How Does Dickens Present The Conflict Between Good And Evil

As seen in all works of literature, there is the division between good and evil. Most readers can instinctively comprehend the protagonist from the antagonist, the hero from the villain, and so on within a story. Writers take this idea to a whole other level when their characters possess attributes of both sides, enhancing the possibilities of their motives and decisions. One of the many authors that emphasize these roles would be Charles Dickens. His most complex displays of morals and ethics can be found in his most famous works, including the 1861 novel, Great Expectations. Dickens presents the struggle between the two sides throughout this story; specifically, through the characters. Associated with them are their personalities, actions,
Bitterly affected by the agony of her past, Miss Havisham brings out the dark theme of revenge. Accordingly, she urges Estella to “‘break [men’s] hearts and have no mercy’” (Dickens 92). At length, revenge is what drives Miss Havisham. She fuels herself by fueling other characters with negative or desperate intentions. Likewise, she even insists with Pip that “‘[i]f [Estella] tears [his] heart to pieces… [he must] love her”’ (Dickens 230-231). She encourages Pip toward an impossible relationship, which he later tries to chase. Nonetheless, this evil within Miss Havisham is what turns Estella against her. All in all, Miss Havisham demonstrates the theme of good versus evil by motivating the characters’ goals and hopeless needs. Although Miss Havisham strives for destruction, she is still capable of feeling remorse. Eventually, Estella does the one act Miss Havisham had feared and breaks Pip’s heart. The good in regret brings reality back to her eyes when she cries out ‘“[w]hat have I done!”’ (Dickens 383). By asking for forgiveness, she impacts the characters she has shaped and proves that even a woman like her is able to change. Overall, Miss Havisham is able to depict the theme of good versus evil through her
To begin with, Pip befriends the convict, Magwitch, and carries out unlawful deeds. Pip is torn with guilt and despair; markedly, when he first steals for Magwitch. As an illustration, he expresses the day after the incident that “the terrors that… assai[l] him whenever Mrs. Joe [is around]… are… equa[l] [to] the remorse… [of] what [his] hands had done” (Dickens 23). Nevertheless, Pip portrays good versus evil in acts of companionship. It is through these acts that Pip commits unrighteous stunts; yet, his only intention is to provide for his friends’ happiness. For example, Pip believes Herbert will never be successful, so he “pledge[s] [him]self to comfort and abet Herbert… by all… means” (Dickens 242-243). Pip is so focused on the idea of being able to help that he is blind to the fact that he is lying and going behind Herbert’s back based on an opinionated notion. In general, he has the right idea of needing friends, but it twists his morals by making sin and secrecy seem necessary. Besides his acts of companionship, through Estella’s tormenting, Pip becomes ashamed and strives to be a gentleman. Consequently, he turns away from those who no longer meet his standards. In particular, Biddy, whom on one account Pip proclaims “‘is dissatisfied on the account of [his] rise in fortune”’ (Dickens 144). Truly, Biddy is just trying to explain the nature of Joe’s dignity to Pip. Pip exaggerates the characters