Book Anatomy · Great Expectations
Great Expectations: Viewpoint and narration
14 lenses on viewpoint and narration for Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. Count lenses are exact for our text. AI lenses are our reading and cite only quotes that passed a word for word check.
Jump to: E1 E2 E3 E4 E5 E6 E7 E8 E9 E10 E11 E12 E13 E14
E1. Person and tense: first or third, past or present. Count
First person, past tense. In the narration, past forms come 7,195 times and present forms 168 times.
E2. Whose viewpoint is each chapter? Both
first person. See the full lens on the book page.
E3. Share of the book told by each viewpoint character. Both
Pip is the sole viewpoint character throughout all 59 chapters. The entire narrative is filtered through his perspective, his knowledge, and his growing understanding.
Chapters: Ch 1, Ch 59
E4. Narrative distance: close inside a head, or far off? AI
Narrative distance is close and intimate. The reader is deep inside Pip's mind, experiencing his shame, fear, and confusion in real time. The older narrator occasionally reflects on his younger self's blindness.
Chapters: Ch 1, Ch 14, Ch 27, Ch 39
Since that time, which is far enough away now, I have often thought that few people know what secrecy there is in the young under terror. (Ch 2, para 61)
I loved her against reason, against promise, against peace, against hope, against happiness, against all discouragement that could be (Ch 29, para 2)
E5. Strict viewpoint or head hopping? AI
Strict viewpoint maintained throughout. Pip never knows what others think unless they tell him or he observes their actions. The mystery of his benefactor and Estella's parentage are revealed only as Pip learns them.
Chapters: Ch 18, Ch 39, Ch 48, Ch 51
What was the nameless shadow which again in that one instant had passed? (Ch 32, para 46)
E6. Is the narrator reliable? Where are the cracks? AI
Pip is unreliable about his own motives and character. He misjudges Joe's feelings, misreads Miss Havisham's intentions, and fails to see Estella's true nature. The older narrator acknowledges these blindnesses with hindsight.
Chapters: Ch 9, Ch 27, Ch 38, Ch 44
So, throughout life, our worst weaknesses and meannesses are usually committed for the sake of the people whom we most despise (Ch 27, para 6)
I never thought there was anything low and small in my keeping away from Joe, because I knew she would be contemptuous of him (Ch 29, para 119)
E7. Frames and tales within tales. AI
No formal frames or tales within tales. Chapter 22 contains Herbert's account of Miss Havisham's past. Chapter 42 contains Magwitch's life story. These are embedded narratives but not formally framed.
Chapters: Ch 22, Ch 42
There appeared upon the scene—say at the races, or the public balls, or anywhere else you like—a certain man, who made love to Miss Havisham. (Ch 22, para 52)
In jail and out of jail, in jail and out of jail, in jail and out of jail. There, you’ve got it. (Ch 42, para 1)
E8. Narrator asides and addresses to the reader. Both
20 paragraphs where the narrator seems to speak to the reader or about the telling. (rough estimate from word lists)
Ch 4, para 8: My sister, having so much to do, was going to church vicariously, that is to say, Joe and I were going. In his working-clothes, Joe was a well-knit …
Ch 4, para 11: The time came, without bringing with it any relief to my feelings, and the company came. Mr. Wopsle, united to a Roman nose and a large shining bald …
Ch 6, para 2: I do not recall that I felt any tenderness of conscience in reference to Mrs. Joe, when the fear of being found out was lifted off me. But …
Ch 8, para 49: I think it will be conceded by my most disputatious reader, that she could hardly have directed an unfortunate boy to do anything in the wide world more …
Ch 8, para 100: Nothing less than the frosty light of the cheerful sky, the sight of people passing beyond the bars of the court-yard gate, and the reviving influence of the …
Ch 12, para 6: Estella was always about, and always let me in and out, but never told me I might kiss her again. Sometimes, she would coldly tolerate me; sometimes, she …
The older narrator frequently addresses the reader directly with reflections on his younger self's foolishness and moral blindness. Phrases like 'I was too cowardly' and 'I knew it to be' signal narrator asides.
