Great Expectations – Thesis – Jolin
Search
Essays
Sign up
Sign in
Contact us
Tweet
Index
/English
Great Expectations
外国语学院 2014级 师范八班 赵轶琳222014310011191英国文学选读课程论文Comment on Great ExpectationsGreat Expectations, popular with readers, has always attracted a good deal of attention from literary critics. It is a story about class and the problem of wealth and also a critical novel of Victorian London. On one hand, this is a kind of novel emphasizing the historical, social, political and cultural context. It is written about argues, such as contemporary issues, hopes and anxieties which have a determining effect on the development of the novel. George Orwells Nineteen Eighty-Four is also written about the society issues but in the future. Meanwhile, Shakespeares history plays, concerning events that take place between one hundred and two hundred years before they were written in the 1590s, reflect the problems and anxieties of the Tudor monarchy, concerning such matters as the relationship between the monarchy, the aristocracy and the mass of the people. They are all written to reflect the social issues and raise people’s concern about these problems.Great Expectations also has a number of social issues such as education and individual opportunity, which affects Pip, Joe, Biddy, Mr. Wopsle and Orlick, crime and punishment. It is also relevant to Wemmick, Jaggers, Magwitch and Molly, class and social ambition and affects a range of characters from Pip to Mrs. Pocke in the rule of money providing opportunities.Dickens characters of Victorian society ring true because the circumstances of London at that period are comparable to the modern Western societies in so many ways. Dickens criticisms of Victorian England are harsher than many other novelists. Great Expectations tells people how one should live in such a world. Because of its relevance to contemporary society, it is important to pay attention to Dickens solutions to the dilemmas faced by Pip, his moral character.Pip, the hero is described as a weak, dreamy, aspiring man. But he is also the victim of Great Expectations. Joe is a noble character, with a warm heart, patience. Magwitch is the “varmint”, whose memory extended only to his childhood, “a-thieving turnips for his living”. However, a life of crime only made the feeling of gratitude stronger for one kind action. The character is powerful, and makes philosophers start to investigate into the phenomena of crime. In this wonderful creation, Dickens follows the maxim of characterization, and seeks “the soul of goodness in evil things.”
On the other hand, Great expectations can be commented by another standard. It is classic definition. Here are two points about it. A comedy piece refers to literature in which the hero at the end of the work successfully re-integrates into the world of man; tragedy, oppositely, refers to literature in which the hero is separated from the world where he played a part at once.If Great Expectations is judged by this standard, it contains elements both of comedy and tragedy, because Pip exists as a character of many separated worlds. Actually, we can find five classes in Dickens novel. These five summarize the whole society of the Victorian. The two representatives of feudal order in the old world, are those village labor such as Joe and Biddy. Another is aristocracy such as Mrs. Havisham and Estella in the new world. And we can also see the urban poor, Jaggers clientele and Pips Avenger, the working class, Jaggers and Wemmick, and the capitalists, Compeyson and Pumblechook. Pip has a relationship with all these five circles, which making it very difficult for readers to predict whether he would reintegrate into society at the end. It is certainly impossible that he would integrate into them all, so he must choose one path. Dickens leaves the evaluation of Pips success to his readers.The world of Joe Gargery, Mrs. Joe, and Biddy is the most sincere and touching part in the novel. Clearly they are the representative of village labors. Joes occupation, blacksmith, and his eighteenth-century residence in marsh country of Sussex indicate that. But Dickens endows these characters with virtues, honest in the men, such as Joe’s sincerity of feeling, and integrity and principle of Pip.Miss Havisham, on the other hand, stands a representative of feudal aristocracy. Her lifestyle suggests strongly the aristocratic flavor. Pips language about describing Satis House indicated its costliness. And Pip remembered his first entrance to her room, called her as a fine lady.
Continue for 4 more pages »
Read full document
Download as (for upgraded members)
Citation Generator
MLA 7
CHICAGO
(2017, 10). Great Expectations. EssaysForStudent.com. Retrieved 10, 2017, from
“Great Expectations” EssaysForStudent.com. 10 2017. 2017. 10 2017 <
"Great Expectations." EssaysForStudent.com. EssaysForStudent.com, 10 2017. Web. 10 2017. <
"Great Expectations." EssaysForStudent.com. 10, 2017. Accessed 10, 2017.
Essay Preview
By: Jolin
Submitted: October 11, 2017
Essay Length: 1,212 Words / 5 Pages
Paper type: Thesis Views: 369
Report this essay
Tweet
Related Essays
Great Expectations and Oliver Twist
Great Expectations and Oliver Twist During his lifetime, Charles Dickens is known to have written several books. Although each book is different, they also share
1,642 Words | 7 Pages
Great Expectations
Great Expectations In the novel Great Expectations, written in 1860 by Charles Dickens, there is an underlying theme of disillusionment, but it is not a
596 Words | 3 Pages
Great Expectations Essay
Revenge is a moving force behind many of the characters' actions in the Charles Dickens' novel Great Expectations. Miss Havisham wants revenge on the entire
605 Words | 3 Pages
Great Expectations
Summary The novel, Great Expectations, presents the story of a young boy growing up and becoming a gentleman. He must learn to appreciate people. A
858 Words | 4 Pages
Great Expectations Continued
I decided to invite Estella for dinner back at home with Joe and Biddy, not sure whether she would accept. Surprisingly she accepted my invitation.
690 Words | 3 Pages
Similar Topics
Charles Dickens Great Expectations
Great Expectations
Get Access to 89,000+ Essays and Term Papers
Join 209,000+ Other Students
High Quality Essays and Documents
Sign up
© 2008–2020 EssaysForStudent.comFree Essays, Book Reports, Term Papers and Research Papers
Essays
Sign up
Sign in
Contact us
Site Map
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service
Facebook
Twitter