Charles Dickens Great Expectations Essay -- Great Expectations Essays

Charles Dickens' Great Expectations In the novel of Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, one of the pivotal characters is a man named Abel Magwitch. To answer the question of whether this man is a criminal or a victim of society, we must first establish what a criminal is and what a victim of society is. A criminal is someone who knowingly breaks the law for self-gratification. A victim of society is someone who is subjected to outside influences, and is generally mistreated by society. In the context of this novel, a victim of society is also someone who has never been given a chance in life, and has no control over events that occur involving them. Therefore I am going to try and decide which of these two ‘categories’ the character of Abel Magwitch falls into. When we first meet Magwitch in Chapter one our first impressions of him are not positive. Pip describes him as a ‘fearful man’ with a ‘terrible voice’. Although we learn that he is in a terrible state, ‘smothered in mud and lamed by stones’, with a ‘great iron’ on his leg, indicating he has obviously escaped prison and is on the run, we as readers do not feel any sympathy for him. The reason for this is the fact that he is willing to threaten a young boy, seeming to enjoy the power he has over him is almost repulsive to us as readers, making him appear even more harsh. The fact that Magwitch is likened to a dog, he ‘glared and growled’ at Pip, does not help his case. This presents him as an animal, and serves only to alienate Magwitch from the reader. This means that we too share Pips reservations and suspicions about Magwitch throughout the opening chapters, even though it is clear that this man is scared, lonely and hungry enough to thre... ...me suffering as Magwitch. This belief would probably have evolved after his trial with Compeyson, which taught him that the law could be manipulated by class. This shows that Magwitch did not have many criminal intentions, and that he was tricked by Compeyson. In a sense Dickens is trying to show us how real justice can be hard to find. It is because of his low status and poverty that Magwitch never really had a chance. This shows how the justice system has been manipulated by society. Therefore, I think that Magwitch, while having acted like a criminal, is not to blame for his actions and it could be argued that he is even remorseful about them. This shows that he is not a criminal, but a victim of the society he lives in, because he was never given a chance to prove society wrong and make something of his life, he was just labelled and left in jail.

Dear Wife Analysis

John Downe’s letter to his wife creates an enthusiastic, persuasive tone to try to convince her to leave England and come to the United States. The diction he uses and the way he structures his sentences highlights the points he tries to make. He uses an array of rhetorical strategies and devices such as imagery, tone and attitude, and pathos to do so.Throughout most of the letter, Downe describes to his wife the lifestyle in the United States through imagery. The diction he uses gives a comforting, welcoming visual of what the United States has in store for his wife and family. Most of the persuading goes on in the first paragraph as he exemplifies all the great opportunities with leaving England and coming to the United States. He gives his wife a sense of security when he explains that people in the United States do not have to close or lock their doors and can enjoy their lives doing whatever they like, from picking fruits to going to get a drink. He gives her something to look forward to by describing the beauty of America and sharing his experiences.In the second paragraph, Downe gets into a more personal aspect with his word choice and sentence structure through pathos. Short, direct sentences are used to get his point across to his wife. He exemplifies his regret and remorse for leaving the family during his time of hardship and explains that he is back on his feet due to his choice of moving to the United States and starting a whole new life. Downe uses this to explain to his wife that her life can be changed if she comes also. He repeatedly used the word â€Å"dear† to refer to his wife and family and to make a point to personally address his wife.Downe’s tone and attitude throughout the whole letter is persuasive. It is important for him to get his family to move to the United States and enjoy a whole new life together. From describing the market place to trying to degrade England, his sole purpose is to convince his wife that th e United States is a better place for her and his family. He takes a shot at England when he said, that â€Å"there is no improper or disgusting equality† in the United States compared to England. He ends the letter with emotion when he tells his wife to give the children a kiss for him.John Downe uses different rhetorical strategies to try to persuade his wife to move to the United States from England. He paints an image of America that is welcoming and warm. His tone is very persuasive and he uses pathos to form a connection with his wife. Dear Wife Analysis John Downe’s letter to his wife creates an enthusiastic, persuasive tone to try to convince her to leave England and come to the United States. The diction he uses and the way he structures his sentences highlights the points he tries to make. He uses an array of rhetorical strategies and devices such as imagery, tone and attitude, and pathos to do so.Throughout most of the letter, Downe describes to his wife the lifestyle in the United States through imagery. The diction he uses gives a comforting, welcoming visual of what the United States has in store for his wife and family. Most of the persuading goes on in the first paragraph as he exemplifies all the great opportunities with leaving England and coming to the United States. He gives his wife a sense of security when he explains that people in the United States do not have to close or lock their doors and can enjoy their lives doing whatever they like, from picking fruits to going to get a drink. He gives her something to look forward to by describing the beauty of America and sharing his experiences.In the second paragraph, Downe gets into a more personal aspect with his word choice and sentence structure through pathos. Short, direct sentences are used to get his point across to his wife. He exemplifies his regret and remorse for leaving the family during his time of hardship and explains that he is back on his feet due to his choice of moving to the United States and starting a whole new life. Downe uses this to explain to his wife that her life can be changed if she comes also. He repeatedly used the word â€Å"dear† to refer to his wife and family and to make a point to personally address his wife.Downe’s tone and attitude throughout the whole letter is persuasive. It is important for him to get his family to move to the United States and enjoy a whole new life together. From describing the market place to trying to degrade England, his sole purpose is to convince his wife that th e United States is a better place for her and his family. He takes a shot at England when he said, that â€Å"there is no improper or disgusting equality† in the United States compared to England. He ends the letter with emotion when he  tells his wife to give the children a kiss for him.John Downe uses different rhetorical strategies to try to persuade his wife to move to the United States from England. He paints an image of America that is welcoming and warm. His tone is very persuasive and he uses pathos to form a connection with his wife.

