The believability of Dickens' storyline relies on the readers' acceptance of several coincidences. Identify at least one such coincidence, and explain its signifcance to the story.
From the beginning of his novel, Dickens had begun laying thread for, what seems to be, the first of said coincidences. Upon encountering a ratty convict, Pip was coerced into stealing food and file from his family for the fiend's benefit. Pip does so successfully, his plunder including a meat pie. And though upon delivery of said items his partnership with the convict was terminated, Pip was far from the ease of innocence; soon after this encounter, a small gathering formed in Pip's home for the commencement of Christmas dinner, the dessert of which was to be the a fore mentioned meat pie! However, much to Pip's relief, as the pie's disappearance was discovered a team of guards arrived in need of pip's "uncle" the blacksmith's assistance. COINCIDENTALLY this guard was in pursuit of the very convict Pip had encountered! As such, the pie mystery was soon forgotten, and a portion of Pip's gathering (including Pip) was allowed to join the criminal's pursuit. He was soon captured, and Pip was allowed to look his former partner in the eye before he was hauled back to his prison. Such an intricate display of events changed the coarse of the story in a couple of ways: One, it allowed Pip's guilt over his recent crimes to be sustained, shaping him into a boy more cautious of sin. And two, it created a greater sensitivity in Pip towards another man's plight, as well as his own power over it.
Another coincidence is Pip's meeting of Miss Havisham. After visiting her several times she then helps him a little financially and sees him into his apprenticeship with Joe. She also states that he must always keep the name Pip and never change it. When Pip later decides that he no longer wants to be apprenticed to a blacksmith and wants greater expectations it is again coincidence that he should be granted this wish shortly after. Because of Miss havisham helping him out financially already, he believes that she is his benefactor, the one that has caused him to come into these great expectations. So because of his initial encounter with Miss Havisham, Dickens is able to keep the story going and the true identity of Pip's benefactor a suprise.
The most startling and obvious coincidence I saw was the circumstantial previous knowledge of Estella's parents. Through no voluntary effort, Pip was able to meet both the parents of his childhood complexion. At this point in the novel, I lost some faith in the story. It seemed preposterous to me that the scope of the setting was compressed enough to allow such unlikely connections between the characters to be formed so easily. However, I do understand the sense of drama created may have compensated for it in some readers minds. The startling effect was the most prominent twist in the story until that point, lending a stronger interest to how much farther the connections will unfold. In my opinion, it was too much believability forfeited for a simple dazzle effect.
The "cheesiest" coincidence to be the way Estella's parents worked out.... I felt like I should have seen it coming before but didn't. That's when I felt like the story got a little too unbelievable for my liking.
4 comments:
From the beginning of his novel, Dickens had begun laying thread for, what seems to be, the first of said coincidences. Upon encountering a ratty convict, Pip was coerced into stealing food and file from his family for the fiend's benefit. Pip does so successfully, his plunder including a meat pie. And though upon delivery of said items his partnership with the convict was terminated, Pip was far from the ease of innocence; soon after this encounter, a small gathering formed in Pip's home for the commencement of Christmas dinner, the dessert of which was to be the a fore mentioned meat pie! However, much to Pip's relief, as the pie's disappearance was discovered a team of guards arrived in need of pip's "uncle" the blacksmith's assistance. COINCIDENTALLY this guard was in pursuit of the very convict Pip had encountered! As such, the pie mystery was soon forgotten, and a portion of Pip's gathering (including Pip) was allowed to join the criminal's pursuit. He was soon captured, and Pip was allowed to look his former partner in the eye before he was hauled back to his prison. Such an intricate display of events changed the coarse of the story in a couple of ways: One, it allowed Pip's guilt over his recent crimes to be sustained, shaping him into a boy more cautious of sin. And two, it created a greater sensitivity in
Pip towards another man's plight, as well as his own power over it.
Another coincidence is Pip's meeting of Miss Havisham. After visiting her several times she then helps him a little financially and sees him into his apprenticeship with Joe. She also states that he must always keep the name Pip and never change it. When Pip later decides that he no longer wants to be apprenticed to a blacksmith and wants greater expectations it is again coincidence that he should be granted this wish shortly after. Because of Miss havisham helping him out financially already, he believes that she is his benefactor, the one that has caused him to come into these great expectations. So because of his initial encounter with Miss Havisham, Dickens is able to keep the story going and the true identity of Pip's benefactor a suprise.
The most startling and obvious coincidence I saw was the circumstantial previous knowledge of Estella's parents. Through no voluntary effort, Pip was able to meet both the parents of his childhood complexion. At this point in the novel, I lost some faith in the story. It seemed preposterous to me that the scope of the setting was compressed enough to allow such unlikely connections between the characters to be formed so easily. However, I do understand the sense of drama created may have compensated for it in some readers minds. The startling effect was the most prominent twist in the story until that point, lending a stronger interest to how much farther the connections will unfold. In my opinion, it was too much believability forfeited for a simple dazzle effect.
The "cheesiest" coincidence to be the way Estella's parents worked out.... I felt like I should have seen it coming before but didn't. That's when I felt like the story got a little too unbelievable for my liking.
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