Great Expectations (Grades 9–1) York Notes

Dickens uses lots of techniques to present the relationship between Magwitch and Pip. This chapter in the novel is very important because it shows Pip meeting Magwitch when he is grown up. Magwitch was a criminal and has lived in Australia and now has come back to London and he wants to make Pip a gentleman. Pip finds out that Magwitch wants to make Pip a gentleman and he has been giving Pip money. Magwitch says I worked hard so you could get rich.

Pip thinks Magwitch is a terrible beast because Magwitch is dirty and a criminal. He met Magwitch on the marshes when he was a little boy and he helped Magwitch get food and drink. It is very important to Magwitch that Pip is a gentleman and that Pip should have nice clothes but Pip doesn’t like Magwitch.

Dickens presents the relationship between Magwitch and Pip by showing us the way they meet at the start of the novel and then there is a big gap where we don’t hear from Magwitch and then it is a big surprise for the reader when he comes back into the novel here in the middle when Pip is grown up. Pip thinks Miss Havisham has given him all the money. Dickens presents Pip and Magwitch as friends when Magwitch dies and Pip loves him and tells him that Estella is his daughter. Magwitch says But didn’t you never think it might be me? And Pip says Never, never. Pip actually starts to wish that Magwitch had never come to the blacksmiths and wishes ‘he had left me at the forge’ because Pip is not very happy in London and he has spent all his money.

Dickens presents Magwitch as a criminal and Pip as a little boy at the beginning at the book and Magwitch says ‘Darn me if I couldn’t eat ’em’, and Pip thinks that Magwitch wants to eat him. Magwitch calls Pip a little devil and lifts him upside down and uses rough language.

At the end of the book we find out that Estella is Magwitch’s daughter and Pip has fallen in love with Estella. Dickens presents Pip and Magwitch as like dad and son by the end because Magwitch has worked hard to give money to Pip and he wants to make Pip a gentleman. Pip and Herbert try to help Magwitch escape but Compeyson drowns and Magwitch ends up in prison. Pip goes to visit Magwitch and Magwitch wants Pip to be a gentleman but Pip has spent all his money and has lots of debt. Pip has to go to work to pay all his debts. Dickens presents the relationship between Pip and Magwitch as good and bad it’s bad at first because Pip is scared of Magwitch and then he is embarrassed that Magwitch is a criminal. It’s good at the end because he loves Magwitch when Magwitch dies and Pip is sorry that he was horrible to Magwitch and tried to get rid of him when Magwitch needed his help.