“Thank’ee dear boy, thank’ee. God bless you! You’ve never deserted me, dear boy…And what’s the best of all,” he said, “you’ve been more comfortable alonger me, since I was under a dark cloud, than when the sun shone. That’s best of all.” He lay on his back, breathing with great difficulty. Do what he would, and love me though he did, the light left his face ever and again, and a film came over the placid look at the white ceiling.
– Charles Dickens
Great Expectations, Chapter 56. Themes of love and loyalty are highlighted as Magwitch lies dying in his prison bed, with Pip holding his hand. Magwitch uses metaphors to praise Pip for being more comfortable with him in his times of hardship (“under a dark cloud”) than his times of success (“when the sun shone”). As the convict speaks some of his last words, we see the profound bond between him and Pip, fashioned out of hardship and struggle.