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Social Status In Charles Dickens Great Expectations

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Charles Dickens wrote Great Expectations in the post-Industrial Revolution, a time where your social status plays a huge role as those statuses are crucial in how people think of you. Those of high status are praised and looked up to, while the low class people are seen as unworthy of any recognition. Similarly with Pip, he has the idea that the greatest expectation he can have in life is by having that status in order to be with the girl of his dream, Estella. After some time at Miss Havisham’s place, he began hating his “coarse and common” life and began wishing for more. He began looking down on those around him, including Joe who was his closest friend and confidant. During the years of his life, Pip has changed from an innocent young boy, to a teenager who …show more content…

Loyalty and kindness play a huge role in this novel. In the beginning Pip’s kindness moved Magwitch to a point of changing himself but in the end it was Magwitch that changed Pip’s perspectives on the lower class society. After the small incident where Pip provided Magwitch with food and iron files for his legs, the man was moved by Pip’s actions and, therefore decided to take the blames for stealing the food and files. “A man can’t starve, at least I can’t I took some wittles, up at the village over yonder – where the church stands a’most out of the marshes” (page 45). He then devoted his life repaying Pip by working hard in Australia. Throughout the story, readers can see that Magwitch has remained loyal towards Pip to ensure that Pip will lead an easy life. However, after acquiring the gentleman status, Pip has changed into a less version of what a gentleman should be. He has the gentleman

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