From Gratitude To Greed
Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations highlights several problems in the structure of
society. To this day, the novel, written in 1861, is recognised not only for its literary value but
also for the important lessons it teaches. Within his work, the author identifies several societal
issues, notably social class, and the problems that arise from its divisions. Indeed, Dickens
proves that possessions create unnecessary boundaries between people because they promote
social stratification. He demonstrates this through Pip's worldview, the opinions that Pip’s peers
hold of him, and the way in which a change in fortune can either modify or widen someone's
view of the world.
To begin, the book’s writing is clearly accented towards Pip's narrative as well as to his
perception of those surrounding him. This young man unnecessarily separates himself from
others due to differences in status and social class. As a child, when Estella —the girl he
fancies— calls him "a common labouring boy" (Dickens, p.62), Pip immediately sees this as an
obstacle in the way of befriending her. The truth remains that Estella acted in such a
disrespectful way due to her upbringing with Miss Havisham, and not, as Pip is led to believe,
because of a particular dislike of labourers. This proves that divisions in status, although
seemingly perpetrated by the higher social classes, can sometimes be a limit imposed by the
victim itself. Another example of this self-imposed segregation is illustrated by the differences
between Joe and Pip. Once the latter is invited to become a gentleman in London by Jaggers
the lawyer, his outlook on poverty changes. Pip loses his long standing respect for his
brother-in-law and friend, who has until then supported him, and who has raised him since early
childhood. Although Joe has always been a steady presence in his adoptive son’s life, he is
tossed away like a piece of litter once Pip joins a higher class of English society. Pip makes
considerable efforts to avoid seeing him and considers Joe an embarrassment; he is an
unwelcome reminder of his rural past. He never invites Joe to visit him in London, and when Joe
offers to join him for dinner, Pip looks forward to this meal "not with pleasure, though [he] was
bound to him by so many ties; no ; with considerable disturbance, some mortification, and a
keen sense of incongruity." (Dickens, p.204) Although Joe has played a crucial role in Pip's
childhood, he is denied friendship with his son due to his different standing in society.
Contrastingly, Pip places too much esteem in Miss Havisham, who is hardly ever kind to him.
Indeed, although she makes him play with the unkind Estella, and greets him without kindness
when he arrives unexpectedly to her household, he always treats her with the utmost respect
and praise. She makes a point to address him with bad manners when he decides to pay her
and Estella a visit during his apprenticeship with Joe: she rushes to ask him "What do you
want?", later adding "I hope you want nothing? You'll get nothing" (Dickens, p.112). Despite her
rudeness, Pip continues to speak to her politely, granting her a heightened importance due to
her possession of a big property, lavish furniture, and especially due to her beautiful adoptive
daughter Estella. Overall, Pip’s skewed view of others undeniably proves that possessions play
too important a role in establishing a person’s value.
Furthermore, the way Pip is treated as his fortune changes is another demonstration of
the barriers created by possessions and status. First, this is revealed through Pip’s interactions
with the general population. Assuredly, when he is simply Joe Gargery's boy, the orphaned
apprentice of a blacksmith, no one pays him particular attention. He is then seen as a regular
lad. However, once he acquires the sufficient funds to purchase a fashionable londonian outfit,
he immediately notices the increased respect thrown his way. The villagers suddenly admire
and compliment him, as does Mr Trabb, the tailor who commissioned his suit. As soon as Pip
announces that he has undergone a change in fortune, "[a] change passe[s] over Mr Trabb"
(Dickens, p.142). This illustrates that, instead of respect being universally provided regardless of
status, people will only properly treat those with valuable possessions. In this case, Pip is a
client with money, from whom something can be obtained. Second, the convict Abel Magwitch
also believes in the importance of status and possessions. Indeed, as thanks to the young boy
who helped him during his escape as a convict, Magwitch decides to finance Pip’s entry into
London Society. Magwitch funds Pip’s move from a poor English village to the centre of bustling
London, helping him become a gentleman in name and fortune. This clearly indicates a belief
that the lifestyle of a Londoner is simply superior to that of a rural blacksmith. Magwitch even
says that "[he] swore afterwards, sure as ever [he] spec'lated and got rich, [Pip] should get rich"
(Dickens, p. 295), exposing his belief that wealth was the only thing that would bring Pip further
in life. Last, Mr Pumblechook, Pip's uncle, has a changing view of Pip throughout the story.
