Character Map: Orlick
Orlick is an antagonist in Great Expectations. He grows up with Pip as Joe’s
assistant at the forge. He attacks Mrs Joe, leaving her brain-damaged and later
dead, and has connections with Compeyson.
“It was you, villain,” Pip retorts boldly.
Pip is worried that he will die and none of his loved ones will know how he hoped to
improve himself. Orlick reveals that he has connections with Compeyson and has
solved the mystery of Magwitch, and that he was the shadowy figure lurking in Pip’s
stairwell.
“I won’t have a rag of you, I won’t have a bone of you, left on earth,” (Orlick
says to Pip)
Orlick takes a swig of liquor, then picks up a stone hammer and advances
towards Pip. Pip cries out, and suddenly Herbert bursts in with a group of men to
save him. Herbert had found Orlick’s note asking Pip to meet in the marshes and
followed Pip there. Orlick manages to escape in the ensuing scuffle. Rather than
pursuing him, Pip rushes home with Herbert so that they can help Magwitch escape.
Orlick blames Pip for many things (ruining his chances with Biddy, getting him
fired, and Pip being favoured by Joe) but his hatred for Pip is largely irrational: he
simply wants to destroy him. Orlick has no self-awareness and contrasts powerfully
with Pip, whose every action is subject to relentless self-scrutiny. Orlick is a perfect
tool for the manipulative Compeyson, who has no doubt orchestrated the entire
attack.
Orlick’s untimely reappearance reintroduces an element of pure evil. Orlick is a
caricature with no redeeming qualities; he is malicious and cunning and hurts
people because he enjoys it.
Orlick is an antagonist in Great Expectations. He grows up with Pip as Joe’s
assistant at the forge. He attacks Mrs Joe, leaving her brain-damaged and later
dead, and has connections with Compeyson.
“It was you, villain,” Pip retorts boldly.
Pip is worried that he will die and none of his loved ones will know how he hoped to
improve himself. Orlick reveals that he has connections with Compeyson and has
solved the mystery of Magwitch, and that he was the shadowy figure lurking in Pip’s
stairwell.
“I won’t have a rag of you, I won’t have a bone of you, left on earth,” (Orlick
says to Pip)
Orlick takes a swig of liquor, then picks up a stone hammer and advances
towards Pip. Pip cries out, and suddenly Herbert bursts in with a group of men to
save him. Herbert had found Orlick’s note asking Pip to meet in the marshes and
followed Pip there. Orlick manages to escape in the ensuing scuffle. Rather than
pursuing him, Pip rushes home with Herbert so that they can help Magwitch escape.
Orlick blames Pip for many things (ruining his chances with Biddy, getting him
fired, and Pip being favoured by Joe) but his hatred for Pip is largely irrational: he
simply wants to destroy him. Orlick has no self-awareness and contrasts powerfully
with Pip, whose every action is subject to relentless self-scrutiny. Orlick is a perfect
tool for the manipulative Compeyson, who has no doubt orchestrated the entire
attack.
Orlick’s untimely reappearance reintroduces an element of pure evil. Orlick is a
caricature with no redeeming qualities; he is malicious and cunning and hurts
people because he enjoys it.
