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Defining Magwitch in Great Expectations Essay

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Defining Magwitch in Great Expectations Great Expectations was written in the era of Queen Victoria; ironically a time of great progress and prosperity. Sadly, this was not the case for all. Education benefited the rich. As a result, there was a huge gap between the rich and the poor. The justice system was harsh, favouring the rich, two hundred men and women were put before the judge to be sentenced to death every week. It is clear that Dickens reflects on the society of the time, and shows the unjust, class divided society Magwitch was a part of and the need to reform a legal system which treated this man so unjustly. Knowing Magwitch grew up in this brutal society, it isn't surprising that …show more content…

There is a sense of gratitude on his part which the reader has to respect. We see this kindness again when Pip goes to the pub with Joe, Mr. Wopsle and a stranger one night. During the course of the evening, the stranger brings a file out of his pocket to stir his drink. The file he uses is identical to the one Pip gave to Magwitch that night on the marshes. Later the stranger gave Pip a shilling rapped in two pound notes. This generosity soon becomes obvious to the reader and that the money is from Magwitch. It is these moments of compassion which alter the reader's view of the violent bully and create a sense of respect for him. Magwitch describes his life as "in jail and out of jail" and in his own words he tells us that he is a criminal, but that he is not ashamed. It is not surprising considering that he was abandoned from an early age and so he was "ill brought up" and "a thieving turnip" was the only way for him to stay alive. Jail was his second home and he soon became a juvenile offender in trouble with the police all the time and eventually got the reputation of being "hardened". You can hardly be envious of Magwitch' life and you begin to pity him. Magwitch is prepared to stare death in the face to get what he wants and he isn't afraid of death because he has had

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