wicked Noah's ark" (56). Thus in these first few chapters, the ideals of justice, mercy, law, and punishment are intermingled and confused. This confusion is furthered by Mrs. Joe, who actually transforms charity into punishment. Her beatings, bullying and lectures of how she brought Pip up "by hand" at great personal sacrifice are a constant reminder to Pip of his fault for ever being born. The narrator recounts his sisters response to Mrs. Hubble's observation that young Pip has been a "world of trouble" and we see that Pip is made to feel guilty even for things completely beyond his control as a young and innocent child: "Trouble?" echoed my sister; "trouble?" And then entered on a fearful catalogue of all the illnesses I had been guilty of, and all the acts of sleeplessness I had committed, and all the high place I had tumbled from, and all the low places I had tumbled into, and all the injuries I had done myself, and all the times she had wished me in my grave, and I had contumaciously refused to go there. (45) Pip becomes familiar with guilt and injustice at a very young age, and these issues become central to his motivations throughout his life as a young man. Ironically it is Orlick, the most contemptible character in the novel who is Mrs. Joe's unwitting agent of justice. Orlick, who embodies selfishness and violence, is never brought to justice for his murderous behavior. Magwitch is another example of a failed justice system. Superficially, he appears to personify evil and moral corruption. Pip finds him horrifying upon their first encounter and equally revolting when he returns to London as Provis. Despite all this, we learn that he is a loving, generous, sympathetic man who risks his life to see Pip and spends his fortune to repay Pip for an act of kindness. While he is a criminal, and deserving of punishment from the law, he is simultaneously deserving of mercy and forgiveness from God. Compeyson, is treated much more f...