GREAT EXPECTATIONS CHAPTER #whatever: Introduction of a new character

Pip had only just returned from his visit to his family in the small town that seemed so alien to him now. Exiting from his coach, he was snatched from the street and pulled into an alleyway. “Don’t make a move, yeh little maggit!” snarled a voice from the shadows. “Where be the nearest pub from ‘ere?” “A-About two blocks to the east, sir…Please don’t hurt me, sir!”. The man hidden in the shadows released Pip, and stumbled off. However, he soon tripped and hit his head on a brick wall. “What a poor soul!” thought Pip.

Although he’d been treated so roughly by the man before, Pip decided to at the very least give him some food and tidy him up, as he seemed much the worse for wear. Since Herbert was out for the day, he was able to transport the man without much difficulty.

As the strange man lay on the couch, unconscious, Pip noticed his ragged appearance fully for the first time. He wore a torn brown overcoat covering an equally worn shirt, and Pip could not tell whether his pants were supposed to be short or long, as tattered as they were. He had a scraggly beard and moustache covering half his face, and he smelled as if he hadn’t bathed in weeks. He was not a handsome man, but Pip could not be sure of that, as he was covered in dirt and the aforementioned beard.

Suddenly, the man sat up, flailing around. “Where’m I? Where have ye taken me, ye little devil?” Pip backed up, surprised. “You’re in my apartment, sir. You hit your head and were out for a spell. I’m Pip; may I ask your name?” “Tis Henry Garside, young man, and I’ve fallen on some hard times.” The man leaned his head to one side and appraised Pip with an expert’s eyes. “You seem like a resourceful young man, Pip. Can I trouble ye to get me a wee drink? Brandy, perhaps?” Pip went off to the cupboard to get Garside a cup of brandy, and when he returned Garside was sitting up on the couch. After taking a swig of the brandy, he looked much refreshed, and gave an odd catlike stretch that Pip had never before seen the like of. “Where are you from, sir?” asked Pip. “Oh, here and there.” replied the man cryptically. “What brought you to London? Why’d you accost me in the street back there?” “I am truly sorry, young sir. I have… acquaintances, of a sort, in London, and I would not wish for them to see me. All I wanted at the time was a cold drink, which you have so kindly provided me with.” Garside did his little stretch again. “Oh, that’s no problem sir. You were in need of help, and I provided it. Where’re you bound? Should you get going?” Pip was getting uncomfortable with this strange man, and was not sure anymore if he wished him to stay in his apartment. The man seemed to sense this, and said, “I apologize, young man. I really will get going. I am, after all, not a man with no purpose in life.” “Well, it was nice to meet you, although briefly, sir.” said Pip, glad to be rid of the strange man so soon. As Garside turned to go and walked to the door, he shot back at Pip; “I’ve left a little something for you. From a mutual friend, per se.”

This cryptic remark left Pip standing there confused. He turned to the couch, and lying where Garside had been sitting, was a worn, old file.

A Dickenesian Caricature

A Dickensian name, with a dramatic/an unusual entrance into the story.
Oswald Bristol, age: 21.

With the jewels in his pocket, and a top hat covering his head, Oswald Bristol began to walk away from the bank. He barely made it 5 steps before the alarm ran. As all the people surrounding the bank ran into it, and Oswald was the only one walking out, the local constable approached him with questions. Sweat dropping from his head, he decides to make a decision. One that will change his life. He punches the constable in the head, and makes a run for it. Running away, he looks back to see if anyone was chasing him. Oswald blacks out. After a while and he comes to, he feels the steady, almost rhythmic rolling of being on a ship. He finds himself chained to another convict, who in turn is chained to another one, and so forth. He walks out of the ship, and finds 2 young gentlemen observing them.

Definition of the character by negation (e.g. she was not a beautiful woman)

Oswald was not a woman. He was not very rich, and he didn’t have the means or methods to make a living, save for robbing the rich. Oswald does not have perfect vision, and is not bald. He is not married, and he does not have any children. He is, for the most part, not a very social person


Reputation of character and a possible disparity between reputation and reality.

He does not have a reputation in real life. He is very much unknown as a person, however he has the ability to meet up with anybody he wishes. He has a strong reputation in the London crime underworld, and is known for his elaborate schemes to steal money and cash.

Physical description of character, features of dress

Average height. Very shabby, but in an elegant sort of way. He wears mostly black clothes, and maintains a very secretive way of speech. He carries himself in a very high manner, but can resort to cunning and wit if needed.

A characteristic mannerism that would make this character more interesting.
Always lies unless he needs to tell the truth to save his skin

The circumstances under which Pip comes across this character.

Pip meets the character as one of the convicts coming off the boat when Herbert and Pip go to the shipyard to take a look at the ships.

