How Dickens Creates Sympathy for the Characters in Great Expectations E

How Dickens Creates Sympathy for the Characters in Great Expectations Published initially as a weekly contribution in a local newspaper, Dickens’ Great Expectations developed to be a great success. Great Expectations was a story for all classes, both rich and poor appreciated his efforts. Great Expectations is the tale of Phillip Pirrip who has no family except an older sister, he feels insecure in the world around him. Having no parents to give him a sense of identity, he wanders in the wilderness that is the graveyard to search for answers. Dickens’ own life was very much along the lines of Pip, his father a well paid clerk went to jail for unpaid debts. Dickens himself was a weak and feeble child who was not cared for. He moulds his family history in to the character of Pip, who also suffers in a way that Dickens had. This essay focuses on which writing techniques Dickens uses to help the reader empathize with the characters of Pip and Magwich. The techniques in particular to be examined are setting, characterization, narrative voice and dialogue. The chapter opens in the desolate setting of a marshy graveyard. Already an ambience of anxiety and uncertainty has been created. The marsh is a symbol of wilderness, amid which stands a lonely Pip. Pip is physically and mentally alone in his surroundings; he has no sense of belonging. This helps the reader empathize Pip’s helplessness and isolation. The wet and marshy scenery resemble a distorted nature, which reflects the events happening in Pip’s life. The graveyard symbolizes death and terror. It is in the graveyard that Pip realizes the death of his parents and encounters Magwich. Pip’s innocent mind hallucinates about the appearance of his parent... ... in the reader as he describes in his own words, his misfortune and abandoned past. Alternatively, Dickens use of dialogue with Magwich creates a negative impression for him in the reader. Magwich is very aggressive in his mannerism and dialogue, for instance, `Hold your noise'. The sudden contrast of dialogues (from courteous to offensive) creates confusion in the passage, similar to the one that runs between Magwich and Pip throughout the chapter. However, Magwich’s character is revealed through his dialogue and the reader starts comprehending his reason for acting hostile manner towards Pip. Like Pip, Magwich is also vulnerable as seen with `I wish I was a frog. Or a eel!’ This piece of dialogue shows Magwich as a man who is infuriated with his poor standard of life. The similarity between Magwich and Pip is made more apparent with their dialogue. How Dickens Creates Sympathy for the Characters in Great Expectations E How Dickens Creates Sympathy for the Characters in Great Expectations Published initially as a weekly contribution in a local newspaper, Dickens’ Great Expectations developed to be a great success. Great Expectations was a story for all classes, both rich and poor appreciated his efforts. Great Expectations is the tale of Phillip Pirrip who has no family except an older sister, he feels insecure in the world around him. Having no parents to give him a sense of identity, he wanders in the wilderness that is the graveyard to search for answers. Dickens’ own life was very much along the lines of Pip, his father a well paid clerk went to jail for unpaid debts. Dickens himself was a weak and feeble child who was not cared for. He moulds his family history in to the character of Pip, who also suffers in a way that Dickens had. This essay focuses on which writing techniques Dickens uses to help the reader empathize with the characters of Pip and Magwich. The techniques in particular to be examined are setting, characterization, narrative voice and dialogue. The chapter opens in the desolate setting of a marshy graveyard. Already an ambience of anxiety and uncertainty has been created. The marsh is a symbol of wilderness, amid which stands a lonely Pip. Pip is physically and mentally alone in his surroundings; he has no sense of belonging. This helps the reader empathize Pip’s helplessness and isolation. The wet and marshy scenery resemble a distorted nature, which reflects the events happening in Pip’s life. The graveyard symbolizes death and terror. It is in the graveyard that Pip realizes the death of his parents and encounters Magwich. Pip’s innocent mind hallucinates about the appearance of his parent... ... in the reader as he describes in his own words, his misfortune and abandoned past. Alternatively, Dickens use of dialogue with Magwich creates a negative impression for him in the reader. Magwich is very aggressive in his mannerism and dialogue, for instance, `Hold your noise'. The sudden contrast of dialogues (from courteous to offensive) creates confusion in the passage, similar to the one that runs between Magwich and Pip throughout the chapter. However, Magwich’s character is revealed through his dialogue and the reader starts comprehending his reason for acting hostile manner towards Pip. Like Pip, Magwich is also vulnerable as seen with `I wish I was a frog. Or a eel!’ This piece of dialogue shows Magwich as a man who is infuriated with his poor standard of life. The similarity between Magwich and Pip is made more apparent with their dialogue.