In Charles Dickens' Great Expectations, social class plays a significant role in shaping the lives and relationships of the characters. The novel follows the life of the protagonist, Pip, as he navigates the complexities of class and his own personal ambitions.
At the beginning of the novel, Pip is a poor, orphaned boy living with his abusive sister and her kind husband, Joe Gargery. Joe is a blacksmith, a skilled tradesman, but because of his lack of education and refinement, he is considered a member of the working class. Pip, as Joe's apprentice, is also considered a member of the working class.
However, Pip's life changes dramatically when he is given the opportunity to become a gentleman through the generosity of an anonymous benefactor. This mysterious figure turns out to be the wealthy, reclusive Miss Havisham, who was jilted at the altar and has lived in isolation ever since. Miss Havisham takes Pip under her wing, paying for his education and grooming him to be a gentleman.
As Pip becomes more educated and refined, he becomes increasingly aware of the social distinctions between the different classes. He is embarrassed by his humble beginnings and tries to distance himself from Joe and his other working-class friends. This desire to better himself and be accepted into the upper class is a driving force for Pip throughout the novel.
However, Pip's journey to becoming a gentleman is not a smooth one. He faces many challenges and setbacks, and ultimately realizes that social class is not as important as he thought. He learns that true gentility comes from within, and that his own sense of morality and kindness are more important than societal expectations.
In Great Expectations, Dickens presents a complex and nuanced portrayal of social class. He shows that class is not fixed, but rather a fluid concept that can change over time. He also suggests that class is not the most important factor in determining a person's worth or character. Ultimately, the novel advocates for the idea that personal qualities and actions, rather than social class, are what truly matter in life.
Great Expectations Social Class, Sample of Essays
The discrepancy of the expectations between the Victorian era and our modern beliefs and assumptions would have changed in time… Great Expectations, and How Themes of Obsession Shine in Modern Society In Great Expectations, Pip becomes obsessed with social class, wealth, and becoming a gentleman. Janie begins to hate Joe, and she insults him in front of the whole town. Joe because he was abused by his father and does not want the same fate for Pip. Major Characters Major characters in Great Expectations: the first is Pip, who I mentioned before - the young Daniel Radcliffe character. Classics such as, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Romeo and Juliet and The Hobbit are all novels that most people, regardless of where they come from, have heard about.
How Does Dickens Present Social Class In Great Expectations
It is very important to Joe that he possesses complete ownership and dominance over Janie, so when Janie resists, Joe becomes worried. But as Pip grew into being a gentleman he began to feel the impacts of his cold treatment of others. A theme which stands out from the rest is that one cannot find true happiness from changing who they are. Her wedding didn't happen, so she basically hangs around in her old dress, which is kind of like an episode of 30 Rock - well, I guess that's when she buys her dress without having a wedding in mind, but it's the same kind of idea. Joe speaks of social class as if it is simply an unchangeable part of human existence, never blaming Pip for the breaks in their bond the gentleman caused. Joe as a Blacksmith, and he would have realized he had all he needed in life right there at home.
Social Classes in Great Expectations According to Marxism
Pip thinks the benefactor is probably Miss Havisham, which makes sense; she's the only person that he knows who seems to have any money, so he goes to London. These tensions come to a head when Provis arrives in London, ignorantly confident in his power to use his wealth to buy gentility. All that's left is this kind of ruined garden that's gone into disrepair, and Pip finds Estella wandering around. I had never seen anyone then, and I have never seen anyone since, who more strongly expressed to me, in every look and tone, a natural incapacity to do anything secret and mean. There was a great divide between the classes at the time of Great Expectations, with each class having its own stereotypical views.
