Social Status In Charles Dickens Great Expectations

Words: 896

Pages: 4

Open Document

Charles Dickens wrote Great Expectations in the post-Industrial Revolution, a time where your social status plays a huge role as those statuses are crucial in how people think of you. Those of high status are praised and looked up to, while the low class people are seen as unworthy of any recognition. Similarly with Pip, he has the idea that the greatest expectation he can have in life is by having that status in order to be with the girl of his dream, Estella. After some time at Miss Havisham’s place, he began hating his “coarse and common” life and began wishing for more. He began looking down on those around him, including Joe who was his closest friend and confidant. During the years of his life, Pip has changed from an innocent young boy, to a teenager who …show more content…
Loyalty and kindness play a huge role in this novel. In the beginning Pip’s kindness moved Magwitch to a point of changing himself but in the end it was Magwitch that changed Pip’s perspectives on the lower class society. After the small incident where Pip provided Magwitch with food and iron files for his legs, the man was moved by Pip’s actions and, therefore decided to take the blames for stealing the food and files. “A man can’t starve, at least I can’t I took some wittles, up at the village over yonder – where the church stands a’most out of the marshes” (page 45). He then devoted his life repaying Pip by working hard in Australia. Throughout the story, readers can see that Magwitch has remained loyal towards Pip to ensure that Pip will lead an easy life. However, after acquiring the gentleman status, Pip has changed into a less version of what a gentleman should be. He has the gentleman

Charles Dickens and Great Expectations Essay

I came across great expectations by accident; there was an excerpt from it in our British literature book. The excerpt was very interesting and when I saw it on the list my mind wanted more. This research paper will be about the life and works of the author of Great Expectations, Charles Dickens. Charles Dickens was born Charles John Huffam Dickens, born on February 7, 1812, in Portsmouth, on the southern coast of England, Dickens had seven other siblings. His father, John Dickens, was a naval clerk…

Words 513 - Pages 3

Great Expectations: What Dickens Wanted to Satirize about Society Essay

When Charles Dickens wrote the book Great Expectations, he wanted to condemn the unfair rules of hierarchy, biased justice system, and the judgment of people based on appearance. The Great Expectations takes place in England of the 1800s. During that time, England was not yet industrialized and it was nearly impossible to upgrade social class. Courts were manipulated by powerful individuals, and people were judged by their wealth and class. Dickens attempted to expose the cons of the society using…

Words 1491 - Pages 6

Great Expectations Essay

Exploit Me Great Expectations criticizes the ambition of the working class to reach the level of wealth and education possessed by the elite, upper class by illustrating the magnitude to which Pip is manipulated by Magwitch to reach these objectives. Pip is convinced that he must abandon his family and any chance of simple success in order to fulfill the educational and societal requirements for this aspired quality of life. Magwitch, a narcissist, wants to demonstrate his viability by using the…

Words 2503 - Pages 11

Social Class in Great Expectations by Charles Dickens Essay

Charles Dickens, author of Great Expectations, provides a perfect example of the hope of class mobility. The novel portrays very diverse and varied social classes which spread from a diligent, hardworking peasant (Joe) to a good-natured middle class man (Mr. Wemmick) to a rich, beautiful young girl (Estella). Pip, in particular, elevates in the social pyramid from a common boy to a gentleman with great expectations. With his rise in society, he also alters his attitude, from being a caring child…

Words 918 - Pages 4

Great Expectations Motif Essay

society as a whole has greatly changed and developed to what it is now. One major part of the society is the social class structure. In Charles Dickens’ novel, Great Expectations, Dickens expresses his beliefs on that structure in many ways. Since Dickens wrote the novel during the Victorian Era it reflects and evaluates the beliefs and values of the time. For the most part ones place in the social order was based on wealth and the reputation of ones relations. In general, the member of the higher class…

Words 1133 - Pages 5

Essay on Wuthering Heights and Great Expectations

Compare and contrast the function of genre in Wuthering Heights and Great Expectations. The nineteenth century is famous for many things, one of which being the Gothic revival. Both Emily Brontë and Charles Dickens can be seen to have been influenced by this period as their novels can be seen to embody various elements of the Gothic Genre. The nineteenth century can also be seen as the period that commercialised the romance novel; the rise in popularity demanded an increase of romance novels which…

Words 2969 - Pages 12

Victorian Era Research Paper

The Victorian Era was a time of peace which allowed the people of Britain to become more romantic in everything they did including social roles and standards. There was a socially acceptable way to do everything from conversing to even dressing. This correct way differed slightly in each social class but with more and more people discovering wealth due to the industrial boom in Europe and America the right and wrong way of communicating was blurred and people…

Words 1846 - Pages 8

Essay about Human Physiology

AP English Essays Great Expectations: Human affection is one of the truest emotions there are. In the novel, Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens, depicts the life of a young boy by the name of Philip and his extraordinary transition from childhood to adolescence. From boyhood, Pip, for short, was raised in a humble background with the intentions of becoming and underling to his older stepbrother Joe, with whom he has a strong bond. However, as time passes and Pip is exposed to the lavish…

Words 3231 - Pages 13

Charles Dickens Use Of Indirect Characterization In Great Expectations

In the novel Great Expectations, Charles Dickens utilizes indirect characterization and dynamic character to prove the naiveté Pip has in the beginning of the story which transitions to maturity at the end of the story. Pip lets his immature and childish thoughts guide his actions. Dickens uses Pip to reveal the theme that one can change through the experiences they face. As Pip changes, he realizes the goals he had once desperately longed for did not bring him true happiness. The goal of becoming…

Words 1026 - Pages 5

Great Expectations Essay

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens is a hard book to read, if you’re not an avid reader or exceedingly interested in the story I would not recommend it. The novel revolves around a young orphan boy, pip, living with his elder sister and her husband. Pip is content with his life and looks forward to working in the forge with his brother-in-law, Joe; he’s appreciative of what’s been done for him. His moral dilemma begins with his acquaintance with an escaped convict, as terrified as he is he’s still…

Words 447 - Pages 2