Family and Social Class

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses how in the novels "Sons and Lovers" by D.H. Lawrence and "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens, the social order is clearly based on social standing and family. The paper shows how these novels reflect some aspects of British society in the Victorian age and just after. The paper illustrates how these two novels are very different in their treatment of the meaning of family, although both family ideas exist within the social structure of their respective communities.

From the Paper:

"British society is stratified, with social class being a major determining factor in life. As might be expected, this fact also means that heritage is important and that family and family ties are given a good deal of attention. For one thing, one's family decides what social class one belongs to and so becomes a defining issue for most people. This remains true today, though with less force than in the past. In the novels Sons and Lovers by D.H. Lawrence, and Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, however, an older social order is apparent, one that is more clearly based on social standing and family. Family and social class are united in both novels, given that both are reflections of some aspect of British society in the Victorian age and just after."

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