In Charles Dickens's classic novel of maturation,
Great Expectations, the characters of Pip and Magwitch are
certainly memorable. While they appear to share few, if any, similarities, there are
yet some:
- Both Pip and Magwitch are orphans
although Pip has his sister and Joe Gargery to raise him, while Magwitch grows up as a
"gamin." - Both Pip and Magwitch are exploited by a
wealthy person. Miss Havisham has Pip come and play while she allows Estella to
practice her cruelty upon Pip. Similarly poor Magwitch is exploited by Compeyson who
uses Magwitch as his "tool," having Magwitch pass forged notes and
swindle. - Both Pip and Magwitch have evil men pursuing
them: Pip has Orlick who seeks harm to Pip, while Magwitch is pursued by Compeyson, who
learns that he is in London. - Both Pip and Magwitch have
hopeless loves. While Pip longs for Estella, she has no heart, and while Magwitch loves
his little girl, he loses her because of the anger of the
mother. - Both Pip and Magwitch seek better lives than the
ones they hope to have left behind. Pip, of course, wishes to become a gentleman;
Magwitch wishes to behold Pip as a gentleman. - Both Pip
and Magwitch pursue false goals. Pip wants to gain wealth so that he can become a
gentleman, but he learns that to truly be a gentleman, one must have a gentle heart,
such as that dwells in Joe Gargery. Likewise, Magwitch seeks to feel some fulfillment
in his having made Pip into a wealth "gentleman." - Both
Pip and Magwitch experience the love of a friend after traumatic and devastating
circumstances. As he recovers from the burns of the fire which ignites Miss Havisham's
wedding dress, Pip experiences the never diminishing love of Joe Gargery. Likewise,
Magwitch is the recipient of tender car and devotion by Pip who remains with him until
he dies, tending his wounds and broken old
heart.
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