Throughout the novel “Mister Pip,” written by Lloyd Jones, the tropical and war torn setting of Bougainville is shown in such a way which reinforces the key theme of the importance of literature to an individual. This novel is set during the civil war on Bougainville Island during the early 1990’s. The setting in this novel is crucial as it shows us how the parallel text of “Great Expectations,” by Charles Dickens helps Matilda, the thirteen year old narrator and protagonist, deal with her current cruel reality. The setting provides the basis on which the importance of literature is conveyed. Matilda uses “Great Expectations” as an escape from reality. The importance of setting to the development of this theme include, an in depth discussion …show more content…
They fight over the ownership of the island, which used to be the “Panguna Mine,” a valuable copper mine. The villagers of Bougainville suffer due to the resulting blockade and various attacks. Supplies were cut off to the island, and children began dying due to preventable diseases such as Malaria. The island became a timeless world of fear. From the beginning of the novel, the author, Lloyd Jones writes this book in such a way that one never loses the setting’s importance. For example, the civil war is continuously portrayed in the background. Matilda describes the helicopters which would go out to sea “and then turn around, like they had forgotten something.” (Jones, 20) In this scene she overheard the parents talking about how these helicopters flying above them were actually dropping the Rebels to each of their deaths into the ocean. The helicopters constantly circle, the generators are always empty, and most of the islands individuals fled when they had the chance. The unpleasant truth of Bougainville’s situation provides a strong ground in supporting and developing the message that both literature and education are powerful mechanisms to “move you.” Initially, literature was used as a form of escapism, allowing the village children, and the adults, to find a “place of light,” free from the hardships of the civil