Both texts use place/setting in imaginative ways to highlight various aspects of characters identity in relation to the various surroundings. Firstly Pip grows up on the marshes and returns there many times when he's older. The rough marshes stand in contrast to the civilized city of London. One of the convicts describes the marshes as: 'A most beastly place: mudbank, mist, swamp, and work'. But Dickens's depiction of London, however, doesn't exactly fall in line with this notion of England as all-powerful, rich, and healthy. Great Expectations takes place in 19th century England, this is a busy time for England, seeing the momentum of the Industrial Revolution.

Furthemore there is great unity in this novel: it is principally about guilt and shame, and these ideas are reinforced in many ways one being through the use of place such as where Pip grows up, in the marshes, representing a dark and unwelcoming atmosphere that Pip considers embarrassing and does not wish to identify himself with the place.

In comparison to Behind the Scenes at the Museum place is used to contribute to the understanding of character relationships such as the holiday to Scotland. The holiday and change of scenery for the Lennox family bring with it nothing but arguing curtesy of George showing the tension in the family relations. Furthermore on the holiday almost everyone becomes sick showing the uneasiness due to a change In place.

Most of the characters in "Behind the Scenes at the Museum" have one thing in common, regret—regret for what they have done or have not done or what they cannot find it in themselves to do now. Bunty regrets her marital decision and her life with George the most. If only she could have married Buck, the American she was in love with during the war, her life would have been better. However, when Buck gets his foot blown off he is shipped home, he promises to call for Bunty but he never does and so Bunty marries George. This results in Bunty's entrapment in the same place and therefore lack of identity and it isn't until Bunty leaves her family behind and changes her location, that she can discover her identity that had previously been concealed.

Linking to GE, there is an element of regret with Miss Havisham and her never changing location resulting in her lack of identity. As she is clinging onto the past and avoiding change in her place and lack of sunlight, 'No glimpse of daylight was to be seen in it' she therefore avoids character development. Dickens uses place in this aspect to explore characters development and in this case lack of it.

However place is used with Pip to represent exploration of character such as when he moves to London to become a gentleman his character is developed. Furthemore Pip's guilt is explored upon his visit to Satis House as it leads to his awareness of himself as coarse and common; he is ashamed of the limitations imposed upon him by his social class; the great opportunity of his associating with Miss Havisham has led only to dissatisfaction.

Overall place is used in both texts to contribute to the understanding of the stories, as well as the exploration of characters development and purpose within the texts.