How Does Dickens Use Satire In Great Expectations

Throughout this passage, Dickens uses satire and character’s past experiences to criticize the social hierarchy of 19th century of England, and more precisely to ridicule one’s appearance could change their life, not their social class. Magwitch is surrounded by Herbert and Pip, where he rambles about his past undergo with his partner in crime named Compeyson. Dickens has made it clear that Magwitch’s appearance altered the sentence of his crime, although, Compeyson was the chief of directing Magwitch to take action for his plan. Compeyson, the leader of the crime he committed, is described as “Compeyson looked, wi' his curly hair and his black clothes and his white pocket-handkercher” which Pip was engulfed in awe “but neither of us said anything.” Here, Dickens mocks Compeyson with an authentic gentleman in London, by emphasizing that an outsider such as Compeyson was able to act like another being in order to manipulate others for his own personal gain.
During the trial, Compeyson states “ 'My lord and gentlemen, here you has afore you, side by side, two persons as your eyes can separate wide;[...]the elder, always seen in 'em and always wi'his guilt brought home. Can you doubt, if there's but one in it, which is the one, and, if there's two in it, which is much the worst one?" and tries to appeal towards his judges by using his eloquent speaking manners to act as if he was a gentleman. The usage of the pronoun “one” implies that Compeyson is trying to the plead to the audience by using ethos to suggest that he was not a part of the crime - instead, trying to reveal that the crime was Magwitch’s idea by belittling his