The Chiaroscuro Effect
When generally speaking, light is associated with good and darkness with evil. Light uncovers the truth and reflects a warm enlightening period. Darkness, on the other hand, reflects a gothic tone and confusion. In Great Expectations, the two symbols are controversially used to depict and evoke certain reactions. Pip is often enlightened within the presence of artificial lighting which leads to an even greater state of darkness, or confusion, for him. Also, it plays a role in the development of intercharacter relationships. Great Expectations follows a literary chiaroscuro effect allowing the readers to be left in the dark at times. Dickens uses light and darkness for mood, foreshadowing, and the development …show more content…
“Then, the ends of torches were flung hissing onto the water, and went out, as if it were all over with him.” (Dickens 31) Here, the use of artificial lighting of the torches shows narrative irony and foreshadowing. The readers believe the convicts’ time in this book is extinguished like the light. However, they reappear proving how the controversy between the literary denotations of light and dark are essential to the plotline. Dickens also uses setting with Miss Havisham’s house. It is always dark unless illuminated with artificial lighting. This symbolizes how Miss Havisham is cut off from the rest of the world mentally and how her state of mind is reflected by her external surroundings. In chapter 8, Pip also meets Estella, who is described as a star. She is metaphorically Pip’s guiding star. …show more content…
Every character seems to be searching for redemption for sinful deeds. When Pip goes to see Miss Havisham, he happens to witness the consumption of Miss Havisham to the flames. As Pip tries to save her, he too is burned. This burning through the ultimate form of light, fire, symbolizes a purification and redemption process for both Miss Havisham and Pip; one for the revengeful nature kept throughout life and the other for the lack of appreciation to the right people. In the end, a scene similar to one early written of produces the same effect of foreshadowing and understanding. “... as the morning mists had risen long ago when I first left the forge, so, the evening mists were rising now, and in all the broad expanse of tranquil light they showed to me, I saw no shadow of another parting from her.” The darkness has cleared and what is left is the light with no shadow; a clear understanding with no shadows of doubt.
Light and darkness play the most important role in identifying the meaning of Great Expectations. The two antonyms serve each other with intertwined subliminal messages that tip toe over the border of their denotations. Pip and the reader are often held in the mist during the dark scenes, but some artificial lighting produces an insight which leads to a deeper metaphorical mist. The two symbols deliver
When generally speaking, light is associated with good and darkness with evil. Light uncovers the truth and reflects a warm enlightening period. Darkness, on the other hand, reflects a gothic tone and confusion. In Great Expectations, the two symbols are controversially used to depict and evoke certain reactions. Pip is often enlightened within the presence of artificial lighting which leads to an even greater state of darkness, or confusion, for him. Also, it plays a role in the development of intercharacter relationships. Great Expectations follows a literary chiaroscuro effect allowing the readers to be left in the dark at times. Dickens uses light and darkness for mood, foreshadowing, and the development …show more content…
“Then, the ends of torches were flung hissing onto the water, and went out, as if it were all over with him.” (Dickens 31) Here, the use of artificial lighting of the torches shows narrative irony and foreshadowing. The readers believe the convicts’ time in this book is extinguished like the light. However, they reappear proving how the controversy between the literary denotations of light and dark are essential to the plotline. Dickens also uses setting with Miss Havisham’s house. It is always dark unless illuminated with artificial lighting. This symbolizes how Miss Havisham is cut off from the rest of the world mentally and how her state of mind is reflected by her external surroundings. In chapter 8, Pip also meets Estella, who is described as a star. She is metaphorically Pip’s guiding star. …show more content…
Every character seems to be searching for redemption for sinful deeds. When Pip goes to see Miss Havisham, he happens to witness the consumption of Miss Havisham to the flames. As Pip tries to save her, he too is burned. This burning through the ultimate form of light, fire, symbolizes a purification and redemption process for both Miss Havisham and Pip; one for the revengeful nature kept throughout life and the other for the lack of appreciation to the right people. In the end, a scene similar to one early written of produces the same effect of foreshadowing and understanding. “... as the morning mists had risen long ago when I first left the forge, so, the evening mists were rising now, and in all the broad expanse of tranquil light they showed to me, I saw no shadow of another parting from her.” The darkness has cleared and what is left is the light with no shadow; a clear understanding with no shadows of doubt.
Light and darkness play the most important role in identifying the meaning of Great Expectations. The two antonyms serve each other with intertwined subliminal messages that tip toe over the border of their denotations. Pip and the reader are often held in the mist during the dark scenes, but some artificial lighting produces an insight which leads to a deeper metaphorical mist. The two symbols deliver