To what extend does the main character ‘Pip’ in Charles Dickens’s novel ‘Great Expectations’ reflect the impact of Victorian Period on the society?

摘要

Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens, is considered to be one of the principal examples ofudthe genre the bildungsroman; a novel of education. The bildungsroman generally follows theudprotagonist’s life from childhood innocence to experience.This study analyzes the reflectionudof Victorian Period on the society through the main character ‘Pip’.udBrought up by a lower class, Pip is exposed to the difficulties of the poor people at a veryudyoung age. Due to his visits to Miss Havisham who represents the upper class of the society,udhe becomes aware of the conflict between the rich and the poor. As being an idealistudcharacter, Pip begins to long with wealthy gentleman on account of seeing the better life.udLater on, after Pip learns that somebody makes him a fortune , he goes through a ‘socialudrevolution’ .Pip turns into a member of upper class, goes off to live in better conditions ,udeducates himself and changes the people around him. However, he finally realizes that theudlife that he dreams of , is not proper for him and at the end he moves back to his hometown.udSince Pip explores both part of the society , he could criticize the society he lives in from hisudpoint of view which also gives some clues about the Victorian Society that Charles Dickensudis inspired.