Argumentation Exercise Engl 512 Task: Form a Debatable Position That Responds to the Particular Question Assigned Your Group. P

Argumentation Exercise Engl 512

Task: form a debatable position that responds to the particular question assigned your group. Please do not limit yourself to the bits of evidence I’ve captured for you below. (30-45 minutes, formation of argument; delivery to class, 45-60 minutes).

question: trace those moments where characters perform physiognomic appraisals of one another, and consider whether the reader is supposed to trust these face readings or not.

o Physiognomy & Magwitch o will not trust Herbert Pocket until he’s seen him and checked out his physiognomy (250 mid). o when young, was not trusted by those who saw him and immediately took fright, either driving him off or arresting him (259 top) o admits he himself was a ragged creature to look at (259 mid) o “Appearances” o Mr. Jaggers denies responsibility for Pip’s mistaken assumption that Miss Havisham was his patron, saying “‘Take nothing on its looks; take everything on evidence. There’s no better rule’” (251 bot). o Magwitch trusted Compeyson in part because of his good looks (260), looks which Compeyson silently uses in his own defense when on trial (for swindling, forging money, etc.—all capital crimes) by dressing the part of an upper class innocent when is on trial (262 bot, 263 top-mid) o others measure his head in attempts to determine his character through phrenology (259 mid) o SLIDESHOW: consider John McLenan’s illustrations (on screen), and whether they reinforce or alter Dickens’s character sketches.

question: is Estella indeed the heartless automaton she claims to be? Does she have no desires of her own, no authentic emotional life?

o Robot-Like Estella o Herbert Pocket points out that love of her is likely to lead to misery, given her bringing-up (191 bot) o Estella tells Pip neither of them are “free to follow our own devices” (202 bot). o does not respond at all to Pip’s kisses on her cheek (204 bot) o here’s Pip’s poetic declaration of love (272 mid) without feeling anything, though Miss Havisham betrays pity and remorse (272 mid). o Emotion o Estella laughs at recollections of how Miss Havisham’s greedy relations were driven nuts by assumption that Pip was receiving some of her wealth. Estella enjoyed seeing these intriguing individuals confounded (204 mid). o Decision o She entraps all sorts of men, including Bentley Drummle, but does not attempt to give false looks and smiles to Pip—suggests that she’s trying to save him pain (235 mid) o Parenting o tells Miss Havisham she was not given love, so she has no love to give to even her guardian (229- 31). o Tells Pip “love” is only a word w/o meaning for her (270 bot). o Pip says it is not natural to be so beautiful and unloving, and Estella responds that it is in her nature (271 top)

Argumentation Exercise Engl 512

question: to what ends does Dickens employ physical and mental disabilities in his story?

. Metaphors appropriating disability o “lunatic confession” (102 mid) o “madness of my heart” (102 bot) o self as “idiot” (102 bot) o “scatters his wits” (105 top) . Mrs. Joe Gargery’s brain trauma after being bludgeoned o changed personality (96-99) o inability to understand concept of Pip’s improved fortunes (113 mid) . Vision Impairment o a gentleman with one eye in Mr. Jaggers’s office, waiting to see Jaggers (130 top) . Audition Impairment o Mr. Wemmick’s father, “the Aged” . he likes being nodded to (162 top) . speaks loudly (162 top) . excited about hearing the gun firing when he sets it off every night at 9 p.m. (162 bot). . responds to others’ speaking w/o knowing what has been said (222 mid) . admits he has a hearing impairment, and Pip acts surprised (222 bot) . enjoys reading aloud to others, and expects only frequent nodding (225 mid) . Age-Related Infirmity/Unawareness o Mr. Wemmick’s father, “the Aged” . takes great pleasure in making toast (224 mid-bot) and in firing the Castle gun (224 bot) . almost gets himself caught on fire repeatedly w/ nearby candles (225 mid) question: does Dickens continue or complicate his critique of Victorian class hierarchies in today’s reading? o Comic Portrayal of Working Class o Trabb’s Boy (188 mid-bot) o The Avenger (Pip’s servant): 189 mid o workers at the Inn Yard who must all be paid off to leave Pip & Estella (203 top, 205 top) o the inflammatory old female and her niece (Pip’s servants—they replace The Avenger): weak eyes from looking in at keyholes, always present when not wanted, etc. (245 top) o Pip’s Wealth o negative: Pip’s lavish spending habits, his growing discomfort with Joe and Biddy, and the haughtiness he demonstrates towards all of those in the working class o positive: Pip’s secret philanthropy, directed towards Herbert Pocket (223-26) o Repercussions of Abel Magwitch’s revelation that he is Pip’s benefactor (239-43) o Pip reacts with abhorrence, wondering of what Abel is guilty, and feeling himself disgusting by association o thinks himself worthless now, not even worthy of seeing Biddy and Joe (243 bot) o uncomfortable hearing that Magwitch wants Pip to outshine the wigged judge and colonist who didn’t treat him (Magwitch) well (248 bot). o every hour, Pip’s abhorrence of Abel grows, despite knowing he has benefitted financially from Abel’s provision (253 mid, 256 mid) o Pip shrinks from Magwitch (“Provis” now) because he thinks of the divide between Magwitch’s sordid self and Estella’s beauty (264 bot) Argumentation Exercise Engl 512

question: trace Newgate’s ubiquity throughout the novel. What posture towards Newgate Prison does the text betray? Is it configured as a reliable instrument of justice? o Jaggers o office is close to Newgate o defends criminals primarily, it is again implied (198 bot). o might turn a murder charge into manslaughter, as a turnkey suggests to Wemmick (201 top) o knows Pip better than he knows himself: says Pip would—if he actually knew the rate at which he was living—under-represent it (218-19). o the face casts of two deceased criminals remain on Jagger’s office wall, often looking as though they wish to come alive and sneeze (219-20) or speak (252 mid) o Wemmick is often running errands to Newgate o operates professionally under assumption that criminals they defend are innocent, though his tone while saying this “drily” betrays the truth (198 bot). o is popular among the prisoners (199 mid-bot) o speaks to someone not let off who will soon be executed (200 mid-bot). o Wemmick cannot recommend altruism to Pip while in Little Britain, at his office (221 mid), but is willing to help Pip secretly fund Herbert Pocket’s professional endeavors when Wemmick and Pip talk about the matter at his home in Walworth (223 bot – 224 mid) o tells Pip it’s not his “trade” or business to help others “be good” (224 mid) o Newgate Prison o Pip receives tour of Newgate from Wemmick (having refused earlier tour from gatekeeper, 131 mid) and finds the jails neglected—still a time when prisoners are lodged no better than soldiers—CD implies this will change in his own era (199 mid) o Pip explains what Newgate is to Estella, and she murmurs “wretches!” in a way that makes him not want to mention his recent visit there (205 mid) o Magwitch o says it’s death for him to be back in England, if caught, death by hanging in Newgate (249 bot). Had been exiled to Botany Bay penal colony in Australia (249 footnote) o Robert Pocket’s fear, and Pip’s, that Magwitch may “[put] himself in the way of being taken] prisoner” if Pip rejects him and his money outright (256 bot, 257 mid). o MISCELLANEOUS o Bridewells (263 top) o Lock-Ups (263 top): houses of detention where debtors were housed at their own expense until they paid their debts, were bailed out, or were removed to a debtors’ prison (263 footnote) o Debtor’s Prison . RESEARCH: Dicken’s father was sent to the Marshalsea Prison (a debtor’s prison) when Charles was young . the specter of Newgate necessarily haunts (though not given explicitly by CD here) Herbert’s and Pip’s discussion of their growing debts (208 mid, 210 top), their lavish spending habits that make them miserable (209 bot), and their comic, regular setting aside time to “look into their affairs”—meetings which lead to no alteration in their spending practices (210 mid – 211 bot). . Pip is threatened with legal proceedings because of Pip’s recent purchases of jewelry not yet paid for (210 mid). o Newgate Calendar: 266 footnote