Should Cigarette Smoking Be Banned Essay - 1278 Words

Smoking is an expensive habit. People who smoke cigarettes can spend as much as $2,500 a year on them. Smokers’ claim that it helps relax them and it releases stress but the negative aspects of smoking outweigh the positive. Smoking is a health hazard for smokers and non-smokers. Smokers should have the right to choose what to do with their own health but they should respect non-smokers. Many people believe that there are good and bad outcomes from smoking. I believe that smoking is bad and that it should be banned. Many people think that smoking is a sign of coolness but in fact it damages the body. Cigarettes contain nicotine which is an addictive substance and that is why it is hard for smokers to stop smoking. Smoking can damage the†¦show more content†¦Spending money on smoking is too much and leads to nothing, and there are no benefits that people can get from smoking. Smoking can hit personal finances and smokers are burning their money for no reason. Instead o f using money to get cigarettes, people can donate to non-government organizations to wipe out poverty and change people’s lives. Smoking is a major factor that is destroying the environment. Smoking cigarettes is bad for the air. People who do not smoke have to breathe the bad air around the smokers. Smoking needs to be banned in public to let other people breathe the fresh air. Most Americans are exposed to outdoor and indoor air that can cause cancer and other serious health problems. Smoking is a serious problem that needs to be taken care of. If we want a strong environment, clean environment, and a good public health, we need to ban smoking once and for all. Many people believe that smoking is good in many ways. They also think that smoking carries more benefits than not smoking. Smoking will help you make friends. Smokers congregate in very small areas and by doing this brings on a friendship. They exchange stories, exchange news, and enrich knowledge. Smokers all have something in common. They are discriminated against, and thus they quickly bond together. Smoking will reduce stress and anxiety. The calming effects of a constant nicotine supply in the bloodstream will reduce theShow MoreRelatedShould Cigarette Smoking Be Banned?1376 Words   |  6 PagesSurgeon General’s report stated that cigarette smoking is the major single cause of cancer death in the United States. This statement is so true today. Smoking a cigarette is an acquired behavior and that makes it the most preventable cause of death in our society. Cigarettes contain nicotine, tar, and carbon monoxide, as well as formaldehyde, ammonia, hydrogen cyanide, arsenic, and DDT. The main ingredient in cigarettes is tobacco. The nicotine in cigarettes is very addictive and when smoke containingRead MoreShould Cigarette Smoking Be Banned?1365 Words   |  6 PagesShould Cigarette Smoking be banned? 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