Review: Great Expectations
The book Great Expectations, authored by Charles Dickens mirrors the society during the Victorian era. The book provides a vivid description of what life was like during that age. Moreover, the author uses stylistic devices and language that are synonymous with the acclaimed writing style during that period in history. The thematic concerns addressed are also important pointers to the context of the text. This paper discusses how the book reflects the context and values of the nineteenth century from which it is set.
Putting the book in its context, the story is set in the Victorian era in England. Notably, this age marked the groundbreaking industrial revolution that swept The Great Britain. The drastic economic changes had fueled social changes by the same standard leading to transformations in the fundamental societal structures. The capitalistic ideology that had been established allowed the privileged members of the society to amass a lot of wealth at the expense of the lower classes. It created a wide economic gap between the upper class and the poor, who were exploited and lived in dilapidated conditions.
While the capitalist economy allowed one to thrive despite the background form which one hailed, the separation between the two classes became as wide as ever. Charles Dickens mirrors this scope of opportunity in the life of Pip who hails from a relatively disadvantaged background. The protagonist is pictured living in the marsh country where he works in a job he feels uncomfortable in. Driven by the sense of superiority complex that he was destined for better conditions than what he had, he moved to London city where he eventually achieves success. The abrupt rise from a country laborer to a city gentleman are significant pointers to the stream of opportunity that graced this age.