Chapters: Ch 6, Ch 13, Ch 14, Ch 27, Ch 34
My state of mind regarding the pilfering from which I had been so unexpectedly exonerated did not impel me to frank disclosure; but I hope it had some dregs of good at the bottom of it. (Ch 6, para 1)
I was too cowardly to do what I knew to be right, as I had been too cowardly to avoid doing what I knew to be wrong. (Ch 6, para 2)
So, throughout life, our worst weaknesses and meannesses are usually committed for the sake of the people whom we most despise (Ch 27, para 6)
E9. Documents used: letters, diaries, reports, by type and sender. Both
How often each kind of document is named in the narration. (rough estimate from word lists)
| Document | Mentions |
|---|---|
| letter | 32 |
| note | 21 |
| will | 18 |
| newspaper | 10 |
| report | 5 |
| manuscript | 2 |
| memorandum | 1 |
Letters appear sparingly. Chapter 7 mentions a letter from Biddy. Chapter 27 contains Joe's letter announcing his visit. Chapter 52 contains Wemmick's cryptic note about the escape plan. Chapter 57 contains Joe's farewell note.
Chapters: Ch 7, Ch 27, Ch 52, Ch 57
I write this by request of Mr. Gargery, for to let you know that he is going to London in company with Mr. Wopsle (Ch 27, para 2)
Walworth. Burn this as soon as read. Early in the week, or say Wednesday, you might do what you know of, if you felt disposed to try it. Now burn. (Ch 52, para 6)
Not wishful to intrude I have departured fur you are well again dear Pip and will do better without (Ch 57, para 102)
E10. What the narrator hides, and where the reader knows more than the lead. AI
The reader knows Magwitch is Pip's benefactor before Pip does, through the mysterious stranger in Chapter 10 and hints in Chapters 28 to 29. The reader suspects Estella's parentage before Pip confirms it in Chapter 48.
Chapters: Ch 10, Ch 28, Ch 39, Ch 48
He stirred his rum and water pointedly at me, and he tasted his rum and water pointedly at me. And he stirred it and he tasted it; not with a spoon that was brought to him, but with a file. (Ch 10, para 45)
I knew it to be Joe’s file, and I knew that he knew my convict, the moment I saw the instrument. (Ch 10, para 46)
And I felt absolutely certain that this woman was Estella’s mother. (Ch 48, para 35)
E11. Free indirect style: where the narrator slips into a character's voice. AI
Free indirect style appears when Pip's thoughts blend with narrative voice. Chapter 14 shows 'It is a most miserable thing to feel ashamed of home' as Pip's thought rendered as narration. Chapter 29 uses this for his obsessive love.
Chapters: Ch 14, Ch 29, Ch 34, Ch 38
It is a most miserable thing to feel ashamed of home. (Ch 14, para 1)
I loved her against reason, against promise, against peace, against hope, against happiness, against all discouragement that could be (Ch 29, para 2)
And still I stood looking at the house, thinking how happy I should be if I lived there with her, and knowing that I never was happy with her, but always miserable. (Ch 33, para 61)
E12. How thought is shown: tagged, italic or blended. Count
Thought is mostly shown with tags like thought, wondered, reflected.
| Tag | Times |
|---|---|
| thought | 196 |
| wondered | 13 |
| reflected | 10 |
| said to himself | 1 |
| said to herself | 0 |
| asked himself | 0 |
| asked herself | 0 |
| told himself | 0 |
E13. What triggers each change of viewpoint? AI
No viewpoint changes occur. Pip remains the sole narrator throughout. The narrative perspective shifts only in temporal distance as the older Pip reflects on his younger self's experiences.
Chapters: Ch 1, Ch 59
E14. Hindsight: where an older narrator comments on events. AI
Hindsight commentary is frequent. The older Pip reflects on his shame about Joe, his blindness to Estella's nature, and his moral corruption. Chapter 6 opens with 'I was too cowardly.' Chapter 34 reflects on how his expectations corrupted Herbert.
Chapters: Ch 6, Ch 13, Ch 14, Ch 27, Ch 34
My state of mind regarding the pilfering from which I had been so unexpectedly exonerated did not impel me to frank disclosure; but I hope it had some dregs of good at the bottom of it. (Ch 6, para 1)
I was too cowardly to do what I knew to be right, as I had been too cowardly to avoid doing what I knew to be wrong. (Ch 6, para 2)
So, throughout life, our worst weaknesses and meannesses are usually committed for the sake of the people whom we most despise (Ch 27, para 6)
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