Social Class in Great Expectations by Charles Dickens Essay Example

money, I certainly would have paid money” (Dickens 217).When Joe visited Pip in London, he realized his awkwardness and tells Pip that the social division between them is natural, and it is not Pip’s fault. Moreover, Joe says, “I’m wrong in these clothes. I’m wrong out of the forge, the kitchen, or off th’ meshes” (Dickens 224).

Joe’s response exemplifies the differences between two social ranks. In contrast to Joe’s acceptance of his position in the society, Pip felt ashamed of the forge which symbolized his embarrassment of his social place. In addition, Pip’s improvement changes the outlook that is perceived by others of him.For example, after Pip learns how to be a gentleman, Biddy began to address Pip as “Mr.

Pip”. Also, The Blue Boar, a local inn treats him differently by how when he was affluent, he was accommodated with the best room. On the other hand, when he had lost all his riches, the Blue Boar only provided him with an indifferent room among the pigeons. Wemmick is considered to be a strange, middle class man, who serves as a clerk for Jaggers.

When the he first meets Wemmick, Pip characterizes Wemmick as an uptight, insensitive man.However, later, when Pip goes to Wemmick’s house he realizes that he is a funny, family-friendly man. Given that he is in the middle class, he is not affected by money. Additionally, he is less concerned about amount of money he has and just concerns about his father, known as The Aged, and his wife, Miss Skiffins.

In contrast to Wemmick, who can live in a jailhouse and his own middle class home, Estella, another character

in Dickens’ novel, can only function in an enhanced civilization. She is represented as one of the higher society since she is adopted by a wealthy, aged woman, Miss Havisham.Ironically, her true father is a convict and her mother is a servant for Jaggers. Because of her affluence, she treats others, of lower status, with contempt and scorn. For example, when Estella first meets Pip, she says “And what coarse hands he has! And what thick boots… she denounced me for a stupid, clumsy labouring-boy” (Dickens 59).

Nonetheless, Pip continues to love her. Also, because of his desire to marry and be appreciated by Estella, Pip drives himself to become a gentleman. Yet, his eagerness and ambitions to become a member of Estella’s social class caused Pip to become arrogant and haughty.Moreover, Estella’s unhappy marriage to Drummle causes her to be in the same class as Pip. Therefore, Estella’s life highlights the idea that happiness is not always linked with one’s social status.

Ultimately, Dickens creates a novel which plainly emphasizes the differences between social classes. This theme is stressed since Great Expectations is set after the Industrial Revolution, thus, manufacturers were gaining a fortune and the divisions between rich and poor were evident. Furthermore, there is a large gap between the characters’ economic status.For example, there is Joe, who is considered to be in the peasant class, there is a middle class man, Wemmick, and finally, Estella, a rich, beautiful woman. While Joe and Estella work best in their own class, Wemmick can perform in a variety of classes.

He, also, is not affected by the amount of money he has. Pip, in specific,

climbs the social ladder from being a peasant to a gentleman. However, he falls back down and learns his lesson to value the judgment of his own principles, rather than what social class they are placed in. Class mobility, clearly affects Pip and other characters in the way the act and how they perceive others.