How Dickens Creates Sympathy for the Characters in Great...

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†¦show more content†¦Pip’s gloomy and unpleasant surroundings transform him into a â€Å"small bundle of shivers†. The reader is once again reminded of Pip’s vulnerability and defenselessness. The reader feels sympathy for Pip’s misfortune as he suffers from the grief of his family and then terrorization from a â€Å"fearful† convict. For Pip death is in the form of Magwich, a violent convict whose sole purpose is to harm. Magwich’s death is symbolized by the gallows, which create â€Å"terrible† thoughts in Pip’s mind. The mutual misunderstanding created between the characters of their surroundings makes the reader sympathize with both Pip and Magwich. Dickens introduces us immediately to Pip, who is both the central character of Great Expectations and the storys narrator. The name Pip suggests a physically small character that has yet to develop (in to an adult perhaps), just like the pip of a fruit. Dickens builds up the character of Pip throughout the passage. Pip at first seems like an innocent child safe from harm, hopelessly abandoned without his parents. Suddenly Pip is attacked by an unknown stranger, clad in chains and dishevelled in appearance. The immediacy of the situation seems comedic at first but develops to become the focus of the passage. The reader feels sorry for Pip as the escaped convict threaten him just after he realised the death of his parents. TheShow MoreRelatedGreat Expectations Essay822 Words   |  4 PagesGreat expectations coursework My essay is going to be about the 1876 edition novel ‘Great Expectations.’ The author of this novel is Charles Dickens. When the novel opens we meet Pip as a rather young child. Pip is the narrator as well as the main character. This is known as the first person. Pip as an adult talks about Pip as a child. He talks about his life as a child and how it was a struggle without his parents being around to help him. This makes it interesting to read. DickensRead MoreCharles Dickens A Great Writer1105 Words   |  5 PagesOctober 2015 Remembering Charles Dickens Charles Dickens is a famous author who wrote numerous books which were enjoyed by many throughout the years. 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