Great Expectations: Gods Law Vs. Human Law Essay -- Great Expectations

Great Expectations Gods legality vs. Human LawIn his book Great Expectations, the problematic char make believeer of moral judgementand justice that stems from a conflict between Gods righteousness and humans law is one ofseveral topical themes that Charles Dickens addresses. This conundrum regularlysurfaces in his treatment of plot and setting, and is more subtlety illustratedin his use of character. To facilitate the readers awareness of such aconflict, the narrator frequently uses language that has Christian connotations whenrelating his thoughts and when giving descriptions of the environment,characters and events that take place. While these things bothude to noble andmoral law, the story itself revolves around crime and criminals, therebybringing issues of human law into focus.The climate for this theme is established from the very beginning of thenovel. Pips act of Christian charity towards the convict can also beconsidered a serious crime. The story opens in a churchy ard where the grave,symbolic of endless judgement can be contrasted with the nearby gallows,symbolizing human punishment. manipulate on the eve in which we commemorate the birthof Christianity, an institution found on charity and love, Pip feels guilty forbringing food to a starving fellow human. Pip must steal food from his avouchfamily to help Magwitch, thereby transforming mercy and compassion into crimes.As Pip is caterpillar tread home, he looks back at the convict and sees him limpingtowards the gallows "...as if he were the bandit come to life, and come d accept,and going back up again" (27). This vision conveys a complicated perception ofguilt as something conscious of its own moral accountability, frightening andself-destructive. When Magwitch is caught, he gives a false confession to steal the food from the Gargerys to protect Pip. Joe replies that hewouldnt want him to starve and that he was congenial to it. Pip highlights theconflict between divine and hu man law by comparing the Hulk that his convict isreturned to as "a wicked Noahs ark" (56). therefore in these first few chapters,the ideals of justice, mercy, law, and punishment are intermingled and confused.This confusion is furthered by Mrs. Joe, who actually transforms charityinto punishment. Her beatings, bullying and lectures of how she brought Pip up"by passel" at great personal sacrifice are a immutable reminder ... ...er. In one short episode, Pip has describedhimself as a penitent, a prisoner, and a confessed wrongdoer.The conflict between Pips own instincts regarding righteousness andconventional perceptions of justice and punishment is manifested as the guilt heis overburdened with throughout his childhood and young adult life. Pip accumulatesthese feelings and attempts to suppress them throughout most of the story. Atone point the narrator takes a aftermath to reflect on his guilty conscience     As I had magnanimous accustom ed to my expectations, I had insensibly begun tonotice their effect upon myself and those around me. Their square up on my owncharacter, I disguised from my recognition as ofttimes as possible, but I knew verywell that it was not all good. I lived in a state of chronic uneasinessrespecting my behaviour to Joe. My conscience was not by any means comfortable or so Biddy. (256) He goes into great debt in his attempts to distract himselffrom this guilt, and drags his dear friend Herbert on with him (which he alsoexpresses guilt about). His vain attempt to make reparations with hisconscience by sending "a penitential codfish and a barrelful of oysters