Question: "My convict never looked at me, except that once. While we stood in the hut, he stood before the fire loooking thoughtfully at it, or putting up his feet by turns upon the hob, and looking thoughtfully at them as if he pitied them for their recent adventures. Suddenly, he turned to the sergeant, and remarked: 'I wish to say something respecting this escape...'...'A man can't starve; at least I can't. I took some wittles, up at the willage over yonder - where the church stands a' most out on the marshes.' 'You mean stole' said the sergeant. '...From the blacksmith's.' (P37-38)
1. Why does the convict say this? Why doesn't he just outright blame Pip? I am confused by his motives and manipulations?
2. Does the convict think that Pip told or does he realize that it was just a coincidence that Pip was there?
Thanks!
I think that by making the convict say this, Dickens is showing character development in that the convict is not entirely mean and menacing, but also has a forgiving side to him. I think that the convict also recognizes that Pip is just a defenseless young boy and he would not have the nerve to tell the soldiers about him. Hope this helps!
ReplyDelete-Annie