A dialogue between Pip and your character.

"Hey! What'r ye lookin' at?", said Oswald
"You, of course", said Pip, with curiosity
"Handel, we should kindly refrain from talking to people of that type", interjected Herbert.
"Who're you te talk te me likee that?"
Herbert remains silent.
"I said, who're you te talk to me likee that?""
"Leave him alone, you!", said Pip
"Eh, so we have a young one here who doesn't know who I am, eh? Well, I'll teach you a lesson as soon as I get out of these chains!"
"Hey you there! Keep it moving", said the jail guard
"I'll be see'n you, i leave you that", said the convict
"I do hope we dont", said Pip
The convict is escorted off the boat and into a locked carriage.

@Dennis He

And just as the funeral ceremony was coming to an end, Pip feels someone tap his shoulder; he turns around to see a man standing there.

He was not a tall man, and as if to emphasize this even further, he wore an oversized jacket and pants that much too long for him. He smelled of smoke, and he wore his hat very strangely, so that it did not reveal his eyes. With his pipe in his hand, he announced (in a very deep voice) that he had something to say.

“My name is Gary. Gary Fisher.”, he said, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Pirrip. –I am very sorry for your loss- I’m a private investigator, and I have become very interested in Mrs. Gargery’s case. Now, I have some questions that I’d like to ask you.”

“Yes, of course. Of course I’d be glad to assist you in uncovering the perpetrator.” Pip replied.

“Meet me at 8:00 at the Three Jolly Bargemen. The drinks are on me.”

“I appreciate it, but today is not a good day for me. I just want to go home and spent some time with Joe. He doens't look that well. I think the incident has-"

"Mr. Pirrip. You must know that I am a very busy man; I’m very well known. I assure you that I will not waste your time.” the man said, with a hint of impatience.

“Yes, yes. Alright then....and what do you expect in reward for your labours?"

“Only as much as you think the truth is worth of course.”

And after this was said, the man walked away.

Aishi Jiang

Character Creation

Pip arrives at Mr. Pocket's house and sees an angry man leaving. He begins to approach him and a conversation ensues. This conversation is rather short:

Samuel is exasperated and leaving and slams the door: " And who are you, youngster?"

"I am Pip I'm moving into to live here"

"Ah so you are the reason I am being kicked out!"

"Am I? well I can't see how this is my fault"

"Well if you haven't come here I would not be leaving would I?"

"But I need to come here to London and if that gets you evicted then tough on you I need this."

" You nasty little youngster! You should have stayed in whatever rundown town you used to live in!"

Mr. Pocket comes outsisde, seeing the argument tells Samuel to leave.

"I'm so sorry Pip thats just a bitter old man" and he told him Samuel's story.

Samuel used to live at Mr. Pocket's house. Now that Pip came Mr. Pocket had to kick him out because there wasnt enough room for him. Samuel is not a gentleman. He is not pleasant to have around. He is not very successful. People do not want to be around him. His reputation is very bad, because he always speaks his mind and has bad manners. He does not respect most people and is always telling people that they are living a pointless life that has no future. For this reason people mostly avoid him and tell others to avoid him too. In reality he has a mental disorder and does not have full control of what he tell people. He is not a tall or fat or attractive man and does not dress in clean and tidy clothes. Mr. Mucklebanks has a weird quality, he never makes eye contact when he talks to people. He is never looking at the speaker but instead looks at everything but the speaker. Mr. Pocket feels sorry for him, but on the other hand he is relieved to get this burden off his shoulder. Samuel never payed much for staying there and people would always avoid being around him and would not come to his house as often.

Creating a Dickensian character

I was making my way through a particularly crowded part of town. As I kept walking, I realized that I didn’t recognize any of my surroundings – I must have made a wrong turn somewhere. As I tried to retrace my steps, I felt a tug on my coat.

“Please, spare an old man some change,” a voice rasped somewhere to my right.

I turned around and saw an old man who was anything but a gentleman. His face was tired, like he hadn’t slept for a thousand years, and he had very dirty, worn out clothing. I was disgusted yet sad at the same time. This beggar reminded me somewhat of my old life.

I inquired his name, which he told me was ‘William’ however, there was no last name. This old man explained to me that I was the first person to ever stop and speak with him. He went on to say that he was a beggar because he had lost all his money and his home so he had no choice.

This strange man kept on talking to me and I felt rather ridiculous listening to him tell me his life story. It must have been at least ten minutes.

When the beggar finally stopped speaking, I reached into my pocket and dropped a coin into the small bowl he was holding. I felt like I could relate to him, in a way.

I turned and went on my way. When I finally retraced my steps back to the main street, I found the proper route to my destination. However, I couldn't stop thinking about the beggar's smile when I gave him the coin.

- Alison