"Great Expectations": A Criticism of Victorian England

Paper Summary:

Charles Dickens' novel, "Great Expectations", is one that attacks many aspect of the Victorian life. One of the predominant themes Dickens focuses on is the importance of social class and wealth. This paper explains how throughout the novel, Pip must confront certain ideas about class, wealth and how they operate in relation to happiness and self worth. Dickens uses Estella and Joe to shape Pip's understanding about this conflict. It points out that as the novel progresses, Pip learns that happiness cannot always be bought and self worth cannot always be found with a new suit. In short, he learns through experience that we are more than what we have and how we look.

From the Paper:

"Estella is one character that Dickens uses to illustrate the distinctions between classes. In one of the first encounters Pip has with Estella in the way that Estella, she refers to him as a "common labouring-boy" (Dickens 56) and comments on his "course hands" (57). She also makes a remark about his thick boots. From these moments on, Pip becomes aware of how to judge others as well as himself by what he does and what he owns. He states, "I had never thought of being ashamed of my hands before; but I began to consider them a very different pair. Her contempt was so strong, that it became infectious, and I caught it" (57). This is the beginning of Pip's quest of the finer things in life. He discovers that there is a distinct difference between a common man and a gentleman and this difference began with how an individual appeared. Here we see how Pip learns to judge an individual based upon how he looks and what he wears rather than who he is."

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• Analytical Essay # 149401 : "Charlotte Bronte's "Jane Eyre" as a Study of Victorian England"
• Analytical Essay # 136922 : "Suffering in "Great Expectations"

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