It is said that if a novel makes its’ audience laugh, cry and wait then it has all the components it needs to be a success. Dickens does all these in the opening five chapters of Great Expectations. Furthermore, the beginning is successful because of the introduction of very diverse characters. Firstly, there is Pip’s brother in law, Joe Gargery, a kind hearted and ‘good- natured’ man, ‘a sort of Hercules in strength, and …showed first 75 words of 838 total…

…showed last 75 words of 838 total…but yearns for further detail. Dickens attracts attention to the opening chapters by truly reflecting a very common trait of almost all individuals. This is to act differently to different people. We see Mrs Joe treating Joe harshly ‘she pounced on Joe, taking him by the two whiskers’. However, we also see the other more courteous side of Mrs Joe’s character when guests come round ‘my sister was uncommonly lively on the present occasion’.