Social Hierarchy Great Expectations

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Charles Dickens creates a believable picture of Victorian times. In a book review which appeared in the September, 1861 issue of Atlantic Monthly, it was stated that, “in none of his other works does he evince a shrewder insight into real life, and a clearer perception and knowledge of what is called the world” (Peterson and Brother’s). The world Dickens creates emphasizes social structure, where the imbalance between the social classes is prominent. Great Expectations, set in Victorian times, successfully demonstrates the theme of social class and how this social hierarchy can be an inaccurate measure of self worth. This primary theme shows how setting affects Pip’s understanding, ultimately drawing him to the conclusion that treating others with respect is more important than social standing. Dickens incorporates various settings such as the Satis house, Walworth castle, the Victorian prison setting, and the overall climate of the criminal world to develop the prominent theme of the imbalance between the extremes of the social classes.
The first setting of Satis house is used to show the entitlement of Miss Havisham, emphasizing her shallow nature to promote the unfavourable side of wealth. Walworth castle is an additional setting used to build Pip’s understanding that a person's occupation is not a true definition of that person’s self worth. The environment of the prison is utilised to show how human beings can overcome inhumane punishment further developing the theme that status does not define human worth. Dickens’s portrayal of the surroundings in Magwitch’s criminal environment further develops the theme that a person's self worth is not necessarily determined by circumstance.

The concept of Victorian entitlement is d...

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... the point of view of the working man, the Victorian prison setting demonstrates how humans can overcome inhumane punishment, and Magwitch’s criminal environment to further develop the theme that status does not define human worth. In Great Expectations, the use of setting eventually leads Pip to the conclusion that treating others with respect is more important than social standing.

Works Cited

Peterson and Brothers, T. T. "_Great Expectations By CHARLES DICKENS." Atlantic Monthly 8.47 (1861): 55. Atlantic Monthly, Volume 8, No. 47, September, 1861. Web. 18 Nov. 2013.

Hastings, Dr. Paul, and Ian Coulson. "Life in Kent Gaols before 1877." Here's History Kent. Here's History Kent, n.d. Web. 25 Nov 2013.

Walsh, Susan. "Bodies of capital: 'Great Expectations' and the climacteric economy." Victorian Studies 37.1 (1993): 73+. General OneFile. Web. 15 Dec. 2013.

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