Vivid Images of Character and Place in the Opening Chapter To Dickens' Great Expectations
The opening chapter to Great Expectations introduces Pip who is the
main protagonist in the story. He is an orphan and lives with his
sister Mrs Joe Gargery and her husband who is a blacksmith. The story
is set in the graveyard in the time of the Industrial Revolution. In
the opening chapter we also see Pip being introduced to a convict who
is very poor but very rude to the child. The convict threatens Pip and
warns him that if he does not get any food for him, he will be in
serious trouble.
In the opening chapter we see Charles Dickens (the author) use a range
of different language techniques that builds the readers minds about
the character and the setting of the story. He uses metaphors and
describing words as well as the 1st person view from Pip.
The first paragraph tells the readers that the main protagonist tells
the story. Pip talks about his images of the family and his views when
he sees them in their tombstones. Charles Dickens make the readers
feel sorry for Pip through his view on them.
' My first fancies regarding what they were like were unreasonably
derived from their tombstones.'
This quote shows that Pip can only remember his family through death
and his childhood life was very sad.
Dickens also uses an important metaphor in the same paragraph that
also reflects on the sad childhood that Pip had.
'To five little stone lozenges each about one and a half foot long'.
This quote causes the readers to feel more sympathised for Pip. This
quote also links to the graveyard where the story is set.
Before Pip meets ...
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...e aware that he is violent as
well as an aggressive man. The adjectives that Dickens uses on the
convict also makes the readers believe that the character is well
suited to being horrible.
In the opening chapter Dickens has used a variety of different
language devices in order to make this compelling novel. One good
example is the use of the extended metaphor in the second paragraph
which relates to us feeling sorry for Pip. Colour is another factor to
how it is a compelling novel because it is referring to the setting as
well as the convict. The exaggeration speech and repetition that the
convict uses on pip to show control is also showing the different
types of language that has been used.
The examples of the different types of language being used has clearly
shown that Dickens has made the story enthralling.
started to have second thoughts a little to late so he tried to starve himself
Another example of animal treatment takes place during family meals. The retarded son does not eat his meals at the table with his family. In a description of the retarded son, Porter writes "He didn't whine for food, as the other children did, but waited until it was given Him; He ate squatting in the corner, smacking and mumbling" (597). When Mrs. Whipple's brother comes for a visit, Porter writes "He wouldn't come into the dining room, and Mrs. Whipple passed it off very well" (599). For appearances sake "Mrs. Whipple loaded up a big plate for Him first, before everybody"(Porter 599). The parallels to how people treat their dogs can not be overlooked. It is common practice for dog owners to train their dogs not to beg or whine for food.
The Range of Devices Charles Dickens Uses to Engage the Reader in the Opening Chapter of Great Expectations
notices that he is "a man with no hat", the sign of a lower class
perfectly good food, and when they do he finds it. Eighner says the food "can
“Wherever they’s a fight so hungry people can eat, I’ll be there. Wherever they’s a cop beatin’ up a guy, I’ll be there. If Casy knowed, why, I’ll be in the way guys yell when they’re mad an’—I’ll be in the way kids laugh when they’re hungry n’ they know supper’s ready.
At the end of the story, the boy decides to finally eat. Though he still has no money to pay for food he decides to go to a restaurant and leave without paying. The narrator says, “He did not dare to look at her: it seemed to him that if he did so she would become aware of his frame of mind and his shameful intentions” (1158). The boy’s plan to eat the food and leave without paying starts to make him feel guilty. Even though he still feels too embarrassed to look at the waitress, he puts his need to eat before his feelings. After that moment the boy starts to cry in front of the waitress. She brings another plate of cookies to the boy and he eats them. The narrator says, “He ate slowly, without thinking about anything, as if nothing had happened, as if he were in his own house and his mother were that lady behind the counter” (1158). In this moment, the boy eats and does not think about himself crying. He eats the cookies and is comfortable because he feels like he is at home. He also feels comfort because he imagines the waitress is his mother. The boy relating the woman to his mother shows the reason why he must eat, because his mother is important to
In Great Expectations, Charles Dickens uses diction and imagery to illustrate how if one bases their dreams and aspirations on the values of a society that prizes materialism over character, they will face a life of devoid unhappiness through the character of Pip. In the novel, Pip finds it impossible to change social classes when Joe declares, “That ain't the way to get out of being common. . . as to being common . . . You are uncommon in some things. You're uncommon small . . .
better is that also Dickens puts in a timid boy who has come to visit
I have chosen to look at how the relationship of Pip and Magwitch develops during the novel. I have chosen 3 key scenes in which Magwitch and pip meet and I will look at how each is portrayed in terms of character, development, setting and the messages or morals that dickens is trying to convey.
We see Pips sister, who is a bossy person and her husband, Joe, who is
“I have a ration of bread under the sack. Divide it among you three. I shall not be eating anymore”
The young waiter seems selfish and inconsiderate of anyone else. In the beginning of the story, he's confused why the old man tried to kill himself. "He has plenty of money," he says, as if that's the only thing anyone needs for happiness. When the old man orders another drink, the younger waiter warns him that he'll get drunk, as if to waver his own responsibility rather than to warn the old man for his sake.
"I must entreat you to pause for an instant, and go back to what you know of my childish days, and to ask yourself whether it is natural that something of the character formed in me then" - Charles Dickens
tells him to leave because he might be in danger .He asks her to give him something