Вопрос школьника
How does the convict’s way of speaking differ from Pip’s? Underline the parts of the convict’s speech that show us this and say what they mean. Why do you think Dickens did this?
Ответ от учителя
The convict’s way of speaking differs significantly from Pip’s in several ways. Firstly, the convict uses a lot of slang and colloquial language, which is not present in Pip’s speech. For example, the convict says «wittles» instead of «food» and «coarse» instead of «rough.» This shows that the convict is from a lower social class than Pip and has a different way of speaking.
Secondly, the convict’s speech is more aggressive and threatening than Pip’s. He uses a lot of imperatives and commands, such as «Hold your noise!» and «Tell us your name!» This shows that the convict is in a position of power over Pip and is trying to intimidate him.
Finally, the convict’s speech is more fragmented and disjointed than Pip’s. He often interrupts himself and changes the subject mid-sentence. This shows that the convict is not very educated and has a limited vocabulary.
Dickens likely did this to highlight the class differences between Pip and the convict and to show how language can be used to assert power and dominance. By contrasting Pip’s more refined speech with the convict’s rough and aggressive language, Dickens emphasizes the social divide between the two characters. Additionally, the convict’s speech patterns help to create a sense of tension and unease in the scene, as Pip is clearly intimidated by the convict’s rough manner of speaking.