Although the content in the passage does not directly relate to Pip’s previous experiences in the novel, the mood and tone of the excerpt greatly correlates to early scenes in the novel, especially the one in which Pip and Joe are returning from catching the two convicts. By describing everything from Joe’s furnace in the night to the way the marshes were gleaming, Dickens is able to retain the dark, somber mood which is so prevalent and important to many scenes. In fact, this dull mood is emphasized in part by the theme of shame, which is evident in many key passages throughout the novel. After being embarrassed by Estella over and over again, Pip feels nothing but humiliation as he begins the long trek home.By describing the scene with imagery
