Lloyd Jones Great Expectations

“To acquire the habit of reading is to construct for yourself a refuge from almost all the miseries of life,” (W. Somerset Maugham). This quote illustrates a main theme in Lloyd Jones’ Mister Pip, the influence of literature. Mister Pip is set in the Solomon Island of Bougainville, during the 1990s, when the island was at war with its government. The protagonist, thirteen year old, Matilda Laimo, lives with her mother, Dolores, and teacher, Mr. Watts. Through Mr. Watts’ reading of Great Expectations, Matilda escapes the poor conditions of the island. Correspondingly, in Mister Pip, Lloyd Jones uses the character of Matilda to demonstrate the power of language and literature. This can be seen through Matilda’s use of the novel, Great Expectations
Matilda uses Great Expectations to create a refuge for herself in the midst of war. For example, “But as the rebels and redskins went on butchering one another, we had anther reason for hiding under the cover of night. Mr. Watts had given us kids another world to spend the night in. We could escape to another place,” (Jones 44). This quote illustrates that books can help people feel less isolated and provide a sense of hope. Words heal Matilda from the violence between the redskins and rebels. It also represents safe haven as she escapes to the creations of Charles Dickens, Victorian England. Furthermore, during Mr. Watts’ reading of Great Expectations, Matilda embarks on a new journey in Victorian England. The novel provides Matilda an escape from reality through literature. For instance, “At some point, I felt myself enter the story. I hadn’t been assigned a part—nothing like that; I wasn’t identifiable on the page, but I was there, I was definitely there,” (Jones 76). This depicts Matilda’s interaction with the novel. What this reveals about her character is that she thinks of herself as a lonely and isolated individual. This is a pivotal moment in the plot