Examine how Dickens deals with the issue of social class in Great Expectations.

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Examine how Dickens deals with the issue of social class in Great Expectations.

This novel is about the desire for wealth and social advancement yet was produced out of financial necessity. Dickens conceived of Great Expectations as a way of restoring his publication’s fortunes. It was begun in 1860 and was published in weekly instalments in his magazine, “All The Year Round.” The Victorian age was one of marked contrasts in wealth, class, sexuality, gender and health. There was much social injustice and Dickens saw himself as a reformer in an unjust world. As a result he attacked society subtly through his writings. When speaking of the Victorian novel, the critic Barbara Dennis states,

       

“From its beginning the novel has looked to society for its themes: social experience has always been the source from which it has drawn its material. In the Victorian period two of the great themes of the novel are the depiction and analysis of society as a whole, and the adjustment of the individual to this society. Victorian society was seen to be shaped and formed by individuals: it followed therefore that the emphasis of the novel was on ‘characters’, who would reflect the ‘Victorian values’ on which society was based.”

     

      In Great Expectations Dickens explores the class system of the early 1800’s and the Victorian era, through characters varying from the most desolate criminal, Magwitch, to the unfortunate inhabitants of the marsh region, Joe Gargery’s family, to the middle class businessman, Pumblechook and the exceptionally rich Miss Havisham who represents the Victorian higher class. Social snobbery is fundamental to the novel’s plot and to the crucial theme of the book- how Pip eventually realises that wealth and class are of less importance than affection, loyalty and inner worth. This is evident when referring to Joe’s son he says,

     

“Don't tell him, Joe, that I was thankless; don't tell him, Biddy, that I was ungenerous and unjust; only tell him that I honoured you both, because you were both so good and true, and that, as your child, I said it would be natural to him to grow up a much better man than I did."

     

      Through the exploration of the theme of social class, Dickens has given himself the opportunity to introduce the novel’s other themes of ambition and self-improvement.

     

      Miss Havisham is a character that Dickens has cleverly used to convey his views generally of the upper class citizens of his time. He has created one of the most unforgettable characters, whose purpose in the novel is together significant and influential to the life of Pip, whose mind has been haunted by an obsession to become a “gentleman” fit for the hand of Estella. Pip tells Biddy,

     

“Biddy, I want to be a gentleman… I am not happy as I am. I am disgusted with my calling and with my life… I never shall or can be comfortable – or anything but miserable – unless I can lead a very different sort of life I lead now… The beautiful young lady at Miss Havishams… I admire her dreadfully and I want to be a gentleman on her account.”

     

      Pip at heart is an idealist, and frequently longs for self-improvement even before he meets Estella in the novel. For example, when he realises he cannot read, he longs to discover how and joins Mr Wopsles’ great aunts evening class.

     

“Mr. Wopsle’s great aunt kept an evening school in the village… she was a ridiculous old woman of limited means… who used to go to sleep from six to seven every evening, in the society of youth who paid two pence… for the improving opportunity of seeing her do it.”

     

      There is no doubt that Dickens is criticising the injustice of educational provision in such a forthright attack on Dame schools of his time. Later he enlists the further help of Biddy to improve his education.

     

“With the help of Mr Wopsle’s great aunt and Biddy ‘at last I began in a purblind groping way to read, write and cipher, on the very smallest scale’” Pip proudly tells the reader.

     

      When he sees Satis House for the first time, Pip becomes aware of social class differences and this is the beginning of his wish to become a gentleman. Soon we hear him confess,

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“I wished Joe had been rather more genteelly brought up, and then I should have been so too.”

     

      Pip’s determination for self-improvement motivates his best and worst behaviour in the novel, as well as the powerful ambition he holds with it. One critic states,

     

“So, throughout life, our worst weaknesses and meannesses are usually committed for the sake of the people whom we despise most.”

     

      Pip, after experiencing a day at Satis House with Miss Havisham, but more ...

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