Great Expectations Themes Analysis

The novel, Great Expectations by Charles Dickens explores the values of class, honesty/chivalry, love, justice, guilt & family and how this affects people’s expectations upon themselves and others.


Class
Class distinction has both positive and negative impacts.
Class has a negative impact on people and their actions when it is distinguished solely by appearance and wealth e.g. motif of boots are used to associate with common people. A certain class appearance of a place or person can cause a person to become uncomfortable as shown when Joe visits Ms Havisham feeling like a trespasser and attempts to sound sophisticated, but ends up causing confusion.

However Class can have positive impacts when it is distinguished by behaviour.
Biddy and Joe sees a gentleman as being honest and chivalrous, therefore place expectations on themselves to be that way which leads to their happiness e.g. Joe is a true gentleman throughout his behaviour “No man who was not a true gentleman at...