Great Expectations by Charles Dickens Essay Example

while he is on the marshes. Pip portrays him as a terrified man dressed entirely in worn-out, grey clothes, with a heavy iron weight attached to his leg. This man is hatless, wearing battered shoes, and has an old piece of cloth tied around his head.

The text below presents a highly detailed description of a man who had experienced being soaked in water, covered in mud, injured by stones and flints, stung by nettles, and torn by briars. This man limped and shivered, glared and growled, with chattering teeth in his head. Additionally, Dickens employs lengthy sentences and numerous commas to depict Pip's panic and worry. Moreover, the novel maintains an equilibrium between protagonists and antagonists, offering a sense of security to the reader. This is evident as there is no indication that the story will be purely evil or purely good.

We are introduced to Mrs Joe, the main antagonist, in a humorous chapter, which lightens the reality of her cruel personality. Throughout the book, she bullies Pip and Joe, bringing them closer together. Another key character, Mr Joe, a blacksmith who leads a quiet life, is introduced in the opening two chapters. As mentioned before, he and Pip become close and stand up for each other against Mrs Joe. It is implied that Pip is a young boy, around ten years old, who is poorly fed and an orphan.

The sole living relative Pip possesses is his cruel, slave-driving, bullying sister. Despite being poor and orphaned, Pip seizes every opportunity to embrace life and remains hopeful, even as he struggles to find enough food to survive. Dickens purposely portrays Pip as a victim of circumstances,

perhaps to elicit the reader's empathy and sense of protectiveness towards him. By generating sympathy for Pip, the author entices the reader to continue reading, as they become invested in whether he will be able to escape the oppressive clutches of Mrs Joe and find happiness.

Dickens effectively utilizes the characters to engage and captivate readers. This is especially true for Victorian readers who can easily connect with the societal issues addressed in the story, such as the prevalence of bullying and child abuse. Despite the differences between Victorian society and our modern society, I would still be compelled to continue reading. Dickens skillfully employs setting and atmosphere as powerful devices throughout the narrative.

He uses the atmosphere to reflect the characters' emotions, as seen when Pip is in the graveyard. Pip's sadness is evident in the atmosphere, as he describes the bleak and overgrown churchyard where his family members are buried. As Pip speaks, the clouds start moving and the sky turns dark.

This excerpt showcases the employment of pathetic fallacy, a tool frequently used in the Victorian era. It mirrors the sentiments of the protagonist and establishes both mood and setting. The initial depiction of weather involving wind, rain, and clouds raises a feeling of unease for the main character as it suggests potential dire circumstances. Detailed sentences filled with commas are utilized by the writer to enhance Pip's sense of dread.

Charles Dickens demonstrates his skillful use of a diverse range of vocabulary, including unconventional choices, to vividly depict the desolate and eerie landscape teeming with unidentified danger. The depth of his descriptive language is compelling, captivating both Victorian and modern readers alike. This

evocative portrayal serves as a captivating introduction, enticing readers to continue delving into the story and enticing Victorian readers to eagerly purchase subsequent installments.

The first chapter of the book showcases Charles Dickens' distinctive wit and humor, a theme that is consistently found throughout the novel, especially in the opening sections and when dealing with challenging issues such as maltreatment and intimidation. An example can be seen when Pip comments 'she was not an attractive woman, my sister; I generally assumed she must have compelled Joe Gargery to wed her by force,' Dickens cleverly intersperses various humorous remarks about oppression and harassment. It is likely that Dickens used this approach because it would have resonated with his Victorian audience who could find levity in a grave matter, thereby lessening its seriousness.

The text implies that Dickens frequently interweaves humor into his treatment of grave matters in his books to captivate Victorian readers. This strategy is crucial as he aims not to instill terror, but rather utilize humor as an instrument. Furthermore, the primary themes of the novel are ingeniously presented in the first installment, seeding a thought in readers' minds for future development. These central themes encompass manipulation, crime, matriarchal dominance, and seclusion which are initially investigated through Pip's interaction with tombstones in the cemetery while he contemplates his dead relatives.

