The two most important locations are, globally spoken, London and the Marshes. London seems to me like a place of growth, and also a place of deceivement. The village on the marshes is a place which is home to Pip, and yet he wants to escape it. He feels as if it is not good enough for him, or rather, that he is not good enough for Estella, as it is her, together with Mrs. Havisham, who induced this idea. In other words, by unconsciously projecting his "self-hatred" on his home town he evades having to learn to hate himself.
Thus, he goes to London, courtesy of Magwitch. On arriving there, he is impressed with this new gentleman's life. Indeed, he is impressed enough to forget all about his old friends, Biddy and particularly Joe, who claimed Pip was his sole reason for marrying Mrs. Gargery. Still, it is hard to blame Pip, even though he seems to be a bit of a snob at times. I think that Estella made a deep impression on him. Deep enough, to forfeit all the love he was given for an uncertain future and a vain hope to ever win the love of a certain woman. I think that the idea of characters being vulnerable to evil is appropriate here. Pip was tainted by evil in the guise of Estella, who was raised by Mrs. Havisham
The only exception to the rule that London is a place with negative influences would be Joe Gargery, because when he comes to London to take care of Pip after he falls ill, he does not change. This happens after, or rather, during Pip's resurrection, when he finally starts to see what Biddy has been seeing for quite some time. He sees where he came from and who his real friends are. This is one of the major "turning points" in the book.
The impression Dickens delivers of the Marshes is sinister. It is dark and foggy. In London, such an impression is not provided by Dickens until he wants us to feel as if the circle has been completed. This happens on the estuary of the Thames, which is, in fact very similar to the graveyard scene. For the first time in London, Pip experiences mist. It is dark and idea of a huge "plane" of water evokes the same sort of image as the Marshes do: a feeling of being lost in an ever-stretching landscape. Also, in comparison with the graveyard scene it is very much a complete picture: Again, there is Magwitch and Pip. Later on, there are even soldiers and (of course) the only truly evil person in the story, Compeyson. Including him, we even find dead bodies under the surface!
This again implies the importance of the graveyard, where the first scene of the book takes place. A scene that might soon be forgotten by both the reader and certainly (and deliberately, courtesy of Dickens) by Pip, but which actaully claims centre stage in the novel. Please notice that a graveyard, normally a place where it all ends, here serves as a place where it all begins. Another location that mirrors a state of mind, is Mrs. Havisham's house. it almost is a symbol for Mrs. Havisham herself. The house is in much the same state as she is. It was once beautiful, but now delapidated, neglected and most of all, empty.
Social class played a major role in the society depicted in Charles Dickens's Great Expectations. Social class determined the manner in which a person was treated and their access to education. Yet, social class did not define the character of the individual.
Many characters were treated differently because of their social class. Seeing the contrast between how the poor and the rich were treated will give a clearer understanding of how much social class mattered. In chapter 27 when Joe comes to see Pip, he treats Joe in a different manner than before because Joe was now in a lower social class. His feelings about Joe's arrival were "Not with pleasure... I had the sharpest sensitiveness as to his being seen by Drummle.". He was afraid that Drummle will look down on him because of Joe's lower class. Not only does Pip treat Joe differently, Joe also treats Pip differently because of their difference in social class. He begins to call Pip "sir" which bothered him because "sir" was the title given to people of higher class. Pip felt that they were still good friends and that they should treat each other as equals. Joe soon leaves and explains his early parting, "Pip, dear old chap, life is made of ever so many partings welded together, as I may say, and one man's a blacksmith, and one's a whitesmith, and one's a goldsmith, and one's a coppersmith. Diwisions among such must come....". He creates this metaphor than he is a common blacksmith and Pip is a goldsmith. This difference in social class had brought upon their separation.
To determine if someone is a gentleman, one must look within them and not focus upon their material wealth. In the novel only three characters show qualities of a true gentleman. Pip, Joe, and Magwitch have true gentlemen-like characteristics, which are shown through the way they live and present themselves.
Magwitch's actions show he has the heart and mind of a genuine gentleman. For example, Magwitch shows he cares about Pip by telling him "I lived rough, that you should live smooth; I worked hard that you should be above work". Magwitch keeps on saying how anything he had bad he wanted Pip to have better. Magwitch making Pip's life so much easier by becoming his benefactor shows that he is charitable. Magwitch devoting his life and his money to repay someone for old times is very generous and by doing so it makes him an honorable person. In addition, Magwitch shows he is not a selfish person by saying he would not want anything in return after being Pip's benefactor: "Do I tell it fur you to feel an obligation? Not a bit". This shows that he has a good heart by not being greedy. Magwitch is just trying to thank Pip from long ago and by doing this he wants nothing in return. Magwitch has both a heart and a mind of a genuine gentleman.
Pip, Joe, and Magwitch all display gentleman-like qualities. In doing so, it makes all three of them a gentleman within themselves. Although within society you are considered a gentleman based on your social class, it should be based on who you are. A true gentleman is one who is willing to care for and respect another and himself.
conclusion
If there is one moralistic message conveyed in Great Expectations, then it is this: Class differences may seem important, but actually they are not. The basis of our personality is shaped when we grow up. It cannot be changed. However, we can learn. We have to, as a matter of fact. We must learn how to deploy our talents and on the other hand, find a way to deal with our weaknesses.
