Great expectations – written by Charles Dickens is a very successful book in many ways, one of the key elements to Dickens writing, is the words he uses, and the effect that they have on the reader.

The particular chapter that I will be focusing on in this essay, is Pip’s encounter with Miss Havisham – this chapter clearly shows the range of effects and techniques that Dickens achieves on the readers, and I will be discussing how they make his characters so memorable and grotesque.

Even in the beginning of this chapter, we can already see that Dickens is starting to entice us with various techniques, to help us empathize with the characters, and to help us mentally picture the image he tries to conjure up in our head of the scene presented to us, “a clear voice demanded “what name?””

The word “demanded” immediately shows that the character speaking, is both in-charge (at a higher social status) and perhaps slightly rude.

In the era of which Dickens lived in (the Victorian era,) a persons authority and power, relied upon on their own individual wealth and social status, this was a key point which Dickens wanted to emphasize with his readers.

Dickens – whilst writing his books – integrated some of the major issues that he considered to be of great importance

The conductor (to which the character was speaking to) then replies, “Pumblechook” although this may only seem like a simple name, the fact that he replies with only one word, makes him appear slightly afraid and shocked at the abrupt “greeting.”

The text then goes on to introduce the main character in this passage “Pip.”

Pip does not speak when he is first introduced, but however, his thoughts are shown, “who was very pretty and seemed very proud” this has great impact on the reader, as he seems very polite and gentlemanly, the use of italics on the word “very” is also quite effective, as this draws the attention on this one word of the sentence, adds to his personality, and makes him seem a little more like a “child.” One other reason that Pip does not speak when he is first introduced, could be that he is too scared of the character that spoke suddenly in the first instance of this passage.

At the end of the first paragraph, Dickens builds up to the introduction of Miss Havisham, by both mentioning her name twice before she is introduced, and by using effective words after lines of speech, “Did you wish to see Miss Havisham?” this ends with a question, which provokes and invites the conductor into replying with a longer answer, “If Miss Havisham wished to see me.”

This is a polite way of answering the question presented, however Dickens has also made this comment seem slightly sarcastic, or again made the conductor seem slightly scared of the young lady that is speaking to him – or Miss Havisham.

The following word confirms our thoughts, that the conductor is uncomfortable or shocked with this young lady’s attitude, “returned Mr Pumblechook, discomforted” this is once again a very effective word to use as it explains why things are happening, and the way that they are happening – this word does not only make Mr Pumblechook feel uneasy, but the reader as well. The comer in this sentence is powerfully used, as it detaches this effective word, from the rest of the quotation, which draws the focus and attention onto that single word.

The second paragraph then follows once again with Pip’s thoughts, “Though she called me boy so often, and with carelessness that was far from complimentary she was of about my ownage.” Here we can see that Dickens is trying to enforce the unjust social status that was around during the Victorian era – this “girl” has already shown through her wording, and the way that she speaks – she is of a higher social status than the other two characters.

I have underlined the word complimentary in this quotation, as it shows the contrast between the “young lady” and Pip, although she

regards herself as of a higher importance than either of the other two characters, she is certainly not polite or complimentary, however someone of a lower social status (Pip) appears to be the exact opposite.

Throughout the whole of this paragraph Dickens is already trying to get the reader to sympathize with Pip’s inner feelings and thoughts, as the young lady appears to be quite “cruel” to him, “After you miss” this shows the manners that Pip seems to know, however, Pip is not only doing this out of his own politeness, but “out of shyness,“ he may have also said this because he is slightly afraid of her, (which may link back to his sister (both female.))

With this, she replies “Don’t be ridiculous, boy; I am not going in.” and scornfully walked away.” Dickens, yet again uses a comer to put more emphasis on a particular word, and in this case the word is “boy.” The instant reaction that the reader takes to this, is to sympathize with Pip.

At the end of this passage, the young lady does not only leave Pip alone, but takes the candle with her “what was worse – took the candle with her” this implies that Pip is left in the dark – and cold as the only comforting thing has been taken away, it could be argued that the presence of Estella (the young lady) was more bearable than the dark, although she may have been intimidating. This could implicate that Pip is afraid of the dark – Estella may have been an extended metaphor for a star, or something distant which brings a small glimmer of hope – this small hope being Pip’s safety net from the dark.

