This paper seeks to analyze the two most dominating Gothic elements in Charles Dickens' novel "Great Expectations" and their effect on the atmosphere and on the development of the main protagonist Pip. From his earliest works, Dickens has included elements of Gothic literary conventions into his novels. Dickens used the rich atmospheric, thematic and metaphorical repertoire of Gothic elements to entertain his readers and to utter social critique. In his novels Dickens produces a scary, menacing and mysterious atmosphere and similarly depicts the social problems of the “haunted British society” (Mighall 86). This is explicitly true for Dickens’s novel "Great Expectations".
In academic literature there have been diverse critical interpretations about Dickens’s use of Gothic elements and their effect. However, it is still a growing field of academical research and only few Gothic elements of the novel Great Expectations are documented in detail.
To get an overview of the Gothic novel’s genre, the characteristic elements of Gothic novels will be introduced in brief. These are the Gothic setting as well as supernatural and irrational elements. To get an instrument for the analysis of the Gothic setting in "Great Expectations", the characteristics of the Gothic novel’s setting will be introduced. Then, the atmospheric effects of the settings Satis House, London, and the misty marshes in Dickens’ "Great Expectations" will be analyzed in detail. Also, their influence on Pip’s personal development will be examined.
Furthermore, the repertoire of the supernatural and irrational elements in the Gothic novel will be presented. In "Great Expectations" these Gothic elements are represented through Pip’s dreams and hallucinations which also add to the haunting atmosphere and illustrate Pip’s development. In the end, the most important findings of the paper will be summarized and further aspects of the topic will be pointed out.
Throughout the paper, it will be shown that the Gothic elements in "Great Expectations" create a menacing and mysterious atmosphere and also illustrate and influence the personal development of Pip.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The Gothic Novel and its Repertoire of Gothic Elements
3. The Gothic Setting
3.1. The Misty Marches
3.2. Satis House: A Relict of the Gothic Castle
3.3. Pip‘s London: An Exotic Word Full of Guilt and Crime
4. Supernatural and Irrational Elements
5. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Core Themes
This paper aims to analyze the most prominent Gothic elements within Charles Dickens’s "Great Expectations" to understand how they shape the novel's menacing atmosphere and influence the psychological growth and moral development of the protagonist, Pip.
- The role of Gothic settings in reflecting character states and building suspense.
- The symbolic function of landscapes, specifically the marshes, Satis House, and London.
- The impact of supernatural elements, dreams, and hallucinations on Pip’s self-recognition.
- The connection between guilt, crime, and the Gothic atmosphere.
- The transformation of Pip’s identity through his engagement with these Gothic manifestations.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1. The Misty Marches
In the novel Great Expectations Dickens creates a menacing atmosphere that dominates the whole novel right from the very beginning. Great Expectations opens in a sinister and scary Gothic setting. Young Pip is on a foggy churchyard at the grave of his parents and his five little brothers. This exposes him as an orphan who is endangered by Gothic horror. Pip is consequently threatened by a fearful looking convict who turns him upside-down, empties his pockets and seats him on a tombstone (Dickens 4). Losing his equilibrium is an image of Pip’s distorted view of the world which he must learn to correct in the cause of the novel (Campbell 193-195). Dickens here uses Gothic devices to emphasize Pip’s transformation. Landscapes and people that seem hostile or evil to him turn later out to be good and vice versa.
The landscape and the weather foreshadow subsequent happenings but also express Pip’s feelings of horror and fear. The marshes are a wild Gothic landscape often hung with deep mist. Therefore, the atmosphere is mostly very scary, dark and menacing.
