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Character analysis · criminal who swindled Miss Havisham and manipulated Magwitch

Compeyson

in Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

Compeyson is a career criminal who secretly orchestrates some of the novel's most heinous acts. We first learn about him through Abel Magwitch's story in Chapter XLII: a well-dressed and educated con artist who manipulated Magwitch into carrying out crimes involving forged handwriting, stolen banknotes, and various other frauds. Prior to teaming up with Magwitch, he and a man named Arthur had already deceived a wealthy woman—who we later find out is Miss Havisham—and made a considerable amount of money from her. Compeyson's key characteristic is his strategic use of social respectability as a weapon; his gentlemanly appearance, education, and polished demeanor enable him to evade consequences while leaving others to face the full brunt of punishment. During their shared trial, his lawyer's comparison between the two men earned him a seven-year sentence compared to Magwitch's fourteen. Compeyson's cowardice matches his cunning—he avoids danger, always putting others in harm's way. He follows Magwitch's return to England as an informant, and we last see him in Chapter LIV, struggling in a fierce fight with Magwitch during their escape attempt on the river. He is confirmed dead in Chapter LV, with his body "tumbling on the tides."

About this character

Role
criminal who swindled Miss Havisham and manipulated Magwitch
Form
Novel
Author
Charles Dickens
First published
1861

The person01–03

01·Who they are

Who is Compeyson?

Compeyson is introduced through the words of others rather than direct narrative. Magwitch describes him in Chapter XLII as someone who "set up fur a gentleman," having attended a public boarding school and picked up "the ways of gentlefolks." He speaks smoothly, is good-looking, and shows off a watch, chain, ring, and fine clothes—all signs of the respectability he manipulates. His business involves "swindling, handwriting forging, stolen bank-note passing, and such-like."

02·Arc & motivation

What is Compeyson's arc and motivation?

Compeyson's character is pieced together from Magwitch's accounts and other references. His motivations center on profit and self-preservation, which he achieves by keeping himself hidden while making others visible. He systematically exploits class prejudice—during the trial, his lawyer's speech shifts the jury's focus entirely onto Magwitch's rough appearance and criminal history. Even after sentencing, he betrays Magwitch to lighten his own punishment. Years later, upon hearing of Magwitch's return to England, he informs on him again, being "beforehand with him in intelligence of his return," and is described by Wemmick as "so determined to bring him to book."

03·Key moments

What are Compeyson's key moments?

  • Chapter XLII — First meeting at Epsom: The landlord of the booth calls Compeyson out and introduces Magwitch to him, suggesting he thought Magwitch might suit him. Compeyson then gives Magwitch five shillings and appoints him to return the next night, instantly establishing the power dynamic that defines their relationship.
  • Chapter XLII — Arthur's death: Compeyson coldly dismisses Arthur's dying hallucinations and sends others to manage him, never approaching himself—an early indication of his cowardice.
  • Chapter XLII — The trial: Compeyson tells Magwitch "Separate defences, no communication," and then watches his lawyer use their contrast to secure a recommendation for mercy. He receives seven years, while Magwitch gets fourteen.
  • Chapter XLII — The prison ship: Compeyson and Magwitch share a vessel; Magwitch attacks him, escapes, hunts him on the marshes, and drags him back—resulting in Magwitch being sentenced to life.
  • Chapter XLVII — The theatre: Mr. Wopsle spots a man he associates with "old village time" sitting behind Pip, who realizes with "special and peculiar terror" that Compeyson has been behind him "like a ghost."
  • Chapter LIII — Orlick's warning: Orlick taunts Pip, claiming that Compeyson's people are aware of Magwitch's return and won't let him stay alive in England.
  • Chapter LIV — The river: As Magwitch lays his hand on Compeyson's cloak to identify him, both stagger and fall overboard; they struggle "fiercely locked in each other's arms" underwater before Magwitch breaks free.
  • Chapter LV — Confirmed dead: Compeyson, who was supposed to testify about Magwitch's identity at the trial, is "tumbling on the tides, dead," inadvertently delaying the legal proceedings against Magwitch.

The cast04–05

04·Relationships

What are Compeyson's most important relationships?

