Helping the Criminals

Throughout the novel, Dickens portrays Pip as an aide to escaped criminals, first the criminals in the graveyard and then Magwitch. However, his reasons for doing so show the marked change he goes through throughout the course of his lifetime. At the beginning of his life, Pip’s facilitation of the criminal’s temporary escape made him anxious: he knew what he was doing was wrong, and yet did it to protect his safety. Later, Pip helps Magwitch because he is responsible for the social climb Pip had undertaken. Pip helps Magwitch, even though he doesn’t particularly care for him, in an attempt to preserve his lifestyle. While Pip is looking out for what he thinks are his best interests in both situations, the younger Pip has a much stronger moral compass – proven by his much more pure and less selfish motives.

EDIT: With these situations, Dickens is proving to readers that it is not always outward appearances that matter. To the people of the Victorian Era, criminals were the low lives of society and yet Magwitch is obviously a noble individual. Through his relationship with Pip, the latter realizes that there are more important things in life than being a gentleman - like being a good person. This is one of the main ideals that Victorian artists aimed to push on their patrons.