The English satirist Charles Churchill once said: “Keep up appearances; there is proof. The world will give you credit for the rest. This was initially intended as a jab at untrustworthy politicians and the lies they tend to tell. This can also apply to various real-life situations and fictional literature. Appearances tend to be deceptive and do not always reflect reality. This leads to betrayal of trust which can have disastrous consequences, such as the separation of married couples or the irreparable breakdown of precious friendships. In Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, Magwitch and his former partner in crime, Compeyson, prove that people are not always what they appear to be. Because Magwitch and Compeyson hide their true selves, they live a life based on lies. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essayWhen Magwitch commits crimes, he does so to survive. He "first [becomes] aware of [himself], down in Essex, a turnip thief for [his] living" (340; ch. 42). Despite the fact that stealing is illegal, Magwitch does not have the luxuries of most people and has no choice but to steal everything he needs. However, after meeting Pip in the swamps while escaping from prison, Magwitch decides to turn his life around and become a gentleman. Magwitch manages to accumulate a large sum of money, but “no paint can hide the grain of the wood; and that the more paint [you put on], the more the grain will express itself” (320; ch. 39). Being a gentleman is not simply about money. It's also about social elegance, which is a skill that must be learned over time. Realizing this, Magwitch decides to focus on giving Pip the chance to be the man he couldn't be, knowing that he would be in trouble if he were ever found out. Compeyson, on the other hand, hides his identity for a much more nefarious purpose. . To steal Miss Havisham's wealth, "he [exercises] her affection so systematically, that [he obtains] large sums of money from her... under the pretense that when [he is] her husband he must hold and manage it all" (320; ch. 39). After successfully making Miss Havisham fall in love with him, Compeyson extracts money from her. To rub salt in the wound, he leaves Miss Havisham on what was supposed to be their wedding day "he has no more heart than an iron file, he is cold as death, and he has the head of the devil" (342; ch. 42). He is the source of most of the conflicts that occur in the story and has caused misery wherever he is gone. When Compeyson is put on trial, Magwitch notes “first of all what a gentleman Compeyson [looks like, with] his curly hair, his black clothes and his white handkerchief, and what a common sort of wretch [Magwitch seems]. accusation [opens] and the evidence [is] stopped, in advance, [note] how much all this [bears] on [Magwitch], and how light on [Compeyson]” (345; chap. 42). By making himself look like a gentleman, Compeyson manages to trick the justice system into giving him an easier sentence than Magwitch, even though he was the main culprit. Compeyson continually uses deceit and trickery to get what he wants. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Magwitch and Compeyson use deception for two completely different reasons. While Magwitch uses this to fit in and be accepted, Compeyson is selfish and takes advantage of those who fall for his lies. Deception is extremely common in the real world too. This applies in particular to politicians, who.