Charles Dickens's Social Class In The Victorian Class

England has a history of creating policies and cultures that shame and look down on those individuals who are apart of the lower classes. Class wasn 't always based off of wealth. Early in England’s history an individual’s social status was based on their lineage, as described by Stephen Liddell “though not common, it was entirely possible for an aristocratic family to be almost bankrupt whilst still retaining their upper class rating (1). This culture likely lead to the idea of “respecting wealth” that was prominent during the Victorian Era. If you had a royal bloodline, you were respected by your peers and those of royal blood often had wealth. When this culture became outdated with the rise of the Industrial Revolution, England’s social class system began to change. Class …show more content…
The worth of an individual is found in their heart. It is measured by how they treat people, how they carry themselves, and how they handle difficult situations. Dickens uses Pip as an example of somebody who let his social status define him. This begins Pip’s spiritual journey. He meets many new people and gets to experience life as a member of society’s elite. However, he finds true happiness when he is able to move past this strict view of classes and focus on surrounding himself with people that he truly cares about. No one has ever been able to completely terminate social classes. They still play a significant role in society today. This fact does not make Dicken’s message in Great Expectations any less powerful. He was able to effectively bring the light the harsh realities that were common because of the social class system present. He forced members of the higher social classes to reflect on their actions.. These people being mistreated were more than just working class scum. They are human beings with values and rights. Dickens teaches us that when we learn how to look past social status, and the true worth of an individual is