Great Expectations Motif Essay - 1130 Words

The Hands Society Motif Essay Throughout time society as a whole has greatly changed and developed to what it is now. One major part of the society is the social class structure. In Charles Dickens’ novel, Great Expectations, Dickens expresses his beliefs on that structure in many ways. Since Dickens wrote the novel during the Victorian Era it reflects and evaluates the beliefs and values of the time. For the most part ones place in the social order was based on wealth and the reputation of ones relations. In general, the member of the higher class were unhappy and those in the lower class were joyful. He does this to show that wealth isn’t everything. He continues to display that idea throughout the book and he displays its†¦show more content†¦During the occurrence Dickens uses the hands motif several times to signify that since Drummle has a higher class than Pip, Estella has chosen him and Pip and Estella’s relationship is to come to an end. Thus, the hands motif is a clear representation of the effects of the class system of society on not only relationships but on other aspects regarding the treatment of members in different social groups. The motif of hands also illustrates the respect or lack of respect among characters that are distinctly separate in society. First, after Pip informs Miss Havisham of his future wealth, â€Å"She stretched out her hand, and I went down on my knee and put it to my lips† (Dickens 158). Although Pip’s rank in society has now increased he is still below Miss Havisham and acts accordingly by showing her respect. Secondly, when word gets out of Pip’s newfound riches Pumblechook suddenly begins to act extremely kindly towards Pip and continues to ask permission of Pip to shake his hand (Dickens 156). This displays how much money and social rank have an effect on the amount of respect someone gives a person because Pumblechook now treats Pip better than before, when he was poor and had nothing to offe r him. Thirdly, when Pip has lost his fortunes he returns home but first sees Pumblechook who now acts in a completely different way then upon their aforementioned meeting and now he smugly shakes hands with Pip as if he knew that theShow MoreRelatedThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1242 Words   |  5 Pagesabout thoughts and feelings, but your essay focuses on feelings versus materialism/ light and dark. . .try to find a quotation that captures that) In Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, a wealthy young Jay Gatsby attempts to recapture the attention of Daisy Buchanan, the married, upper-class woman who he previously had a relationship with. 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