Great Expectations

Society paints a twisted picture that money is the one and only important thing. Dickens shows us this theme in the novel, Great Expectations. Money isn't everything, yet society teaches us that social status and position are things we should look for in life, instead of happiness with others and ourselves, and pip lives and breathes what society shows us as right. Dickens shows how money thirsty society is through characterization and plot; that life becomes all about what others think, not happiness, and morals and the good of people are forgotten for wealth. Dickens express that personality and being or becoming a good person is irrelevant. Pip says "… I wanted to make Joe less ignorant and common, that he might be worthier of my society.." Pip says this in all ignorance of Joe as a person and he sees him as his outer appearance, the same way that "his society" sees Joe. He wants to make him acceptable to society, disregarding anything but how he will show his wealth to others to be accepted. Pip also states "I wished Joe had been rather more genteelly brought up, and then I should have been too.". By saying this, it shows that Pip only sees how the upper class will view Joe, he acts as if Joe is below him, although Joe works hard and is honest, while Pip is selfish and greedy. Since the wealthier you are the more accepted you are, there is no need for being a good person. Anything but wealth is forgotten. All morals are forgotten for money, it seems that anything can be compromised for the promised happiness of wealth. INSERT QUOTES. Money twists people to do anything, they would lose what they would once hold close for the chance to get some fortune. Pip as a child saw the forge and becoming a blacksmith as a dream, but as society dirtied his mind and he was exposed to estella and miss havisham, the face of the bad society; he was lost like everyone else. Few people picked morals over money, two examples are Joe and mrs. Joe; Joe thought everyone should be good, and mrs. Joe threw Pip at miss havisham hoping for any output of praise or acceptance, just because they had money and status. What you own is what is important, not show hard you work and society makes you only want money, no need for pride and digit, only the satisfaction given by others. INSERT QUOTE. One should be proud for what they accomplish, for the amount of hard effort that they put forth. No matter what job you have or what status, if you work hard and humbly then a good and proud life was lived. This is how Joe sees it, but Pip is the complete opposite. Pip sees it as minimal work and most possible money is the optimal way to go, he was ashamed of working hard because it is looked down upon, that no one should have to work; they would just have money. In the end no satisfaction is awarded by oneself, it is all strived for through the approval from others, all dignity is lost and in the end all you have are others opinions of you and a empty one of yourself.