How Does Dickens Portray the Obsession of the Victorian Society with Money in "Great Expectations".

Great Expectations deals with a number of themes. But the central theme of this book may be regarded as the greed for money and class-consciousness and the corrupting influence which they produce upon human beings in a materialistic society people are servile towards wealth, position and rank.

Obsession of the Victorian Society with Money:

There are a number of characters in the novel who are dominated by a passion for money and class-consciousness. When Pip goes to Miss Havisham's house for the second time, he finds a number of her relatives in her house. Pip calls these relatives toadies and humbugs. They are all greedy for money and they all expected monetary advantage from her. They all come to her house on her birthday in the hope of winning her favour. Miss Havisham herself falls a victim of her lover's greed of money. Her lover took a lot of money from her and ultimately deserted her.

Some other characters who are not evil doers, are also badly affected by money. Herbert who is a good man is smitten with an obsession for money. He also expected money from Miss Havisham and he also hoped that Miss Havisham would offer Estella in marriage to him. Herbert afterwards speaks of becoming a capitalist one day. He hopes to make a fortune by share business and trade. Then there is Drummle who too is dominated by considerations of money.Estella decides to marry him because he is rich. This marriage fails because it is based on considerations of money. 

The corrupting influence of money has been illustrated by the career of Pip. He loves Estella because she is a beautiful lady but at the same time he loves her because he sees in her a representative of a higher life. Thus his love for her shows his love for the externals of wealth and position. He does not feel happy in his work as an apprentice to Joe. Sometime later he tells Biddy that he wants to become a gentleman due to Estella.

The most striking influence of money is seen in Pip when he receives a letter from Joe informing Pip about Joe's projected visit to London. Instead of feeling delighted by the news, Pip feels dejected by the thought of Joe's forthcoming visit because of Joe's rustic manners and clumsiness. Even when Pip goes to his native town, he does not stay with Joe, but stays in hired room in an inn called Blue Boar. He does not even pay a visit to Joe.

Thus Charles Dickens satirises the possession of money. Pip was greatly benefited by money. It is money which makes him to live in a world of make-believe and self-deception, restless, aspiring, dissatisfied, tormented by the guilt of his indifference to Joe and agonised by his vain desire to win Estella.

 

 

You Can also Read:

 

• Picture of Victorian Society do You Get in “Great Expectations”.

• Moral Development of Pip in “Great Expectations”.

• Character of Miss Havisham in “Great Expectations”.

• Sensational and Grotesque Elements in “Great Expectations”.

• Dickens's “Great Expectations” is a Study of Moral and Psychological Development.

• Dickens's Art of Characterisation in “Great Expectations”.

• Significance of the Title “Great Expectations”.

•            Dickens's Use of Humour in “Great Expectations”.