Diction And Imagery In Charles Dickens Great Expectations

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In Great Expectations, Charles Dickens uses diction and imagery to illustrate how if one bases their dreams and aspirations on the values of a society that prizes materialism over character, they will face a life of devoid unhappiness through the character of Pip. In the novel, Pip finds it impossible to change social classes when Joe declares, “That ain't the way to get out of being common. . . as to being common . . . You are uncommon in some things. You're uncommon small . . . you're a uncommon scholar”(73). In this quote, Dickens uses repetition as a form of diction in the words “common” and “uncommon” to emphasize that the values of society are different than what is actually important. In the Victorian Era, a gentlemen is supposed to be rich, which …show more content…

again, [he] became quite gloomy. Dissatisfied with [his] fortune . . . dissatisfied with [himself]” (152). Dickens uses diction when he repeats the word “dissatisfied” to stress that Pip is not happy with his new fortune. However, Joe and Biddy seem as happy as ever, while Pip is not enjoying being gentlemen. Now, just because Pip is a gentleman, he realizes that his materialistic hope of being a gentleman does not make him happy. In this quote, Victorian era values become evident, as money, which is desired and thought to make happiness, changes Pip’s feeling from happy to dissatisfied. Now, the reader realizes that Dickens believes that money has nothing to do with being happy, but, what a society values. Finally, Pip realizes Estella’s adversity when she declares “suffering has been stronger than all other teaching[s]" (515). Through this quote, Pip finally realizes that, even though Estella was brought up with money, it does not help her any more than being raised without money. Here, Dickens focuses on the word “suffering”, to reinforce the idea that being wealthy, which is related to being better than other, a materialistic view of society is not what gives happiness, but the surroundings and

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