How does Dickens’s novel Great Expectations engage with the theme of upward social mobility and self-improvement
Charles Dickens’s Great Expectations explores the theme of upward social mobility and self-improvement through the journey of its protagonist, Pip, and other key characters.
The novel delves into the aspirations, challenges, and moral implications associated with moving up the social ladder in Victorian England. Here are several ways in which the novel engages with this theme:
1. Pip’s Aspirations and Class Consciousness
Pip’s desire to rise above his humble beginnings as an orphan raised by his sister and her blacksmith husband, Joe Gargery, is a central driving force in the novel. His introduction to the world of wealth and gentility through visits to Satis House and his interactions with Estella and Miss Havisham ignite his yearning for self-improvement and social elevation. Pip becomes acutely aware of his social status and develops a sense of shame about his origins, illustrating the powerful influence of class consciousness.
2. The Role of Wealth and Patronage
The mysterious benefactor, whom Pip initially believes to be Miss Havisham, represents the idea that wealth and patronage can facilitate upward social mobility. Pip’s “great expectations” are initially built on the belief that he is destined for greater things through the support of a wealthy sponsor. This belief leads him to London, where he pursues the life of a gentleman, emphasizing the role of financial support in social advancement.
3. Education and Refinement
Pip’s transformation involves not only acquiring wealth but also gaining education and refinement. His move to London and the tutelage of Matthew Pocket symbolize the Victorian belief in education as a means of self-improvement and social mobility. Pip’s efforts to learn the manners, customs, and knowledge of the upper class reflect his desire to fit into a higher social sphere and be worthy of Estella’s affection.
4. Moral and Personal Growth
Dickens also critiques the notion of upward social mobility by highlighting the moral and personal costs associated with it. Pip’s journey is marked by moments of moral failure and realization. His initial ingratitude and snobbery towards Joe and Biddy demonstrate how his pursuit of gentility leads him to abandon his true friends and values. However, Pip’s eventual recognition of his wrongs and his efforts to make amends signify a deeper kind of self-improvement—one rooted in character and integrity rather than social status.
5. The Illusion of Gentility
Through characters like Bentley Drummle and Compeyson, Dickens exposes the hollowness and moral corruption that can accompany the outward trappings of gentility. Drummle’s wealth and social standing contrast sharply with his brutish behavior, while Compeyson’s genteel appearance hides a deceitful and criminal nature. These characters serve as cautionary figures, suggesting that true worth and moral integrity are not guaranteed by social status or wealth.
6. Joe and Biddy as Moral Counterpoints
Joe Gargery and Biddy represent the virtues of hard work, humility, and genuine kindness, standing in stark contrast to the more affluent but morally ambiguous characters Pip encounters. Joe’s unwavering loyalty and Biddy’s practical wisdom underscore the value of character over social position. Their lives demonstrate that self-improvement is not solely about social ascent but also about maintaining one’s moral compass and staying true to oneself.
7. Magwitch’s Role and Redemption
Abel Magwitch, Pip’s actual benefactor, embodies the theme of self-improvement in a different light. As a convict who amasses wealth in Australia with the aim of transforming Pip into a gentleman, Magwitch challenges the traditional boundaries of class and respectability. His efforts to elevate Pip serve as an ironic twist on the theme, highlighting the complexities and ironies inherent in social mobility. Magwitch’s redemption arc also adds depth to the theme, showing that self-improvement and redemption are possible, even for those with the most disadvantaged beginnings.
Conclusion
In Great Expectations, Dickens presents a nuanced exploration of upward social mobility and self-improvement. Through Pip’s journey and the diverse characters he encounters, the novel critiques the superficial aspects of social elevation while ultimately affirming the importance of personal integrity and moral growth. Dickens suggests that true self-improvement lies not in the attainment of wealth and social status, but in the development of character, empathy, and loyalty.