The Importance Of Wealth In Great Expectations

Improved Essays
Many people say jealousy is the big green monster, but when it comes to green, the monster of greed is the biggest of them all. Wealth is universal; everyone has some kind of wealth, whether it be of the soul or of power and money, but how people handle it is what determines how other people view them. In Charles Dickens’s novel, Great Expectations, he deals with many social issues, some of which include wealth, money, and greed. Some people may say that because Pip’s expectations are to procure money and wealth, Dickens puts a premium on how wealth and money affect people’s life positively, but in Great Expectations, it is quite the contrary. Dickens argues that wealth and money corrupt people, but bestowing it upon others is a sign of integrity, …show more content…
For instance, Miss Havisham, who is very wealthy seems to not care about Pip’s well being or his feelings while she uses him as a pawn to teach Estella to “break his heart”. (Dickens 42) This evidence is important, because all that is known about Miss Havisham coming into Satis House is she is part of an affluent family, and after Pip witnesses how Miss Havisham treats him and uses Estella for her own vendetta, using her status to attract men like flies and swat them down as such. However, even though Havisham is a deceitful character she does give Joe “five-twenty guineas”. but shuts Pip out of any further contact after Pip asks “Am I to come again, Miss Havisham”? (Dickens 73) This evidence indicates how Miss Havisham had no plan for Pip after Estella broke his heart and that Miss Havisham doesn 't care what she does to the people in the middle of her revenge scheme. Finally, Miss Havisham begins to regret what she did and asks Pip if she “can only serve you, Pip, by serving your friend”. (Dickens 287) This evidence brings to light that when Miss Havisham started giving away her money to other people to help them and repent, then her character becomes more than just the cruel old rich lady and starts to be appreciated more in the novel and by …show more content…
He used the examples of Joe, Miss Havisham, and Magwitch in Great Expectations to show this. The green monster of greed affects all of the characters whether it is causing Pip to ditch his family or whether the lack of greed constructively affects a character like Magwitch. Whether it is the wealth of the soul or of the dollar anyone can be corrupted while trying to chase wealth and

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    What would you think of a man who used his money to tempt the poor? This is exactly what Mr. Potter does in Its a Wonderful Life. (4) Filming was published and completed by Frank Capra and published in 1946 as a holiday movie. The main villain, Mr. Potter, is extremely cruel and maniacal (Quality adj). (7) Enraged with hatred for the protagonist, George Bailey, he will not stop at anything to get his way.…

    • 600 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Miss Havisham's Suffering

    • 514 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Miss Havisham causes Pip to think that she is his benefactor and because she is his benefactor. This misconception leads Pip to believe that he will end up marrying Estella no matter what, so he is more passive towards Estella, and Drummle ends up marrying…

    • 514 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    The Pursuit Of Wealth

    • 1281 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Wealth in itself is not evil, it is the love of it that is evil. The love of money is what leads to corruption, embezzlement, human trafficking, drug smuggling, gambling, robbery and other social vices. Dashiell Hammett moral message about the relentless pursuit of wealth is that the relentless pursuit of wealth…

    • 1281 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Love Kills All Wealth, Love, and power are all things people want in the world. Gastby had them all. He became wealthy for love. With his wealth gave him power. Each, wealth, money and power, have a different affect on people.…

    • 1531 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In The Great Gatsby, Francis Scott Fitzgerald depicts the struggle and the desire for wealth of those who want to reach the high social status, as well as the excessiveness of the wealthy class. In the novel, the temptation of money is the basis of the immoral lives that the majority of the characters lead. The lust for wealth leads to the corruption of fundamental ideals as equality and freedom. Money and material goods determine success in society, creating division and iniquity among people. According to Fitzgerald, money is the root of society’s decadency and the loss of spiritual values, which are considered less important than material possessions.…

