Rich and Poor Theme in Charles Dickens Great...

Rich and Poor Theme in Charles Dickens Great Expectations Throughout the novel, there are many themes, one of them being rich and poor. This theme is introduced by the background description in the opening pages. In this novel the attitudes of the rich relatives, (uncle Pumblechook), are a great contrast to those of lower financial class, - Joe and Mrs. Joe. Special food is reserved for when richer relatives come around; this is a motion of respect. For the duration of the novel, Pip pursues wealth and when he finally attains it he finds it’s useless as he sees its source as ‘tainted’, his wealth is acquired through Magwich. Greed is a significant factor. During the novel, there are a lot of links comparing rich and†¦show more content†¦Irony is shown when Pip appears to come into money, - his great expectations have finally arrived. Once Pip has become ‘rich’, the certain people’s attitudes towards him transform. He is instantly shown immense respect from Pumblechook and the tailor. This demonstrates that because you have a wealthy status you immediately earn reverence and are assumed to more worthy. Over a period of time, Pip’s own attitude also begins to change. -Joe is treated with condescension and disdain, however Joe has no expectations of gaining from Pip’s good fortune, now or at any other time; he is too and honest and straight. He expects nothing but what comes from his own efforts. - Towards debt, Pip becomes unable to manage and maintain control of his ‘expectations’. - Pip begins to treat Biddy as an inferior as he feels he is in a higher social standing. By doing this, Biddy’s feelings are hurt and she feels second-rate, as she is the only sensible and balanced influence in Pip’s life and she is rejected for Estella. - Miss Havisham receives gratitude and is mistakenly thanked for his expectations. - Estella is also being shown appreciation. However this is another false judgment on Pip’s part, Estella is selfish; she takes all and gives nothing, unlike Biddy who is generous and noble in her nature. Pip’s attitude changes immeasurably and he becomes anShow MoreRelated Attitudes toward Victorian Society in Great Expectations by Charles Dickens1156 Words   |  5 PagesGreat Expectations Explore some of the ways in which Dickens’ attitudes to Victorian society are presented in the opening chapter of Great Expectations. For this essay I will be focusing on the opening chapters of Great Expectations, a novel written by Charles Dickens. I am going to consider the Victorian society at the time and dickens’ use of language to express themes, settings and characters. Charles Dickens wrote this story in the Victorian times. Hence we seem to think what ‘does heRead MoreGuilt and Corruption in Great Expectations1598 Words   |  7 PagesGuilt and Corruption in Great Expectations The Victorian era is often cited as England’s golden age; however, beneath the trappings of silk and gold lay a society of greed and corruption. The rich lived a lifestyle of luxury and indulgence by exploiting the labor of the poor. Charles Dickens saw the injustice of the class system in Victorian society and worked to highlight the immorality of the upper class through his literature. Because Dickens himself had experienced both poverty and wealth,Read MoreCharles Dickens Great Expectations1223 Words   |  5 PagesBeloved author Charles Dickens was born on February 7, 1812 in Portsmouth, England. Growing up in a life of poverty, his childhood hardships provided the inspiration to write a myriad of classic novels including his 1861 seminole masterpiece, Great Expectations (â€Å"BBC History - Charles Dickens†). Great Expectations follows the life of an orphan named Pip, who’s perspective of the world is altered when he is attacked by an escaped convict in h is parents’ graveyard in the town of Kent. Throughout hisRead More The Theme of Expectations in Charles Dickens Great Expectations 1497 Words   |  6 PagesThe Theme of Expectations in Charles Dickens Great Expectations      Ã‚   In Great Expectations, the main theme is the theme of expectations. Dickens illustrates this theme through the character of Pip, by exploring the idea of ambition and self-improvement. The idea of expectations is the psychological mechanism that encourages Pips development, as he is full of ambition and has Great Expectations about his future. Pips expectations in the novel take three forms: social, moral andRead MoreGreat Expectations By Charles Dickens1347 Words   |  6 Pagesestablishes a societal dichotomy, one that divides the population into that of the rich and the poor. Whether it is due to increases in inequality or the poor status of the economy, social mobility does not seem to be occurring at high rates, with the poor getting poorer and rich getting richer. Despite this, social mobility is alive and well, and has been for centuries. In his novel, Great Expectations, Charles Dickens voices the concerns of many that lived in Victorian England during the 19th centuryRead MoreGreat Expectations - Literary Analysis1674 Words   |  7 PagesAn Evaluation of Pip, and His Great Expectations In the year 1860, author Charles Dicken’s began his thirteenth novel, Great Expectations. The work is a coming-of-age novel, which tells the life story of an orphan boy named Pip, who much like Dickens’ in his earlier years is unhappy with his current life. A number of Charles Dickens’ personal life events are mirrored in the novel, leaving Great Expectations to be one of his most autobiographical works. Young Pip, the protagonistRead MoreSocial Class and Power in the Novel ‚Äà ºGreat Expectations‚Äà ¹1105 Words   |  5 Pagesdepicted in Charles Dickens s novel â€Å"Great Expectations†. Many characters were treated differently because of their social class in the story. Seeing the contrast between how the poor and the rich were treated will give a clearer understanding of how much social class mattered. During the nineteenth century, British society was dominated and ruled by a tightly woven system of class distinctions. Social re lations and acceptance were based upon position. Charles Dickens utilizes â€Å"Great Expectations† as aRead MoreCharles Dickens Great Expectations1669 Words   |  7 PagesCharles Dickens He was one of England s greatest authors of the 1800 s, better known as the Victorian era. The various themes and ideas of that time are perfectly showcased in his many novels and short stories, such as Nicholas Nickelby, Great Expectations, Oliver Twist, A Tale of Two Cities, and A Christmas Carol. Much of the inspiration for these works came from the trials and conflicts that he dealt with in his own life. His volumes of fictional writing show the greatRead MoreThe theme of isolation in Great Expectations through Miss Havisham.3108 Words   |  13 PagesQuestion: How does Dickens in his portrayal of Miss Havisham explore the theme of isolation? The oldest of eight children, Charles Dickens was born in Portsmouth in 1812. Dickens experienced a very traumatic childhood which included the ordeal of seeing two of his brother pass away. John Dickens, his father, worked as a clerk in the Navy Pay Office, due to his occupation, the Dickens family had to move a lot. Financial problems led to the imprisonment of John Dickens, who couldnt afford to lookRead More Social and Political Aspects in Kipling and Dickens Writing Styles1154 Words   |  5 PagesSocial and Political Aspects in Kipling and Dickens Writing Styles The Victorian period started from 1830 to 1901, and it was known for various aspects. These aspects are distributed between authors and writers of this era. The Victorian period is so called due to Queen Victoria who ruled Britain successfully, and the city of London expanded from about two million people to six and a half at the time of her death. Charles Dickens and Rudyard Kipling are representatives of Victorian literature;