Compeyson's relationship with Magwitch starkly illustrates class exploitation: he uses Magwitch as a front, keeps him "always in debt," "always under his thumb," and ultimately ensures he faces the harsher legal punishment. Their enmity lasts a lifetime and only ends with Compeyson's death. His earlier swindle of Miss Havisham—done with Arthur—creates the entire Havisham plot, though Compeyson never appears in those scenes. His relationship with Pip is one of unseen menace: Compeyson is spotted behind Pip at the theatre, and Wemmick confirms he was "beforehand" with intelligence of Magwitch's return, pursuing him and becoming the invisible threat driving the novel's final movement.

05·Connected characters

How is Compeyson connected to the other characters?

Abel Magwitch

Compeyson recruited Magwitch as his criminal partner and instrument, exploiting him ruthlessly, manipulating the trial so Magwitch received double his own sentence, and ultimately dying locked in Magwitch's arms in the river.

Miss Havisham

Compeyson professed to be Miss Havisham's lover and, together with Arthur, swindled her out of a large sum of money — the act that defines her ruined life.

Pip

Compeyson's pursuit of the returned Magwitch creates the central danger that shadows Pip's efforts to help his benefactor escape, and Mr. Wopsle spots Compeyson watching Pip from behind at a theatre.

Wemmick

Wemmick monitored Compeyson's movements through underworld contacts and timed the escape attempt around his apparent absence, not knowing Compeyson had deliberately deceived his own informants.

Orlick

Orlick reveals in Chapter LIII that Compeyson's people had intelligence of Magwitch's return and were determined to bring him to justice, suggesting Orlick had some connection to Compeyson's network.

Study06–07

06·Questions

Questions readers ask about Compeyson

What crimes did Compeyson commit?

According to Magwitch, Compeyson's dealings included swindling, forgery, passing stolen bank notes, and other similar activities. He and Arthur had also been involved in a scheme with a wealthy woman that netted them a considerable profit. Ultimately, he was convicted for circulating stolen notes, along with other related offenses.

How did Compeyson manipulate the trial against Magwitch?

Compeyson instructed Magwitch to maintain separate defenses and avoid any communication leading up to the trial. He then allowed his lawyer to emphasize his own gentlemanly appearance and good character, contrasting it with Magwitch's troubled history. Additionally, Compeyson provided all the information he could against Magwitch and was recommended for leniency due to his good character, resulting in a seven-year sentence, whereas Magwitch received fourteen years.

What is Compeyson's connection to Miss Havisham?

Herbert's note mentions that Compeyson is the man who claimed to be Miss Havisham's lover. Magwitch's account supports this, revealing that Compeyson and Arthur had been involved in a shady deal with a wealthy woman years earlier, which had netted them a tidy sum.

How does Compeyson die?

In Chapter LIV, while trying to escape on the river, Magwitch grabs Compeyson's cloak to recognize him; both men stagger and fall overboard together. Magwitch recounts that they went down "fiercely locked in each other's arms," struggling underwater, after which he managed to break free and swim away. In Chapter LV, it’s confirmed that Compeyson has died, with his body described as "tumbling on the tides."

Was Compeyson aware that Magwitch had returned to England?

Yes. Wemmick mentions in Chapter LV that Compeyson had been "beforehand with him in intelligence of his return" and was "so determined to bring him to book." Orlick's taunt in Chapter LIII also suggests that Compeyson's associates had received reliable information about Magwitch's return.

Why does Pip fear Compeyson so much in the later chapters?

Pip argues in Chapter XLIII that if Compeyson found out about Magwitch's return, he would likely turn him in, as someone like Compeyson wouldn't think twice about using that information to eliminate a feared rival. The sense of dread grows in Chapter XLVII when Mr. Wopsle mentions that a man linked to Pip's "old village time" had been sitting behind him at the theatre — indicating that Compeyson was indeed keeping an eye on him.

07·Essay angles

Use this in your essay

Tool · Essay angles

  • How does Compeyson embody Dickens's critique of the Victorian legal and social system, which privileges the appearance of respectability over genuine guilt?

  • Compeyson never has a scene of his own—what does his existence largely as reported speech and rumour suggest about hidden power in the novel?

  • Compare Compeyson's exploitation of class markers at the trial with Pip's own pursuit of gentlemanly status: what does this parallel imply about the moral value of "being a gentleman"?

  • Compeyson's cowardice is highlighted repeatedly (he sends others to Arthur's bedside, prays for protection in the dock, acts as an informer). How does this cowardice interact with his intelligence as a characterization of villainy?

  • Trace the structural role Compeyson plays in linking the novel's two main plot strands—the Havisham story and the Magwitch story—and consider what Dickens achieves by making this link a single, unseen criminal.

Great Expectations

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