Dickens Use of the Word Hand - 3157 Words

Dickens Use of the Word Hand [Dickens] genius is descriptive; he can describe a thing so vividly#8212;and so influentially#8212;that no one can look at that thing in the same way again. John Irving The King of the Novel Descriptive Dickens Use of the Word Hand Charles Dickens description in Great Expectations is a telling example of why people consider him one of the greatest and most successful novelists ever. Dickens uses his talent for descriptive writing throughout Great Expectations to develop his characters and themes. Many of these themes emerge from Dickens personal experiences, specifically his emphasis on the importance of education and his ideas that wealth and position are†¦show more content†¦The most common definition of the word hand in the American Heritage Dictionary is: the terminal part of the human arm below the wrist, consisting of the palm, four fingers, and an opposable thumb, used for grasping and holding. There are eighteen other literal meanings for the word hand as well as innumerable metaphorical meanings. In Great Expectations Dickens uses literal meanings, symbolism, and repetition of the word hand in order to develop his characters; in particular, the repetition of the word hand assists Dickens illustrate two of his major themes: the importance of education and the idea that wealth and position are corrupting. Dickens uses hand imagery to develop several of his major and minor characters. The characters range from Drummle (Pips adversary) all the way to the main character, Pip himself. Drummle is depicted as a man of shady character. During a conversation at the Jaggers estate, Drummle hides his hands in his pockets. Drummle attempts to use physical violence to settle an argument rather than communicating like a true gentleman (G.E. 201). Though Drummle is a minor character, his actions play a major role in the lives of Estella and Pip. Estella is theShow MoreRelatedA Christmas Carol (Charles Dickens)1144 Words   |  5 PagesCharles Dickens believed it was up to him to inform the people of Britain of the social problems occurring around Britain. While Dickens was a young man, he suffered from poverty along with his mother and father. His father was imprisoned for dept and Charles wanted to become a social reformer. Dickens used these problems as themes for his book ‘A Christmas Carol. These themes involve poverty, pollution and a changing of ways. Dickens used Scrooge, the main character in the book at first to showRead MoreDickens Great Expectations1378 Words   |  6 PagesDickens Great Expectations In this essay, I will compare the presentation of Pip as a young boy with that of Pip as an adult in Great Expectations. This novel is about a young orphan boy Pip who is given great expectations, when an unknown benefactor gives him money to become a gentleman. In the process he travels to London, deserting the people who care for him. This is a typical Victorian novel in that it has sentimental deathbed scenes such as Magwhichs whichRead MoreA Christmas Carol854 Words   |  4 PagesA Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. In this extract we are presented with Scrooge. From the beginning Scrooge is presented as a miser. In the extract we find out that he is an old, rude and ignorant man that doesn’t appreciate others around him. Dickens uses different language techniques to describe Scrooges appearance as clear as possible. In the opening paragraph Dickens uses imagery to create a vivid impression of Scrooge. He is described as ‘a tight-fisted hand at the grind-stone’, and thisRead MoreMystery and Suspense in Dickens Short Story The Signalman Essay512 Words   |  3 PagesThe Signalman was first published in the Mugby Junction Christmas Edition book in eighteen sixty six. 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If they would rather die, [...] they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population., such insult allows the reader to comprehend that Scrooge is nothing more than a greedy man who solely believes that theRead MoreA Christmas Carol Essay1010 Words   |  5 PagesA Christmas Carol was written by Charles Dickens in 1843. Life for the lower class during this time was extremely hard because of enormous amounts of illnesses, young children worked and no education. A Christmas Carol was set in mid 19th century, during this time people had a really bad time; most of the people was unemployed and the people who were employed were paid deficiently, others were seasonal or casual, which meant they were when work was available so most of the families lived in povertyRead MoreGreat E xpectations Motif Essay1130 Words   |  5 PagesThe Hands Society Motif Essay Throughout time society as a whole has greatly changed and developed to what it is now. One major part of the society is the social class structure. In Charles Dickens’ novel, Great Expectations, Dickens expresses his beliefs on that structure in many ways. Since Dickens wrote the novel during the Victorian Era it reflects and evaluates the beliefs and values of the time. For the most part ones place in the social order was based on wealth and the reputationRead MoreEssay on The Personality of Scrooge1338 Words   |  6 PagesEbenezer Scrooge is the major character in the story, A Christmas Carol written by Charles Dickens. A Christmas Carol is about how a â€Å"cold-hearted, tight fisted, selfish† money grabbing man is offered an opportunity of a life time, to change his behaviour, attitude... to have a second chance in life. The theme of this novella is to look at the good you do in life and how it carries over after your death. The moral of the book is; People can make changes in their lives whenever they really wantRead MoreThe Personality of Scrooge Essay example1341 Words   |  6 PagesEbenezer Scrooge is the major character in the story, A Christmas Carol written by Charles Dickens. A Christmas Carol is about how a â€Å"cold-hearted, tight fisted, selfish† money grabbing man is offered an opportunity of a life time, to change his behaviour, attitude... to have a second chance in life. The theme of this novella is to look at the good you do in life and how it carries over after your death. The moral of the book is; People can make changes in their lives whenever they really wantRead MoreScrooges Transformation in Dickens A Christmas Carol Essay1319 Words   |  6 PagesEbenezer Scrooge is the major character in the story, A Christmas Carol written by Charles Dickens. A Christmas Carol is about how a â€Å"cold-hearted, tight fisted, selfish† money grabbing man is offered an opportunity of a life time, to change his behaviour, attitude... to have a second chance in life. The theme of this novel is to look at the good you do in life and how it carries over after your death. The moral of the book is; People can make changes in their lives whenever they really want to