Pip is the first character we meet who experiences isolation, and he has no living relatives in this world except his sister, Mrs Joe. Mrs Joe is known to be unpleasant and shows no love or care for Pip. However, Pip is not the only character in the novel who faces isolation. Miss Havisham and Estella

also experience isolation. They are both disconnected from the world of men and the outside world. Additionally, Estella is isolated from her own thoughts and greatly influenced by Miss Havisham.

Despite not being introduced to Miss Havisham and Estella early on in the story, the text implies that isolation will be a recurring theme, affecting more than just Pip. Learning about the deaths of Pip's parents and siblings fills the reader with sympathy and curiosity regarding their fate. This desire for answers acts as motivation to continue reading. Additionally, manipulation is a prevalent theme that is established right from the beginning.

The seeds of manipulation are sown from the very beginning when the reader is introduced to the convict and witnesses his tactics of manipulating Pip. At this stage, Pip's immaturity is evident as he becomes frightened by the convict's threats and potential consequences. The convict explicitly warns Pip that any failure to comply with his demands, no matter how trivial, will result in his heart and liver being torn out, roasted, and eaten. This cunning and clever portrayal of the convict further emphasizes his capability to manipulate others.

Both Pip and Mr Joe suffer manipulation and abuse from Mrs Joe, who constantly makes them feel guilty. However, they support each other when facing beatings and bullying. The novel also explores the ironic theme of matriarchal power, as Mrs Joe, despite adopting Mr Joe's name, is the dominant figure in the Gargery household. This extract highlights the abuse endured by Pip and Mr Joe: 'I may truly say I've never had this apron of mine off, since born you were.'

The theme of matriarchal power is consistent throughout the

novel, extending to the Satis house where Estella and Miss Havisham both exert this power. They taunt and deceive Pip, leading him to believe in falsehoods such as the identity of his benefactor and Estella's affections for him. This theme of matriarchal power in the novel successfully captures the reader's attention, as I personally desire to see a negative outcome for Mrs Joe due to the pain she inflicts upon Pip and Mr Joe. In the end, my wish is fulfilled.

The text discusses Pip's ability to endure and resist the abuse he receives, which appeals to both Victorian readers who can empathize with the situation and modern readers who appreciate a just ending for wrongdoers. Crime emerges as the central theme of the novel, with Pip encountering it early on when he encounters a convict in an unpleasant manner. This encounter exposes Pip to a world of crime, and it remains a constant presence in his life, influencing his thoughts and actions.

Pip's anxiety is evident during a dinner scene with Mr Joe, Mrs Joe, Pumblechook, and other characters. He nervously hopes that the stolen food he has is not what will be served for tea. Another encounter with crime occurs when Orlick, somewhat kindly, ends Pip and Mr Joe's torture by killing Mrs Joe. These crime-related incidents shape the novel and create an intriguing appeal for readers. In Victorian times, crime was more prevalent than it is now, allowing Victorian readers to easily relate and recognize these events in their own lives.

As crime continues to occur, we, as modern readers, can still connect ourselves to these events. Additionally, everyone enjoys the occasional murder, as it

adds excitement and avoids a monotonous narrative. As we reach the end of the initial chapters, a significant amount of information and action fills our minds, leaving us with numerous questions. Dickens skillfully employs a cliff hanger at this point, just as we are becoming engrossed in the book. This technique effectively ensures that both Victorian and contemporary readers will continue reading, as there is still much more they desire to discover.

Dickens' use of action and suspenseful conclusions successfully stir excitement among readers, achieving his aim of capturing their interest and encouraging them to buy the next installment. To summarize, the first two chapters of the book present a fascinating mix of details, action, and unanswered questions. These doubts encompass the identity and reasons for the convict's situation, Pip's predicament about whether to supply him with food, the potential consequences of Pip's decisions, and how much he can tolerate Mrs Joe's abuse. Dickens masterfully presents these stimulating inquiries that alone are enough to engage me as a reader and mesmerize other modern audiences. Victorian readers would have eagerly awaited the subsequent installment, symbolizing Dickens' victory. Besides these intriguing questions raised, there are plenty more enticing elements that encourage readers to explore further into the story: well-built characters; an absorbing ambiance; vibrant setting; articulate language; subtle humor; compelling themes; and a cliffhanger ending - all playing crucial roles in making this book incredibly appealing. All these factors constitute its enormous charm establishing it as an undeniable success in my view as well as many others.