Great Expectations Charles Dickens Teresa Asoniti

Great Expectations Charles Dickens First published in 1860-1861 - serialized in “All the Year Round”. Charles Dickens is 49 years old (born in 1812). He is famous, successful and rich. He has divorced his first wife Catherine, slandering her publicly and is having a relationship with young actress Ellen Ternan. He denies the affair in public, as his novels promote family values and high morals. Queen Victoria reigns in Great Britain. Prime Minister: Viscount Palmerston, a Liberal.

Victorian Era Great Britain is a super power. Despite the losses in men during the Crimean War of 1853- 1856 and the Indian Mutiny of 1957-1958 . British Empire thrives commercially in Asia, Africa and the USA and exploits natural recourses and products trading them around the world. The Industrial Revolution brings people to the cities. London expands dramatically; The steamship, the railways and the use of electric telegraph bring everything closer.

Victorian Era In 1867 vote is given to all male householders. Skilled or talented middle class people prospered. Social class boundaries are becoming a little flexible but are still holding. Specific roles are expected of certain people and they should remember not to overstep those boundaries. Morality, ethics, gentlemanly manners and conservatism are highly esteemed. Any unexpected action away from these is considered shocking.

Victorian Era Women cannot attend universities, cannot hold jobs other than servants or teachers if unmarried, or work at the family business. The ideal Victorian woman can only be a wife and mother. Crime is connected to the lower classes, who were considered lazy to do an ‘honest day’s work. The justice system was hard but capital punishment remained only for murderers and traitors. Transportation to Australia was an alternative to incarceration in English prisons.

Dramatis Personae Pip (Philip Pirrip): an orphan around seven or eight years of age. Abel Magwich: an escaped convict, who threatens Pip to gain his freedom and eventually becomes Pip’s benefactor. Compeyson: an escaped convict, whom Magwich tries to kill when they escape. Mrs. Joe Gargery: Pip’s sister and wife to Joe Gargery, a strict, hard and unloving woman. Joe Gargery: Pip’s uncle, a kind hearted, hard working blacksmith and loving stepparent to Pip.

Dramatis Personae Estella: Adopted daughter of Miss Havisham, an arrogant but beautiful creature. Pip becomes her ”arranged” playmate and falls in love with her. Miss Havisham: A peculiar, aristocratic rich lady, living as a recluse with Estella. Biddy: an orphan who teaches Pip to read, write and some arithmetic. Dolge Orlick: Worker for Joe Gargery, a bitter and cruel man, who becomes a murderer. Mr Pumblechook: Joe Gargery’s uncle, a pompous tradesman, he arranges for Pip to become Estella’s ”playmate”.

Dramatis Personae Matthew Pocket: Miss Havisham’s cousin whom she thinks as weak, although he does not care about her money. Later on, becomes Pip’s tutor. Sarah Pocket: Miss Havisham’s cousin and Matthew’s sister.. Herbert Pocket: Mathew Pocket’s son, later on becomes Pip’s roommate and his best friend. Georgiana & Cousin Raymond: Miss Havisham’s cousins. She despises her cousins and believes that they are around her just to take advantage of her money

Dramatis Personae Bentley Drummle: co-tutored by Mathew Pocket, a wealthy, noble but unintelligent and uncouth young man. Startop: co-tutored by Mathew Pocket, a gentle and kindhearted youth, a friend of Pip’s. Mr. Jaggers: The lawyer through which Pip gets an allowance from his secret benefactor. John Wemmick: Mr. Jaggers clerk, a kind and amusing person.

Setting & Basic Turning Points 1812 Christmas Eve, approximately 30 miles from London in a marshland between the estuaries of River Thames and River Medway, in a grave yard. Mrs. Joe Gargery’s house. Magwich and Pip’s first meeting. Pip is looking at the gravestones of his parents and brothers speculating about their appearance and character by the shape of the gravestone, when Magwitch attacks and threatens Pip to bring food and tools to cut his shackles. Pip is regularly mistreated there by his sister. Joe Gargery is his ally in avoiding “tickler” -the stick she hits Pip with whenever he does not behave as she pleases.

Setting & Basic Turning Points Miss Havisham’s boudoir, during visits to Estella. Later in the city of London, where teenaged Pip begins his life to become a gentleman. Pip plays cards with Estella while she experiments her capricious, callous, and heartless behavior on Pip. When Pip acquires a secret benefactor, he starts lessons under Mr. Matthew Pocket, Miss Havisham’s cousin. He shares lodgings with Herbert Pocket, Matthew’s son.

Setting & Basic Turning Points Hammersmith, Matthew Pocket’s residence, during Pip’s visits there. Mr. Jaggers’ house. John Wemmikc’s house Pip strengthens his friendship with Herbert and is reacquainted with Estella. He has a rival to her “love”. Pip sees Molly, Jagger’s housekeeper and learns her story, guessing Estella’s parentage. Pip forges an unexpected friendship with Wemmick.

References Dickens, C. (1861) Great Expectations References Dickens, C. (1861) Great Expectations. Reading, Berkshire: Penguin Popular Classics. Trevelyan, G.M. (1959) A Shortened History of England. Pelican Books, Penguin Books. Green, J. (2009) Great Expectations The Graphic Novel Original Text. : Litchborough, Towchester, U.K.: Classical Texts http://www.biography.com/people/charles-dickens-9274087 http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/victorians Thank you!