Pip first encounters the convict, Abel Magwitch, in the marshes of Kent while he is visiting the grave of his parents. The setting is bleak and isolated, with the cold air and mist creating a sense of foreboding. Pip, a young boy at the time, is startled when he comes across the convict, who is dirty, ragged, and threatening. The convict demands food and a file to free himself from his chains, which terrifies Pip.
Pip helps Magwitch out of a sense of fear and sympathy. Although he is frightened by the convict’s aggressive demeanor, he cannot ignore the man’s desperation. Pip feels a moral obligation to help, which speaks to his empathetic nature. Despite the danger, Pip sneaks home to steal food and a file from his sister’s home, demonstrating early signs of compassion and a willingness to stand up to authority.
This encounter is significant as it sets the stage for the complex relationship between Pip and Magwitch throughout the novel. It introduces themes of guilt, social class, and moral obligation that permeate Charles Dickens’ work.