When Pip brings the file and the food to Magwitch, the mist of the marshes is very thick and the elements of nature seem to become alive accusing Pip for his theft. In the night the two escaped convicts are hunted the weather is also very uncomfortable: “[…] the weather was cold and threatening, the way dreary, the footing bad, darkness coming on.”(Dickens 29). The hunt takes place in a scary Gothic atmosphere as the convicts are searched on the dark churchyard and in the dismal still wilderness of the misty marches. Likewise, in the night when Pip’s sister is attacked, there is a heavy, wet and thick mist (Dickens 100). This shows that the heavy mist indicates wicked, sinister and criminal happenings.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: The introduction establishes the research focus on Gothic elements in "Great Expectations" and outlines how these elements contribute to the novel's atmosphere and the protagonist's development.
2. The Gothic Novel and its Repertoire of Gothic Elements: This chapter defines the core characteristics of the Gothic genre, highlighting its reliance on suspense, horror, and specific architectural or atmospheric tropes.
3. The Gothic Setting: This chapter explores how physical environments in the novel, such as the marshes, Satis House, and London, function as Gothic spaces that mirror the inner states of characters.
3.1. The Misty Marches: This section examines the marshes as a hostile, atmospheric landscape that serves as an early site of trauma and moral conflict for young Pip.
3.2. Satis House: A Relict of the Gothic Castle: This section analyzes Satis House as a decaying, maze-like structure that embodies Miss Havisham’s stagnation and obsession.
3.3. Pip‘s London: An Exotic Word Full of Guilt and Crime: This section discusses London as an overwhelming, sinister environment that forces Pip to confront the reality of his own guilt and tainted social ambitions.
4. Supernatural and Irrational Elements: This chapter analyzes how Pip’s dreams and hallucinations serve as psychological manifestations of his guilt and provide warnings that guide his eventual moral maturation.
5. Conclusion: The final chapter summarizes how the combination of Gothic settings and supernatural incidents provides a framework for Pip to confront his moral failures and eventually achieve self-awareness.
Keywords
Great Expectations, Charles Dickens, Gothic novel, Gothic setting, Pip, Satis House, Miss Havisham, supernatural elements, hallucinations, guilt, atmosphere, identity, Victorian literature, literary analysis, literary tropes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research paper?
The paper examines the integration of Gothic literary conventions in Charles Dickens’s novel "Great Expectations" and their specific impact on the novel’s atmosphere and the protagonist's character arc.
Which specific Gothic elements are analyzed?
The study focuses on three primary Gothic settings—the misty marshes, Satis House, and London—as well as the use of supernatural and irrational elements like dreams and hallucinations.
What is the central research question?
The research seeks to identify how dominant Gothic elements contribute to the menace of the novel's atmosphere and how they facilitate the personal growth and transformation of the protagonist, Pip.
What scientific methods does the author employ?
The author uses literary analysis, examining the text for specific motifs, symbols, and atmosphere, while referencing academic research to contextualize Dickens's use of Gothic conventions.
What is covered in the main body of the paper?
The main body details the atmospheric effects of landscapes, the symbolic architecture of Satis House and London, and the psychological significance of Pip's recurring dreams and hallucinations.
Which keywords best describe this work?
Key terms include "Great Expectations," "Gothic novel," "atmosphere," "Pip," "guilt," "Satis House," and "supernatural elements."
How does the author interpret Satis House within the Gothic tradition?
Satis House is described as a relict of the classic Gothic castle—a decaying, labyrinthine, and claustrophobic space that mirrors Miss Havisham’s internal psychological decay and obsession.
In what way do hallucinations contribute to Pip's development?
The author argues that Pip’s dreams and hallucinations act as psychological cues that reflect his subconscious guilt, ultimately serving as warnings that guide him toward recognizing his true identity and correcting his moral errors.
What is the significance of the "misty marshes" for the protagonist?
The marshes represent a wild, dark landscape that reflects Pip’s early traumatic experiences and his initial confusion, foreshadowing the menacing nature of his later journey toward moral maturity.
- Quote paper
- Sabrina Rutner (Author), 2014, The Gothic Elements and Atmosphere in Charles Dickens' "Great Expectations". An Analysis, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/308934
