Throughout his novels, Charles Dickens uses symbols to represent emotions or desires, or to point out certain characteristics. These symbols come in a variety of forms from reappearing objects to elemental forces. In Great Expectations, the image of fire is commonly repeated throughout the novel and appears in most, if not all, settings. It materializes as candles, forges, and hearths. Fire is not just meant to set the atmosphere in this novel, but it conveys a deeper message about the characters in the scene. While many may believe that this seemingly ever present fire represents a sense of home and family, in Great Expectations Dickens uses fire to reveal and display feelings. Primarily, these are extraordinary moments of introspection and
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Fire is present in many of the setting in this novel, but it is when the fire is engaged by a character that the meaning of it comes to light. Many characters have a penchant to gaze or stare at the fire, sometimes in the absence of words, during pivotal times in their journeys. When Pip first learns that he has come into property, Pip and Joe both start “gazing intently at the burning coals...and nothing was said for a long time” (143), showing the introspection about the way in which their lives will change from this point. A similar situation occurs after Pip discovers Magwitch is his benefactor. Pip “found [himself] sitting by the fire again, waiting for -- Him -- to come to breakfast” (329). At this moment, Pip is reflecting on his recent past, saying “all this time I had never been able to consider my own situation” (329), yet sitting by the fire provides, at least briefly, a moment of introspection that he is unable to get in other settings. Pip sees fire as a chance to reflect. As the presence of fire provides these reflective moments, the lack of fire also prevents introspection for characters. In his first visit to Satis house, Pip writes, “a fire had been lately kindled in the damp old-fashioned grate, and it was more disposed to go out than to burn up, and the reluctant smoke...seemed colder than the clearer air” (84). The fire at Satis is ineffective; it does nothing to resemble the contemplative, “glowing” (143) fires the reader experiences elsewhere. While at Satis house, Pip is delusional, he is not able to take stock of his emotional and physical processes, the very definition of introspection. He is obsessed with this perverted image of an upper class life, and also he wrongly convinces himself that Miss Havisham is his benefactor. This is also direct evidence that fire does not represent a sense of home and warmth
Fire is present in many of the setting in this novel, but it is when the fire is engaged by a character that the meaning of it comes to light. Many characters have a penchant to gaze or stare at the fire, sometimes in the absence of words, during pivotal times in their journeys. When Pip first learns that he has come into property, Pip and Joe both start “gazing intently at the burning coals...and nothing was said for a long time” (143), showing the introspection about the way in which their lives will change from this point. A similar situation occurs after Pip discovers Magwitch is his benefactor. Pip “found [himself] sitting by the fire again, waiting for -- Him -- to come to breakfast” (329). At this moment, Pip is reflecting on his recent past, saying “all this time I had never been able to consider my own situation” (329), yet sitting by the fire provides, at least briefly, a moment of introspection that he is unable to get in other settings. Pip sees fire as a chance to reflect. As the presence of fire provides these reflective moments, the lack of fire also prevents introspection for characters. In his first visit to Satis house, Pip writes, “a fire had been lately kindled in the damp old-fashioned grate, and it was more disposed to go out than to burn up, and the reluctant smoke...seemed colder than the clearer air” (84). The fire at Satis is ineffective; it does nothing to resemble the contemplative, “glowing” (143) fires the reader experiences elsewhere. While at Satis house, Pip is delusional, he is not able to take stock of his emotional and physical processes, the very definition of introspection. He is obsessed with this perverted image of an upper class life, and also he wrongly convinces himself that Miss Havisham is his benefactor. This is also direct evidence that fire does not represent a sense of home and warmth