“This was very uncomfortable, and I was half afraid. However, the only thing to be done being to knock at the door, I knocked” This does not only effect the character – and his emotions but it also effects the reader, and makes them feel uncomfortable too. Dickens then builds up to Pip knocking the door. This makes the situation tense, as Dickens has previously set the atmosphere before hand, and we do not know what to expect behind the door, or what Pip’s reaction will be to it.

When Pip first enters the room, the first thing that is described is the lighting, and where it is coming from, “well lighted with wax candles” , “No glimpse of day light was to be seen.” Dickens uses this as his first description of the room to stress the fact of the darkness in the house – this may link back to deeper emotions (such as depression and despair, which relates to Miss Havisham’s emotions.)

Pip then spots Miss Havisham “sat the strangest lady I have ever seen, or shall ever see.” This leaves us open to imagine what she looks like, and also gives us an insight to Pip’s future life (shall ever see.)

Dickens then gradually describes Miss Havisham to us, so that she slowly turns into a figure that Dickens wanted to emplace in our minds.

The description immediately shows us that Miss Havisham has authority, and a high status, “dressed in rich materials” this may be one of the reasons that Miss Havisham appears so strange to Pip, as he has never seen many people outside of his own social class

Dickens describes the clothes that she is wearing, he repetitively uses the word “white”, this gives it a particularly ghostly feel; it also helps to give a bigger impact and more contrast when she is then described to have faded – and her colours washed out.

In this particular paragraph, Dickens also shows the reader a brief summary of Miss Havisham’s past, which links closely with love, followed quickly with despair and sorrow, at this point we begin to sympathize with Miss Havisham as well as Pip.

This is yet another technique that Dickens cleverly uses to make his characters memorable, by changing our emotions and views on the

character very dramatically through the text, (and in this case sympathy to aversion .)

Dickens then goes to elaborate on Miss Havisham’s personality and again – her past, however this time she also beings to take these harsh feelings of hers out on Pip. Once again this encourages the reader to sympathize with Pip as he is an “innocent child” and from a lower status background than her. Pip can do nothing as a consequence of this.

As well as making characters memorable physically, Dickens also makes them memorable by their characteristics and personality, in this extract Miss Havisham is shown to be very dramatic, heartbroken and in grief – even after numerous years, “what do I touch?” “Your heart” “Broken!” From this quotation we can clearly see that Miss Havisham is distraught from her reply “Broken!”

This is a one word reply, and with the emphasis of an exclamation mark, it helps the reader understand Miss Havisham’s anguish.

Pip seems to be quite taken aback by this manner of ruthlessness, and finds it difficult to meet her demands that she is asking of him, “I want diversion, and I have done with men and women. Play” This is a very demanding way of putting something, and for Pip is very awkward as he now knows Miss Havisham’s authority that she bears.

Pip finds this a very hard and un-natural thing – considering the surroundings and the situation, Pip then says, “I am very sorry for you, and very sorry I cant play just now.” And “but it’s so new here, and so strange and so fine and melancholy–.” Here we can see Pip is masking his fear, and again starts to compliment Miss Havisham and her property to explain the reason as to why he cannot meet her demands – despite the fact that she insults and pressures him.

Dickens then focuses on Miss Havisham’s eyes, “Before she spoke again, she turned her eyes from me” this could be seen as disappointment, but also to remind herself that worse has happened, and so she seems to recoil into another state of depression once more, like she has done for numerous years.

Pip is then told to call for Estella, “Call Estella,” she repeated, flashing a look at me” Pip once again gets “threatened” by Miss Havisham’s eyes and yet another demand – which Pip does not take to this very easily, but considering the consequences and the situation that he is in, he has no choice, Pip then openly discusses his thoughts and feelings to the reader,

“ To stand in the dark in a mysterious passage of an unknown house” Pip once again links darkness in with fear, and the unknown – which is quite daunting for a boy of his age. He then goes onto explain how Estella is seen like an extended metaphor for a star, “But, she answered at last, and her light came along the dark passage like a star.” Estella sheds light into the passage and clears his fear from the dark.

Estella is then asked to play cards with Pip, and it is from this moment onwards that Pip’s own view changes about himself – and others that are closely linked with him, even though he has only been affected by a stranger that he has never met before.

When Miss Havisham asks Estella to play cards with Pip, her immediate response is, “With this boy? Why, he is a common labouring-boy!” Once again she puts Pip down, by insulting his social status (common labouring) and she also refers to him as a boy, twice, which is slightly hypocritical as she is of the same age as Pip.

