Great Expectations :: Great Expectations Essays

Great Expectations What techniques does Dickens use to present the characters? Dicken’s uses a variety of techniques in order to present his characters. By doing this it gives us a better and a clearer image of the characters. The first technique I’ll consider is his use of language which he uses very well. This technique is used to present his characters very effectively. Dickens aim is to show how physically and mentally destroyed Ms. Havisham is. He does this by surrounding her with images and language of death. The phrase ‘corpse-like’ tells us this. It shows the audience that Ms. Havisham is half alive yet half dead. That she looks like a corpse. The words ‘corpse-like’ suggests that Ms. Havisham is the living dead. By using this language it will give the reader an image and idea on how Ms. Havisham looks and feels. Dickens also tells us that she has, ‘a dead lull upon her’. This is implying that she no longer has life or energy. She looks like as if she is dying. Almost life less. It suggests that Ms. Havisham is very calm and quiet. Dickens uses these words to illustrate that Ms. Havisham is dying and her mental state is or has been destroyed. ‘Grave clothes’ is also showing the audience that she has an appearance of a person dead. He continues to use this because he is using languages of death and images of death and by using this it will give the reader an even better impression of Ms. Havisham. Dickens knows that nobody wears grave clothes apart from people who are dead and buried. It is as if she has buried herself alive in the house because her heart has been ‘broken’. Dickens also uses languages of loss. The words ‘once white, now yellow’ is implying she had a prime, and now she is past it. It also suggests that Ms. Havishams belongings were ‘once white, now yellow’ as well. Dickens wants to show the readers that his protagonist has nothing left, therefore he links Ms. Havisham to the idea of loss, ‘she has lost its lustre’, she has even lost her human structure, and ‘chest had dropped’. Her fiancà © has left her and she cannot carry on with her life. Dickens is emphasizing that his character has lost everything. She was attractive, bright but now has lost her life shine, radiance and therefore is now dull and old. The readers see that Ms. Havisham is a lost soul and cannot carry on with her life. ‘Nothing would ever lift it up again’ helps support this. It is saying that whatever is done she would never recover and she will never be