Importance of Social Class in Charles Dickenss Great Expectations :: Free Great Expectations Essays

wideness of Social Class in Charles Dickenss Great Expectations Social crystallize play a major role in the society depicted in Charles Dickenss Great Expectations. Social form determined the manner in which a person was interact and their access to education. Yet, brotherly class did not sterilise the character of the individual. Many characters were treated contrastively because of their neighborly class in Great Expectations. Seeing the contrast between how the poor and the rich were treated will give a clearer understanding of how much social class mattered. In chapter 27 when Joe comes to see snap, he treats Joe in a different manner than before because Joe was now in a lower social class. His feelings about Joes arrival were Not with pleasure... I had the sharpest sensitiveness as to his cosmos seen by Drummle. (p. 203). He was afraid that Drummle will look down on him because of Joes lower class. Not only does arrive at treat Joe differently, Joe als o treats Pip differently because of their difference in social class. He begins to call Pip sir which both(prenominal)ered him because sir was the title given to people of high class. Pip felt up that they were still good friends and that they should treat each other as equals. Joe before long leaves and explains his early parting, Pip, dear old chap, life is made of ever so many partings welded together, as I may say, and one mans a blacksmith, and ones a whitesmith, and ones a goldsmith, and ones a coppersmith. Diwisions among such must come.... (p. 209). He creates this metaphor than he is a common blacksmith and Pip is a goldsmith. This difference in social class had brought upon their separation. Other characters that were also judged by their social class were Magwitch and Compeyson. They were both on trial for the same crime but Compeyson got off easier than Magwitch because of his higher social class. Magwitch describes Compeysons defense speech, ...here you has afore you, side by side, two persons as your eye can separate wide one, the younger, well brought up... one the elder, ill brought up... which is the clear up one? (p. 325). The decision of the trial was solely based upon social class appearance.