Charles Dickins was a perceptive social commentator who was aware of the conditions of the poor and afflictions of the Victorian society. Dickens succeeded in waking the Victorian public to its social abuse through his satirical novels that ridiculed the economic, moral, and social issues in the era. His novels sparked debates for moral and social reform through its social analysis as well as emerging a public opinion that was once controlled by the authorities. Through Great Expectation’s diction and imagery, the reader can depict the satire promoting this social reform. In his novel, Great Expectations, Charles Dickens satirically juxtaposes the characters Magwitch and Pip in order to recognize the values of the classes and analyze how wealth
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Charles Dickins utilizes diction in Great Expectation to express an informed and descriptive feel. Through diction, the reader is able to distinguish between characters an understand more about them that will assist in portraying satire in the novel. The reader is addressed this concept on page 298 where the convict states “I swore afterwards sure as ever I spec’ lated and got rich, you should get rich” as well as “Look’ee here, Pip. I’m your second father. You’re my son—more to me nor any son. I’ve put away money, only for you to spend” (298). Dickens writes the convict’s dialogue to use words as “spec’lated” rather than “speculated” and “look’ee” instead of “look” to indicate the convict’s lack of education and low class lifestyle. From this scene, Pip conjures the idea that if he “instead of abhorring him; [he] been attracted to him by the strongest admiration and affection, instead of shrinking from him with the strongest repugnance; it could have been no worse” (301). Contrary to the convict’s dialogue, Pip utilizes complex words as “abhorring” and “repugnance” in place of “disgust” to portray his growth from an innocent child in Chapter 1 to a sophisticated gentleman (301). Through distinguishing Dicken’s characters, the reader is able to grasp a piece of the character’s personality, background, and
Charles Dickins utilizes diction in Great Expectation to express an informed and descriptive feel. Through diction, the reader is able to distinguish between characters an understand more about them that will assist in portraying satire in the novel. The reader is addressed this concept on page 298 where the convict states “I swore afterwards sure as ever I spec’ lated and got rich, you should get rich” as well as “Look’ee here, Pip. I’m your second father. You’re my son—more to me nor any son. I’ve put away money, only for you to spend” (298). Dickens writes the convict’s dialogue to use words as “spec’lated” rather than “speculated” and “look’ee” instead of “look” to indicate the convict’s lack of education and low class lifestyle. From this scene, Pip conjures the idea that if he “instead of abhorring him; [he] been attracted to him by the strongest admiration and affection, instead of shrinking from him with the strongest repugnance; it could have been no worse” (301). Contrary to the convict’s dialogue, Pip utilizes complex words as “abhorring” and “repugnance” in place of “disgust” to portray his growth from an innocent child in Chapter 1 to a sophisticated gentleman (301). Through distinguishing Dicken’s characters, the reader is able to grasp a piece of the character’s personality, background, and