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How Do You Think Magwitch Demonstrates The Underlying Prejudice Against The Lower Class

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How society views Magwitch demonstrates the underlying prejudice against the lower class. Magwitch depicts how Compeyson’s lawyer described him compared Compeyson. He shows how people are prejudice. Magwitch paraphrases the lawyer saying, “My lord and gentlemen, here you has afore you, side by side, two persons as your eyes can separate wide; one, the younger, well brought up, who will be spoke to as such; one, the elder, ill brought up” (Dickens 351). The way the lawyer seperates them by their backgrounds is representative of how society seperates people of different class. MAgwitch is being used as a pawn by the lawyer to use the civilians own prejudice against people of lower class to make Compeyson look innocent. Dickens is using Magwitch and Compeyson as a foil to show how people view their differences. …show more content…

Earlier, Magwitch illustrates his experience in trial. He explains how him and Compeyson were tried for a felony. Magwitch characterizes their meeting before the trial began, “I noticed first of all what a gentleman Compeyson looked, wi’ his curly hair and his black clothes and his white pocket-handkercher, and what a common sort of a wretch I looked” (Dickens 350). By picking apart their appearances into “gentlemen” and “common” shows the social dynamic between classes. Compeyson appeared as a gentlemen and well put together, while Magwitch looked common and dirty. This is a play onto the social constructs about class and worth within people’s minds. Dickens is using their appearance to show how the court/legal system will favor someone who looks of higher class. Previously, amidst waiting for Estella’s coach to arrive, Pip goes for a walk with Wemmick. On this walk they discuss Jaggers work and his work ethic. This conversation makes Pip think about his involvement with

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