The Importance of the 'Great Expectations' by Charles Dickens

The Importance of the 'Great Expectations' by Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens was born in 1812 and died in 1870. He lived in the

Victorian era and was the most famous British novelist of the time,

writing thirteen novels including ‘Oliver Twist,’ ‘A Christmas Carol,’

and many more. All of Dickens’ books were serialised, before

publishing the novel as a whole. This meant that his books were full

of many characters and plot twists in order to keep the reader

interested. He often wrote about crime and punishment, childhood and

social status. ‘Great Expectations’ is about a young boy called

Phillip Pirrip, known as Pip. Pip is an orphan living with his cruel

sister and her husband, Joe. Pip meets an escaped convict Abel

Magwitch. Pip also later on meets two other important characters,

Estella and Miss Havisham. We follow Pip through his life until he

becomes a gentleman.

In chapter one, Pip is at the churchyard visiting his parents’ and

five brothers’ graves, so Pip is an orphan, living with his sister and

her husband Joe. While visiting his parents’ graves an escaped convict

grabs onto Pip, and he tells Pip to get some food and tools. “Or I’ll

have your heart and liver out.” Pip ran home to get Magwitch food and

tools.

Chapter one is set in the churchyard, which was surrounded by

marshland. The novelist uses language and imagery to create a “dark

flat wilderness,” view. Dickens’ also creates a sad bleak atmosphere

of a “raw afternoon.” Where the “wind was rushing.” After the meeting

with, Magwitch, the author describes this setting again this time the

“sky was just a row of long angry red lines.” By using the colours red

and black Dickens is suggesting danger and death. So the meeting with

Magwitch is dangerous for Pip and, it creates a sense of mystery.

In chapter one Magwitch is described as being “Fearful man,” but to

the reader you can actually see that Magwitch is suffering and you

should pity him. His “teeth chattered and he is “smothered in mud.