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The novel is about 30 years in the life of Pip – Philip Pirrip
The story is told in the first person [first person: The 'I' or 'we' used by a narrator who is a participant in a narrative, in contrast to the third person 'he', 'she' or 'they' of a narrator who is not directly involved. ] by Pip, as a narrator looking back from a mature perspective and commenting (sometimes critically) on his conduct while growing up.
Pip and the convict: Chapters 1 - 6
Magwitch and Pip
Pip is an orphan who has been 'raised by hand' by his sister ('Mrs Joe'), who is married to Joe Gargery, a blacksmith. Pip loves Joe, but Mrs Joe constantly berates [berates: Scolds / tells off severly. ] and bullies both of them. Pip's Uncle Pumblechook and his friend Mr Wopsle also enjoy belittling [belittle: To speak of something as being less important than it really is. ] Pip.
One evening, aged six, Pip goes to the churchyard to see the graves of his family. He meets a convict who has escaped from a nearby prison ship. The convict gets him to steal a file and some food for him, which Pip then feels guilty about.
Soldiers capture the convict – who is not trying to escape, but instead to kill another escaped convict. The convict does not betray Pip; he says he stole the file and food himself.
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