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Great Expectations Exemplars:
Two Grade 9 Essays for Grade 9 Students
- Designed for the AQA spec
Study Saviour
, Explore how far Dickens presents Magwitch as a dangerous character:
In Charles’ Dickens’ bildungsroman, Great Expectations, Abel Magwitch is portrayed as
a dangerous, malevolent and fear - inducing character who terrifies Pip from the very
moment the two first meet on the marshes.
Dickens depicts Magwitch as a fear inducing and dangerous character in the extract
by drawing attention to his overbearing appearance and the way in which he towers
over young Pip like a monster risen from the graves that surround him. For example,
the way in which Magwitch is presented as ‘a fearful man, all in coarse grey, with a
great iron on his leg’, uses colour imagery, such as in the phrase ‘all in coarse grey’ in
order to draw attention to the change of mood created by Magwitch’s presence.
Furthermore the use of the adjective ‘great’ within the phrase ‘great iron on his leg’
juxtaposes the smallness and helplessness of young Pip and the beginning of the
novel whose very name likens him to a small pip or sapling easily crushed, uprooted or
brought into harm’s way. The way in which Magwitch is described as ‘a fearful man’
also alludes to the potential for Magwitch, whose name is analogous to ‘witch’ to be
dangerous and supernatural or perhaps even possess the ability to enchant Pip or
cast his evil magic upon the child. Additionally, the use of listing in the sentence makes
it appear as if the pace of the novel quickens, causing the reader to empathise with
the trepidation experienced by young Pip. Again, in the line ‘a man who…glared and
growled; and whose teeth chattered in his head as he seized me by the chin’ the use of
the verbs ‘glared and growled’ depict Magwitch as a kind of monster as opposed to an
ordinary man, whose alliteration reiterates the fear - inducing character that
Magwitch is. Furthermore the use of such violent language alludes to Magwitch being
alike to a feral and wild and uncontrollable animal, whose lack of ability to be
controlled means that he is rambunctious and dangerous. In addition, in the line
‘seized me by the chin’ the way in which Magwitch ‘seizes’ young Pip alludes to vicious
and savage brutality, further conveying the likeness of Magwitch to an uncontrollable
animal.
Another way in which Dickens portrays Magwitch as a dangerous character, within the
entirety of the novel, Great Expectations, is by reference to his physical strength and
imposing figure. For example, in the tragicomic line ‘after each question he tilted me
over a little more, as if to give me a greater sense of helplessness and danger’ in which
the juxtaposition of the adjectives ‘little’ and ‘greater’ reinforces the smallness of
young Pip in vast contrast to Magwitch who towers over the young boy like a giant and
the way in which he tips Pip over with such agility. Furthermore, the way in which Pip is
rendered ‘helpless’ draws attention to Magwitch's ability to coerce and compel Pip into
bringing him the ‘wittles’. Additionally this sense of helplessness felt by Pip alludes to
the idea that Magwitch has Put Pip under a spell, forcing Pip to cooperate with him -
this again is reinforced by Magwitch’s very name seemingly being composed of the
words magic and witch’. Again, in the line ‘your and liver shall be torn out, roasted and
ate’ in which the savagery and brutality described does not appear far-fetched with
reference to Magwtch who acts as if a wild animal. Furthermore, the use of violence
imagery in the line, such as depicted by the lines ‘tore out’ and ‘roasted’ which
reinforced the potential threat that Magwitch poses to young Pip. This ‘tearing’ and
violent imagery once again liken the qualities of Magwitch to animalistic ones and
again remind the reader of his beastly nature and abilities. In addition, as Magwitch is
an escaped convict who has freed himself from a hulk, Dickens’ animalistic motif acts
as a satire against the Victorian Justice system that holds prisoners like caged
animals in great ships - institutionalising them and effectively causing them to develop
and evolve into animalistic monsters.
Great Expectations Exemplars:
Two Grade 9 Essays for Grade 9 Students
- Designed for the AQA spec
Study Saviour
, Explore how far Dickens presents Magwitch as a dangerous character:
In Charles’ Dickens’ bildungsroman, Great Expectations, Abel Magwitch is portrayed as
a dangerous, malevolent and fear - inducing character who terrifies Pip from the very
moment the two first meet on the marshes.
Dickens depicts Magwitch as a fear inducing and dangerous character in the extract
by drawing attention to his overbearing appearance and the way in which he towers
over young Pip like a monster risen from the graves that surround him. For example,
the way in which Magwitch is presented as ‘a fearful man, all in coarse grey, with a
great iron on his leg’, uses colour imagery, such as in the phrase ‘all in coarse grey’ in
order to draw attention to the change of mood created by Magwitch’s presence.
Furthermore the use of the adjective ‘great’ within the phrase ‘great iron on his leg’
juxtaposes the smallness and helplessness of young Pip and the beginning of the
novel whose very name likens him to a small pip or sapling easily crushed, uprooted or
brought into harm’s way. The way in which Magwitch is described as ‘a fearful man’
also alludes to the potential for Magwitch, whose name is analogous to ‘witch’ to be
dangerous and supernatural or perhaps even possess the ability to enchant Pip or
cast his evil magic upon the child. Additionally, the use of listing in the sentence makes
it appear as if the pace of the novel quickens, causing the reader to empathise with
the trepidation experienced by young Pip. Again, in the line ‘a man who…glared and
growled; and whose teeth chattered in his head as he seized me by the chin’ the use of
the verbs ‘glared and growled’ depict Magwitch as a kind of monster as opposed to an
ordinary man, whose alliteration reiterates the fear - inducing character that
Magwitch is. Furthermore the use of such violent language alludes to Magwitch being
alike to a feral and wild and uncontrollable animal, whose lack of ability to be
controlled means that he is rambunctious and dangerous. In addition, in the line
‘seized me by the chin’ the way in which Magwitch ‘seizes’ young Pip alludes to vicious
and savage brutality, further conveying the likeness of Magwitch to an uncontrollable
animal.
Another way in which Dickens portrays Magwitch as a dangerous character, within the
entirety of the novel, Great Expectations, is by reference to his physical strength and
imposing figure. For example, in the tragicomic line ‘after each question he tilted me
over a little more, as if to give me a greater sense of helplessness and danger’ in which
the juxtaposition of the adjectives ‘little’ and ‘greater’ reinforces the smallness of
young Pip in vast contrast to Magwitch who towers over the young boy like a giant and
the way in which he tips Pip over with such agility. Furthermore, the way in which Pip is
rendered ‘helpless’ draws attention to Magwitch's ability to coerce and compel Pip into
bringing him the ‘wittles’. Additionally this sense of helplessness felt by Pip alludes to
the idea that Magwitch has Put Pip under a spell, forcing Pip to cooperate with him -
this again is reinforced by Magwitch’s very name seemingly being composed of the
words magic and witch’. Again, in the line ‘your and liver shall be torn out, roasted and
ate’ in which the savagery and brutality described does not appear far-fetched with
reference to Magwtch who acts as if a wild animal. Furthermore, the use of violence
imagery in the line, such as depicted by the lines ‘tore out’ and ‘roasted’ which
reinforced the potential threat that Magwitch poses to young Pip. This ‘tearing’ and
violent imagery once again liken the qualities of Magwitch to animalistic ones and
again remind the reader of his beastly nature and abilities. In addition, as Magwitch is
an escaped convict who has freed himself from a hulk, Dickens’ animalistic motif acts
as a satire against the Victorian Justice system that holds prisoners like caged
animals in great ships - institutionalising them and effectively causing them to develop
and evolve into animalistic monsters.
