Capitalism In Charles Dickens Great Expectations

However, in spite of Dickens’s revolutionary ideas and harsh critique of the capitalist system, he never calls to topple capitalism and does not see the struggle, like Karl Marx, as a struggle between the rich and the poor classes where a classless society will eventually emerge. Within this context, George Orwell asserts that there is no clear sign that Dickens “wants the existing order to be overthrown, or that he believes it would make very much difference if it WERE overthrown. For in reality his target is not so much society as 'human nature'.” (1940.p5). Dickens’s …show more content…
Dickens wants the rich people and philanthropists to feel and contribute to alleviating the sufferings of their brethren which symbolizes the long tradition of Christian charity as a practice that contributes to the salvation of the deprived ones. In Great Expectations, when it comes to Joe, Pip describes him, “He was a mild, good-natured, sweet-tempered, easy-going, foolish, dear fellow,—a sort of Hercules in strength, and also in weakness. (p.26). He sets an example of philanthropy should be when he asks Mrs. Joe to bring the orphan Pip, to live with them, "I said to her, 'And bring the poor little child. God bless the poor little child,' I said to your sister, 'there's room for him at the forge!'" (p.68) And how he pays off all of Pip's debts and then sneaks away in the middle of the night, so Pip won't be ashamed of him. He readily destroys Pip’s apprenticeship papers, uncomplainingly relinquishing control over the boy while rejecting the worldly Jagger’s offer of compensation. Joe’s act is an authentically philanthropic one, asking nothing for itself and freeing other than manipulating the recipient. Therefore, by the end of the story, Pip has become the true son of this spiritual father, Mr. Joe, when he has kept silent about the money he had given to Herbert