The fact that Estella appears so attractive (pretty) to Pip, makes it the fact that she is so cruel to him worse, as she is something that he can never have – and appears to be better off than him in multiple ways.

Miss Havisham seems to be Estella’s support – as she is the one that orders her around, and tells her exactly what to do, and how to do it. This connects to Pip, as he has been previously ordered to perform certain tasks for her, this shows that Miss Havisham is quite a dominant figure, and perhaps takes her misfortune out on others, with less authority than her own. Miss Havisham then tells Estella, “Well? You can break his heart” or so it seems, Pip says that he thought he overheard this – at this point we can see that Dickens defiantly wants to hint at us what is to come, and how cruel and conniving both of the pair are.

“what do you play boy?” Estella never refers to Pip by his actual name, but always as “boy” she is taking one of the few things that he has which is personal to him, and slowly picks away at other things which makes him feel insecure about his appearance and personality.

Pip and Estella then sit down to play “beggar my neighbour” – Miss Havisham is then described to be “corpse-like.”

Pip describes her clothes – which shows her age and shows her way of thinking (which appears to be ever sorrowful.)

Estella continuously insults Pip about ever thing she can find, and everything that she does pick at, begins to break down Pip’s own confidence and his own identity, as she slowly makes him ashamed (and aware) of ever imperfection that he has – even though it may not necessarily matter, Pip takes notice of her because of her looks and authority. “He calls the knaves, Jacks this boy!” , “And what course hands he has! And what thick boots!” every insult follows with an exclamation mark, both for more impact and to make Estella appear more and more cruel to Pip, this makes the reader sympathize with Pip, and for doing so, makes Estella’s personality extremely memorable.

Later on in the text, Miss Havisham asks Pip what he thinks of Estella, knowing full wellwhat he is thinking – she sees this as a release of pain – from the past, and takes great pleasure in seeing Pip in a diluted form of what she felt.

“I think she is very pretty … I think she is very proud … I think she is very insulting” Pip does not explain fully how he is feeling here, whether he knows this will give Miss Havisham the satisfaction of hurting his inner feelings or not.

“Saving for that one weird smile at first” this implies that Miss Havisham is gaining pleasure out of this, as mentioned before.

Estella gives Pip a short and prompt order as soon as the game ends, and she takes him outside, “You are to wait here, you boy” this is a very direct command, as she mentions the word “you” twice in the same short sentence, which makes it seem quite interrogating, Pip – as usual – innocently obeys her command.

The Last page of this chapter sums everything up extremely well; it is very effective and has huge impact on the reader. Pip starts to insult himself, and begins to see the imperfections of himself, “my course hands and my common boots” the word “common” has been driven home to Pip, and begins to use it to disregard himself – this makes the reader sympathize with Pip even more, as we can see him as innocent. Pip begins to blame himself and Joe for the way he is, “ask Joe why he had never tough me to call those picture-card, Jacks, which ought to be called knaves” the reason that he was not taught this, was because Joe did not know – not out of ignorance, this makes the readers feel slightly protective over Joe.

Estella returns without looking at Pip, this triggers off the last few series of events, “as if I were a dog in disgrace” Dickens uses metaphors frequently in this text, which addresses the characters to certain attributes.

“I was so humiliated, hurt, spurned, offended, angry, sorry – I cannot hit upon the right name for the smart” Pip tries to explain all of his emotions to the reader, but fails to do so – as he is feeling so mixed up at this point in time, – and as a consequence, the readers empathize with Pip.

“The tears started to my eyes. The moment they sprang there, the girl looked at me with a quick delight in having been the cause of them” Estella has truly achieved what Miss Havisham wanted – pain.

Pip knows that his pain was Estella’s and Miss Havisham’s aim – and so looks Estella straight in the face and attempts to stop his tears, but as soon as she leaves he feels even worse, Dickens uses this like a “fishing rod reel” he winds the emotions in, and then progressively lets them out again, this has a much bigger impact on the audience.

At the end of this chapter, Dickens finishes it with Pip letting go of all of his emotions, and showing his true feelings, “As I cried, I kicked the wall and took a hard twist at my hair; so bitter were my feelings, and so sharp was the smart without a name, that needed counteraction”

Pip uses physical pain to sooth his mental pain, he feels such a hatred towards himself and the way that he is, that he needs a way of taking it out – and so he lets it out quite violently.