While Pip was growing up, Pumblechook always criticised him and complimented his sister's
harsh methods for raising children. However, as soon as news comes of Pip's change in fortune,
he suspiciously begins to act submissive and respectful towards his nephew, going as far as to
"[pledge] to render [to Pip] efficient and constant service" (Dickens, p. 147). This proves that he
used to think himself vastly superior to Pip, but accepts that the tables have turned as soon as
Pip enters a more luxurious lifestyle. To sum up, the way that Pip is treated by people around
him plainly conveys that individuals tend to place a large emphasis on wealth while evaluating a
person’s worth.
Finally, the boundaries between social classes are further reenforced when a change in
fortune widens their view of the world. Of course, one clear example of this is Pip's narrowing
view of society as he climbs the ranks of popularity and status. That being said, after learning
the truth behind Estella's coldness and after noting the love, care, and financial investment that
Joe put into him when he was at his lowest point, Pip’s understanding of the world slowly begins
to change. He begins to see that the divisions created by possessions are purely superficial,
and that there are more important aspects to a person's value such as kindness, love and
respect. Upon realising Joe’s kindness despite Pip’s animosity, he tells Joe to "Strike [him]. Tell
[him] of [his] ingratitude. [Not to] be so good to [him]!" (Dickens, p. 426). Pip clearly regrets his
ungrateful behaviour towards Joe, and is ashamed that he did not recognize the sacrifices that
were made for him. Next, a similar pattern can be observed with Estella's character. Although
she was taught as a child to treat those of the male sex with discourteousness, she lives to
notice the consequences of doing so. Miss Havisham raised Estella to view men with contempt.
She believed all men to be versions of a certain Mr. Compeyson, her fiancé who left her at the
altar. Estella, on the other hand, is made to rethink this philosophy after trouble arises with her
own husband. She becomes self-aware when Bently Drummle's behaviour towards her begins
to reflect her own. In the end, she decides to apologise to Pip for her past mistakes and asks for
forgiveness, pleading with him to "be as considerate and good to [her] as [he] was, and tell [her]
[they] are friends." (Dickens, p. 445) Despite Miss Havisham’s unbecoming influence, she
remains yet another example of character development. Since the departure of her fiancé
Compeyson, she has remained in her wedding gown, disappointed and angry that the marriage
never happened. She implements misandry as a core value in Estella’s upbringing, who then
goes on to mistreat Pip and every boy she thereafter meets. However, Miss Havisham regrets
this later on, as she tells Pip that "[she] did not know what [she] had done. "What have I done!
What have I done!" she exclaims (Dickens, p. 367). This demonstrates that she regrets her past
actions, and that she realises her dislike of men was disproportionate to reality, even in light of
her experience with Compeyson. In brief, because many characters' perspectives broaden to
include the world around them, they come to understand the divisions that hindered their
relationships. They learn that what a person possesses is not a translation of their demeanour,
and accept people into their lives whom they had formerly shunned.
In conclusion, the way that Pip views his surroundings, the way his peers view him, and
the manner in which a change of fortune can alter an individual’s way of viewing the world,
together underline the injustices of class divisions. In Great Expectations, Charles Dickens
reveals that people place too much emphasis on property while evaluating a person's worth,
allowing unneeded divisions to arise. Thus, he sends out a timeless message calling for
everyone to set aside their materialistic values, and instead see everyone as a valuable person.
Although the story of Great Expectations is set in the 1860s, many links can be traced to the
modern world, and the wisdom contained within this work is still useful to this day.
WORKS CITED
Dickens, Charles. Great Expectations. London: Chapman and Hall, 1861.