    • 1427 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    What is greed? The most common distinction pertains to a strong and selfish desire for something, such as wealth or power. The question is, what kind of person would intentionally succumb to such a malicious concept? The notion itself appears in countless works of literature, from fiction and non-fiction alike, and stands as an extremely prominent theme that has been featured in countless collected works. However, regardless of its commonality, greed is still a sinful conception that many men and women have submitted to in both literature and life.…

    • 631 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    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.…

    • 1808 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Pip became obsessed with wealth, social status, and possession. Pip was transforming into a materialistic young man because of the exposure he had to the higher class when he began to visit the Satis house, the home of Miss Havisham, and Pip’s love, Estella. External influences such as…

    • 770 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    “Fear and greed are potent motivators. When both of these forces push in the same direction, virtually no human being can resist”, is what Andrew Weil said, explaining the effects of greed and the result that they can have on mankind. Green is commonly known to have effects on humans that in most cases, turn out to be negative. This idea even dates back to the story of Adam and Eve, the first man and woman of existence, who became greedy and got in trouble with God for, against orders, retrieving something they wanted, but did not at all need. This idea of greed and the consequences that it brings with it has been known for many hundreds of years, yet even to this day, normal people make choices that can easily be described as selfish and greedy…

    • 1300 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Charles Dickens Influence

    • 1124 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Virtually every parent has spoken these words to their children: “Why did you do that?”, and inevitably, the response was, “I don’t know.” What if they were right? As a matter of fact, countless people believe that actions and intentions can be caused by the influences that encompass a person. Furthermore, this social influence theory is displayed in Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations, as both primary and secondary characters alike seem to be swayed by the connections that surround them. As a child, the main protagonist Pip endures consequential circumstances and is shaped by countless, diverse influences.…

    • 1124 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    First of all, Joe’s kindness is shown when Pip asks him to “look angry at [him]”, or to “strike [him]”. But Joe refuses and calls them “Old friends” (57.431). Furthermore, Joe’s refusal to strike Pip or even be angry with Pip shows his worth as a person, for he had come all the way to London just to take care of an ill Pip. This evidence is important because it shows that even though Joe was abandoned by Pip, he is still a kindhearted person, and his status doesn’t determine his worth or standing as a person. Another example of Joe’s status not making him a bad person is when Jaggers offers him compensation in exchange for taking Pip to London, and he can’t believe that Jaggers thinks “money can make up for the loss of the little child” and the “ever best of friends” (18).…

    • 996 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Wealth Corrupts Wealth holds an importance in every human’s life. Those who are barely able to make a living lead a life of difficulties, since they do not have enough money to provide themselves with the basic amenities of life. From birth until death there is hardly any activity that does not require any expenditure. However, this desire for wealth can slowly turn into an obsession, leading a life not worth living for.…

    • 787 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In the novel “Great Expectations” by Charles Dickens the main character Pip shows why one should avoided the desires for Wealth/Status. Pip’s shows how this wealth destroys relationships by many relationships that Pip endures are destroyed by this wealth. Pip’s also demostrates how one’s morals can become corrupted when he turn into a selfish and ungrateful person. Finally, Pip potrays how wealth can completely lead to one’s downfall through Pip’s life turning into a complete mess by the end of the story. In conclusion, the desire of wealth/status is really a force to be reckon…

    • 1537 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    The bond between parent and child is never created when the children are handed off to someone else to receive a fraudulent feeling of motherly love. Dickens demonstrates the injustices of growing up without love from parents. The entitlement of money gave the Pocket family the false reliance that wealth and a high social class takes care of everything. Estella is another casualty who falls at the expense of love and happiness given from lack of parenting. Mrs. Havisham never raised Estella with any true feelings of motherly love and happiness, she often just let…

    • 1587 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Sometimes wealth consumes a person’s life, not just physically but mentally as well. For those that are weak minded, wealth is capable of lowering standards, forgetting morals and losing sight of the bigger picture. For 18th century woman wealth was the main goal reached only through marriage. With wealth came privilege, credibility and even stability. All things that weren’t guaranteed without a marriage proposal given by a prosperous man.…

    • 1218 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays