The city is described as a maze which involves a "mystery of darkness, anonymity, and peril (Marcus 256)." Many of the settings, such as the pickpocket's hideout, the surrounding streets, and the bars, are also described as dark, gloomy, and bland (Johnson 273). Meanwhile, in Great Expectations, Miss Havisham's house is often made to sound depressing, old, and lonesome. Many of the objects within the house had not been touched or moved in many years. Cobwebs were clearly visible as well as an abundance of dust, and even the wedding dress which Miss Havisham constantly wore had turned yellow with age (Dickens, Expectations 62).
However, similarities are not just found in the settings. The novels' two main characters, Pip and Oliver, are also similar in many ways. Both young boys were orphaned practically from birth; Pip is sent to live with his sister, while Oliver is sent to live in an orphanage. Pip is a very curious young boy. He is a "child of intense and yearning fancy (Stewart 187)." Yet, Oliver is a well spoken child whose main attribute is his goodness. Even while his life was in danger at the hands of Fagin and Bill Sikes, two conniving pickpockets, he refused to participate in their thievery. Oliver's sole wish was to escape from his harsh living conditions and evil surroundings all the while resisting temptation and evil (Marcus 74). Therefore, Oliver can be referred to as portraying "ideal and incorruptible innocence (Marcus 80)." "It is Oliver's self-generated and self-sustained love, conferred it would seem from Heaven alone, that preserves him from disaster and death (Marcus 83).".
Pip, unlike his realist counterpart, is a dreamer, utilizing his imagination to escape his current situation. For example, when questioned regarding his first visit to Miss Havisham's house, he construed an elaborate tale in place of the horrible truth. Instead of telling how he played cards all day while being ridiculed and criticized by Estella and Miss Havisham, he claimed that they played with flags and swords all day after having wine and cake on gold plates (Dickens, Expectations 71-72).
