapter we see pip in the graveyard while being told background

information which will create sympathy straight away.

Pirip who is nicknamed Pip for the childlike factor, is an orphan who

lives with his sister, Mrs Joe Gargery who is the only family he has

left, the effect of the nickname is to give the readers an insight

into how big this situation is, as it clearly informs the re...

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... the story more interesting. Dickens tries to make

Miss Havisham out to be a 'larger than life' character, and the use of

exaggeration helps to make us feel sorry for her even though she is

not a realistic or believable character.

In conclusion it is obvious that much of the storyline and

characterization is augmented by the setting in which Dickens has

placed an event or person. The relationship between setting and

storyline has taken a very important part in Dickens's Great

Expectations; much more than the superficial role that the setting

takes in the vast majority of novels and stories. Perhaps Dickens

added much of the relationship between setting and story without

realising, or that he inadvertently moulded the characters to the

desired settings he had created and knew so well throughout his

colourful life.