Having been made to fend for himself when he was young
since his father was incarcerated in debtors' prison, Charles Dickens held a particular
empathy for the gamin and the orphaned. His poignant narrative of Pip, the orphan, who
is the victim of "Tickler" and the harangues of Uncle Pumblechook and Mrs. Joe cannot
but touch the hearts of readers, young and old alike. For young readers of today, the
narrative may seem strangely exaggerated; however, the style of Dickens is such that
even their sympathies should be aroused.
While Pip shivers
in the grey cemetery and looks at the graves of parents he does not know; and, while his
sister is a termagant, Pip enjoys the warmth of the forge and the love of the strong,
good soul, Joe Gargery. His terrifying experience with the convict--negative as it
is--also serves to demonstrate the charitable nature of Pip, who would not have the man
starve. His theft of the "wittles" for the convict is wrong, but in the context of the
narrative, readers must surely perceive that Pip acts out of fear and human charity.
Besides, his guilty conscience clears the incident of any immoral
tone.
Then, Pip's encounter with the eccentric Miss
Havisham and the arrogant Estella, along with the quirky "pale young gentleman," are
sure to entertain and intrigue young audiences. Certainly, their sympathies would extend
to Pip who is ridiculed for being poor and lower class
[common].
Pip's being manipulated by everyone except Joe
and little Biddy, another orphan who is exploited, may well raise the ire of young
readers of today who enjoy such freedoms unknown to children of the Victorian Age.
However, the poignancy of Pip's feelings and his loving relationship with Joe, and the
humorous passage in which the blustery Pumblechook chokes on the tar water surely must
mitigate any negative reactions that they may experience.
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