What Moral Purpose Was Charles Dickens Trying to Put Across in His Novel - Great Expectations?
What moral purpose was Charles Dickens trying to put across in his novel - Great Expectations?
Charles John Huffam Dickens (7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870), was the foremost English novelist of the Victorian ere, incorporating many social injustice problems of his time into his work. ‘Great Expectations’ concerns the young poor boy Philip Pirrip (known as Pip, used to resemble Dickens own childhood) who was orphaned as a child and therefore brought up by his unpleasant sister and her humorous and friendly blacksmith husband. He later turns from rags to riches with help from his mysterious benefactor Abel Magwitch; the convict that he had saved from starvation at the beginning of the novel. As he progresses to the upper class, and gains wealth and power, he loses his kindness and becomes a little ignorant of the plight of the poor. Dickens has highlighted this to show that money does not always make you a better person or always make you happy, as Pip still struggled miserably to win the heart of his first love Estella.
On a bleak evening, Pip is sitting in the churchyard by the grave of his family surrounded by people who have failed `the universal struggle.` At the period that Great Expectations was written, life was a constant challenge for the many orphans in England and many resorted to child labour, begging or stealing until the end of their short lives. The name Pip suggests that the novels narrator is small and week but throughout the novel, the seed that is Philip Pirrip grows and flourishes. The grim evening reflects Pips own mood – made worse when the escaped convict, Abel Magwitch, seemingly resurrected from the grave shouting “keep still you devil or ill cut your throat”. The word “and” is repeated over and over when the scene is being described to create the feeling of isolation; of Pip being all alone in the world. The same word “and” is alliterated again producing strong and distinct mental images of Magwitches major struggle on his
Charles John Huffam Dickens (7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870), was the foremost English novelist of the Victorian ere, incorporating many social injustice problems of his time into his work. ‘Great Expectations’ concerns the young poor boy Philip Pirrip (known as Pip, used to resemble Dickens own childhood) who was orphaned as a child and therefore brought up by his unpleasant sister and her humorous and friendly blacksmith husband. He later turns from rags to riches with help from his mysterious benefactor Abel Magwitch; the convict that he had saved from starvation at the beginning of the novel. As he progresses to the upper class, and gains wealth and power, he loses his kindness and becomes a little ignorant of the plight of the poor. Dickens has highlighted this to show that money does not always make you a better person or always make you happy, as Pip still struggled miserably to win the heart of his first love Estella.
On a bleak evening, Pip is sitting in the churchyard by the grave of his family surrounded by people who have failed `the universal struggle.` At the period that Great Expectations was written, life was a constant challenge for the many orphans in England and many resorted to child labour, begging or stealing until the end of their short lives. The name Pip suggests that the novels narrator is small and week but throughout the novel, the seed that is Philip Pirrip grows and flourishes. The grim evening reflects Pips own mood – made worse when the escaped convict, Abel Magwitch, seemingly resurrected from the grave shouting “keep still you devil or ill cut your throat”. The word “and” is repeated over and over when the scene is being described to create the feeling of isolation; of Pip being all alone in the world. The same word “and” is alliterated again producing strong and distinct mental images of Magwitches major struggle on his
Bibliography: Only references used from the Great Expectations (Penguin Classics) (Paperback) 2004 Perry Wilson