1.

Magwich used to work for Compeyson (a criminal, but he has been raised well, gone public —
private — boarding school, seems of a higher class). And before Magwich worked for him,
Compeyson was the one who lied to Miss Havisham and said he would marry her, and left her on
her wedding day! Magwich also mentions a man named Arthur (Family name) who hallucinates
about a woman in a while veil who terrorizes him. He finally dies (Miss Havisham’s brother).
Magwich knows nothing about Miss Havisham today. Dramatic irony: We know, Pip knows, Herber
knows, but Magwich does NOT.
2. Dickens social commentary — Not really his fault, he needed to survive. He was not wanted. He was
neglected. Yes, he made some bad choices, but would we? We can all be a “Magwich” in the right/
wrong circumstances. There is. ot real “right” answer here: In one way, yes, he is to blame (HE made
those choices), but in another way, we cannot really blame him. Social Statement about how those
with money and means are quick to blame others.
3. When they are caught and come to court, Compeyson only received 7 years of jail time and
Magwich recievs 14! Why? Compeyson uses hus privileged position in the Upper Middle Class (and
his schoooling and connection) to get lesser sentence. Magwich is from the lower classes, there is.
biased against people like this. We see this all the time today, still… Race, Gender, (The truth is
hidden! It does not come out!)
4. Bhkj

1. The situations are similar: There seems to be a divide, a division between the “unclean” world or
prison and Magwich (Provis) and the purity, beauty, of Estella (Black and White)… There is change
now… Pip is saying that the division that seemed so clear before is not as clear now… Maybe things
aren’t so “black and white”.
2. The plan is to get Magwich out of England (because he will be executed if caught). Pip plans to go
abroad with Magwich (proves) — Herbert agrees with the plan. They will need to hide Magwich until
they can figure out what to do. Pip will need to cover for Magwich (disguise, place to live, cloths)
Now that Miss Havisham and Estella are out of the picture (they never were part of the
Expectations), he will need to leave.
3. On the surface, they are squaring off (almost ready to fight) when talking about Estella. Perhaps
(underneath) each one is worried about the other and Estlla’s love, we can see this in how Drummle
tries to settle Pip, his country origins, the forge, etc. Maybe Drummle feels threatened that Pip
might get Estella. (에스텔라를 핍에게 뺏길까 봐)

1. Was insecure like a “rag doll” — he was only sent there to play. There was fear, as well unknown.
Power — He is powerless, Delusion begins about what it means to be “rich” and a “gentleman”. Part
II sill deluded, still believing, strengthens by Miss H.’s leading him one! NOW: Anger! Pip is coming
into his own. The fear is gone. He is now a man.
2. (She never said that she was his benefactors, Pip is the one who loves Estella, no matter what, Pip
became friends with the Pockets — his tutor, Mr. Pocket and Herbert, his best friend and Mr.
Pocket’s son) — Miss Havisham is correct in many ways, Pip is, in fact, to blame for his own misery.
How mush can we blame Mis Havisham? Has she ever been other than her nature? In one way, we
can’t. Sadistic! However, she has been cruel (there was a starry-eyed young boy who came to her
home, and… Symbolism — OUR lives… Forse in life = Miss Havisham represents a kind of force in
our lives? (Injustice, inequality, unexplained coldness of the universe, heartless) Delusion
3. Pip expresses his concern for Mr. Pocket and Herbert — Pip wants Miss Havisham to keep
supporting Herbert the way that HE, Pip, has for years…
4. She is (and has always beed) cold, does not have the ability to love anyone, really. Even if they had
gotten together, they would not be happy: he would continue to be tormented by her… So/
Therefor, he is more upset with Miss H. And himself? (For having been in this unrequited love and
delusion) He says that even if she does not love him (Pip) that he cannot see her with someone like
Drummel = selfless love (This shows Pip’s transformation, his change)

Critical (“Umbrella”) Questions on Cambridge Exams for English Literature

Introduction:
These questions tend to be about very broad topics that run throughout the novel (play). They are quite
different from passage-based questions. Here are some examples from other novels:
- How does Shakespeare deal with the theme of “friendship” throughout the play?
- How does Yen-Mah highlight the concept of persistence in Chinese Cinderella?

Do not be scared of these kind of questions. They actually allow to take about a great deal in the play or
novel.

Specific to Great Expectations:

- How des Dickens vividly convey Pip’s feelings towards Joe?
- How does Dicknens highlight the theme of hardship in the novel?
- Explore Dicken’s use of the character Miss Havisham as a diving force in the novel.

Step one:
Already been done (you have chosen which question you want to answer).

Step two:
You must understand what the question/prompt is asking you to do. What to do?
Ex: How does Dickens highlight the theme of “Hardship in the novel?
* Hardship - problems, difficulties that affect one’s life - something that goes on for a while and must
be overcome (if possible) or one will be unhappy.
* Joe (lack of education, not really ‘loved’, har-working man who has little money, losing pip.)
* Convict (Magwich) — orphan, victim of circumstances, (return to England) survival
* Estella — (Part II): We see her feelings, that she is tired of not being her own person, cold, heartless
(and knows it).
* Pip — orphaned, somewhat abused, not exactly “loved” except by Joe, not satisfied with who he is
(meeting Estella/Miss H.), ‘magically’ gets what he has always wanted (money/Expectations) — but
social class (biased, discrimination, judged on the outside), He is ignorant of what to do with these
things… become a gentleman… remains hopelessly, obsessively, deludedly in love with Estella.

Need and opinion/thesis: What is YOUR idea/opinion of Dickens’ using “Hardship” in this novel?

Fad’s brainstoriming for a thesis:

- There are some people in the novel who have hardship and are tormented and unhappy (Jaggers,
Miss H., Estella)
- There are other people in the novel who has headship BUT they seem contented and almost happy
many times (Joe, Biddy, Herbert, Wemmick”
- Pip seems to be in the middle (happy at the forge and at home, questions it when he meets Estella
and Miss H. Unhappy in London when he gets money/expectations, SHOCk bitter unhappiness when
he first meets Magwich.

Working Thesis — Dickens shows different manifestations (how something shows itself) of hardship:
Whether or not you are rich, successful, of a high social class, you will never truly overcome hardship
unless you find the joy in life.

Step Three — Brainstorming and Plan

*** Remember: 1) Get you reader ready/interested in your essay; 2) Talk about the topics; 3)
Introduction (same as a passage-based, except in passage-based, you need to make a reference to the
passage):You are setting up the theme or topic (hardship)
* Dickeens (he had hardship in his own life — overcome)
* Topic — Hardship for a variety of characters/social classes
* Pip: Main character — his coming of age = his overcoming his hardships
* Thesis (end) OR set it up
Charles Dickens was an author who certainly knew what hardship meant, and we can see manifestations
of that in Great Expectations. Almost every character seems to have his or her share of hardship,
whether it is poverty or not having one’s love, all seem to be affected by some external force. Yet at the
same time, while some characters seem almost content in their hardship, others are tormented. The key
to understanding Dicknen’s use of hardship is in seeing how each character — and ourselves — go
through the hardship.

Body p1
* People sho are miserable in their hardships and why
* Dickens’s techniques — characterization (jagger’s giving his finger, handkerchief, “man trap”, etc.)
Dramatic irony, structure.

Body p2
* People sho have hardships but are content/happy
* Dickens’s techniques — Dramatic Irony (particularly with Biddy, Joe, Herbert: we, the readers are
aware of

Novels mean to me in 2021