Great Expectations By Charles Dickens - ­Explain the importance of social or economic status in the novel.

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Gareth Carey             Great Expectations           25th March 04

                                  By Charles Dickens

Explain the importance of social or economic status in the novel.

In 1861, Charles Dickens was at the height of his fame and wrote what is said to be, “Dickens finest novel” the book he wrote is called “Great Expectations.”

        The hero of the story is Phillip Pirrip, better known as “Pip.” The book is set in Victorian England and goes on to trace Pip from being a small boy, to a grown man with “Great Expectations.” Pip wishes to much better off because of infatuation with a middle class girl “Estella.”

        Pip is an orphan, both parents tragically passed away, along with seven brothers. This suggests that his family were not too well off, dying from maybe disease or under nourishment. (Lack of medical care)

        Joe Gargery and Pip’s only sister, Mrs Joe Gargery, bring up Pip. Mrs Joe Gargery is very bitter about having to bring her younger brother up (Pip) by hand. They all live together in a forge; this is attached to Joe Gargery’s business, the blacksmith. As Joe Gargery is of a “working class” this means that he is bringing in enough money for clothes and food. Although they have enough money for clothes and food they do not spend excessive amounts, they try to save as much money as possible. Their clothes and food are not posh, but sufficient, “thick boots.”  

In a bleak churchyard, set in the marshlands of Thames estuary, stands Pip, contemplating his family’s graves, when a desperately hungry, violent convict “Magwitch” terrorises him “Keep still, you little devil, or I’ll cut your throat!” Pip promises Magwitch that he will return next morning with food, drink and a file to cut his chains. “The graves” suggests that his family were well off enough to pay for tombstones and a mason.

        When Magwitch startled Pip in such a scary encounter it gave Pip a very negative view of people belonging to the lower class. Pip stereotypes all lower class people and begins to believe that all poor lower class people act in this way.

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        Pip is then invited to go and play with Miss Havisham’s adopted daughter, Estella. Estella is brought up in a large home “Satis house” in a controlled environment. After Miss Havisham’s groom never showed up on her wedding day she begins to teach Estella to break men’s hearts. Miss Havisham sees this as revenge on the male sex. Estella hurts Pip’s feelings from the first day that she plays with him. Estella calls Pip for his appearance and for the type of clothing he wears. “What coarse hands he’s got and thick boots!” she also picks on him for the ...

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