Throughout his immensely popular novel Great
Expectations, Charles Dickens satirizes the hypocrisy of the Victorian Age
that had strict standards of social level, income, and
appearance.
Social
level
The hypocrisy of the veneration of the
aristocracy by others is parodied in Uncle Pumblechook and Mrs. Joe's awe of the
eccentric Miss Havisham whose house decays along with her simply because she is of the
upper class. For, when they learn that Pip has been summoned to play with Estelle, who
later mocks Pip's coarse hands and boots, Mrs. Joe too vigorously scrubs Pip and Uncle
Pumblechook drills Pip with lessons in mathematics and attempts to slip through the gate
at Satis House himself.
Further parody is apparent in the
silly efforts of Sarah Pocket to find her connection to the aristocracy as she sits
assiduously reading a book of titles while her unattended children tumble over her feet
and into nutcrackers and other harmful items to the discomfiture of Mr. Matthew
Pocket.
The expedient Mr. Jaggers, after having saved Molly
from hanging, thinks nothing of exploiting her as a servant in his home. A former jury
member, whom he has bribed in a former trial, now works as his cook as Jaggers thinks
nothing of manipulating these lower class people to suit his
needs.
Income
The
justice of money is most clearly demonstrated with the unscrupulous Mr. Jaggers, who
immediately asks any potential client if he/she has the wherewithal to pay him. When he
and Pip walk to little Britain, Jaggers immediately dismisses anyone without money. His
complete lack of concern about ethics in defending someone indicates that for him the
criminal justice system is merely something to be manipulated as Pip describes
him,
Which
side he was on, I couldn't make out, for he seemed to be grinding the whole place in a
mill.
Of course, the
importance of money as something that elevates people is apparent in the "basest of
swindlers," Uncle Pumblechook, who congratulates Pip on his "great expectations" and
wishes him "the joy of money." Once Pip goes to London with an income from his
benefactor, Pumblechook addresses him as "sir" and boasts of his connections to Pip,
even crediting himself for Pip's fortune in Chapter 28, whereas he belittled or ignored
Pip as a child.
Even Pip himself treats Joe and Biddy
differently once he has money, ashamed of Joe when he comes to London and neglecting to
stay at the forge when he returns to the marshes. He speaks in a haughty tone to Biddy
on one occasion, accusing her of being jealous of him. Indeed, Pip's good fortune has
made him a snob.
Magwitch's life of crime evolves from his
poverty; because of the strict stratum of Victorian society, Magwitch, then, is
imprisoned in his poverty and can do no more than steal in order to
survive.
Appearances
The
most salient example of the importance of appearances in the realm of social injustice
comes in the story of Magwitch's life. Because he has always been so poor, he sold all
he had to be able to afford the services of Mr. Jaggers as his defender against the
charges of circulating stolen notes. When he appeared in the dock, then, Magwitch can
only wear his old clothes. On the day of the trial, Compeyson's gentlemanly appearance
gave him a shorter sentence and the guilt was placed upon
Magwitch.
That society judges on appearances is also
evinced in the character of Wemmick who must hide his delightful personality with his
"post office mouth" and business-like demeanor.
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