From the novel Great Expectations by Charles ens, what does this mean?

I read this like 5 years ago in 9th grade but I'll give it a go. Isn't Magwitch the escaped convinct? And he is trying to get food from Pip I think so he's looking at Pip like he's his only chance of survival because he needs food. And it's like dead people are trying to pull him into the grave but Magwitch is trying to elude death. Sorry if I'm wrong. I tried.=/