Great expectations

Authors Avatar
Discuss how the theme of class is developed through Pip's visit to Satis House

'Great Expectations' is a bildingsroman written by Charles Dickens, set in the early 19th century. This essay will be discussing how the theme of class is developed through Pip's visit to Satis House. It will also discuss Charles Dickens' message of how he views the upper, middle and working classes. Dickens was brought up in a working class background. There was a noticeable division between classes in the early 19th century. Upper class people were able to stay at home without having to go to work. The middle class were able to stand over the working class (who did all the work) and live off the money they earned for them working in their mines, factories or farms. Working class citizens lived in small houses with only one or two rooms within the whole house,

In 'Great Expectations', Charles Dickens portrays the upper classes through the characters of Miss. Havisham and Estella. Estella, like Pip is an orphan, however, unlike him, she has had a background of privilege typical for a Victorian upper class child.

The children of the aristocracy had a privileged life; they had rich clothes and many toys. Typically, their father had to be obeyed and feared. Manners were considered very important: the children had to be well spoken and only speak when spoken to. They had to be looked after by a nanny not their mother. The children were taught by a private tutor until they were old enough to go to school, however only boys were allowed to go.

Many working class children like Pip, lived in the country, in cottages with their families. They had no school at the beginning of the Victorian era as children had to work to help their parents. A number of families then considered moving to towns to get jobs. Town children lived in overcrowded streets which quickly became slums; children had to share one bed or sleep on the floor; they had a bad diet and dressed badly. They were prone to diseases such as, smallpox, measles, diphtheria and tuberculosis. These children worked in local mines, factories or as chimney sweepers.

At the beginning of the novel we find out that Pip is illiterate, for example he says: "I fell among those thieves, the nine figures, who seems every evening to do something now to disguise themselves and baffle recognition." This shows that Pip can barely read or write. He does not have a formal education or go to a normal school, but an evening school in the village ran by Mr. Wopsle's great-aunt; "much of my unassisted, and more by the help of Biddy." This shows the readers that Pip has learnt more from Biddy then the school. Biddy is in fact his teacher and she wants to help him follow out his dream. Pip longs to learn how to read. Pip's desire for self-improvement is the main reason as to why the novel's title is 'Great Expectations'; because he believes that he has the 'possibility of advancement' in life, that he has 'Great Expectations' about his future. We find out later on in the novel that Pip longs to become a gentleman; in order to do this, he needs an education.

As the novel goes on, we learn that Joe too is illiterate: "I accidentally held our prayer book upside down,". This not only shows that Joe can not tell whether the letters are the right way up or not, but it also shows that he can not read and has either not learnt how to or forgotten. Joe's mother had wanted him to go to school and get an education but Joe's abusive and alcoholic father prevented him from having any schooling. Joe tells Pip: "Somebody must keep the pot a-biling," this shows that Joe believes that providing money for the family is more important to him than his education or his future. This draws upon working class discourse.

Although Pip is found out to be illiterate, he still has many manners. For example, when Pip goes to the Mist on the Marshes where he finds an escaped convict whom he helps. Magwitch (the escaped convict) is of a lower class than Pip. However, he still calls Magwitch 'Sir'. "If you would kindly please to let me keep upright, sir, perhaps I shouldn't be sick, and perhaps I could attend more." this just proves that even though Magwitch is off lower class and is an escaped convict, he still treats him with respect. Pip is told by the convict that he must bring him some 'wittles' (food). In addition, Pip is also told by Magwitch, that, he has a scary friend who will happily eat Pip's liver and heart. Compared with the friend, Magwitch is an 'angel'.

At the Christmas dinner, hosted by Mrs. Joe, the whole forge is transformed so that their guests feel more at home. All three of their guests are from higher classes. Mr. Wopsle is a lower middle class; Mr and Mrs. Hubble are skilled working class and Mr. Pumblechook is a middle class merchant. Whereas, the Gargery family and Pip are only working class. "we found the table laid and Mrs. Joe dressed, and the dinner dressing, and the front door unlocked (it never was at any other time) for the company to enter by, and everything most splendid." this shows that because of their class, Mrs. Joe feels she has to make more of an effort to welcome them into their home. Moreover, it shows that she has transformed the forge to their standards not what the Gargery family are happy with but what the higher class citizens feel comfortable with. This draws upon our social historical understanding, that working class people feel they have to change in order to be around the higher class citizens.
Join now!


Pip meets Estella who has contempt for him and his working class background. Estella makes fun out of Pip's hands and boots by saying: "what coarse hands he has! And what thick boots!" This proves that there is a big difference between classes. Estella enjoys making Pip fell bad about himself and his social background. The tone Estella uses to speak to Pip is very rude: " 'Ah!' said the girl, ' but you see, she

don't.' " This shows the readers that Estella feels superior to Mr. Pumblechook. Furthermore, it has connotations that state Estella ...

This is a preview of the whole essay