“No matter your social status or how powerful you are, we are all equal. We came here by birth and will leave in death” (Unknown). This quote tells the world that yes, status is a form of power, but In Charles Dickens’ novel, Great Expectations, social class is a large factor in determining how you are treated and how you treat others. In the novel, Dickens argues that social status isn’t a determining factor of your worth or make you a better person, as shown by Pip, Estella and Joe. To begin, Pip is a great example of social status not defining your worth because even though Pip was wealthy at one point and as he became more and more of a gentleman, the worse his overall kindness deteriorated. His status didn’t make him any better of
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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). Regarding this, this quotes proves that Joe doesn’t believe that money and status is important. Joe doesn’t want to be of a higher class, he would rather be surrounded by family and friends than money and fame. Further, another example is when Joe tells Pip that lying “ain’t the way to get out of being common” (9). To elaborate, Joe tells Pip that lying to rise the social ladder is not good and shows that honesty and kindness is what makes someone worthy, not social class. In short, Joe proves that social class is not what is important in life, and that status doesn’t determine worthy as a
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). Regarding this, this quotes proves that Joe doesn’t believe that money and status is important. Joe doesn’t want to be of a higher class, he would rather be surrounded by family and friends than money and fame. Further, another example is when Joe tells Pip that lying “ain’t the way to get out of being common” (9). To elaborate, Joe tells Pip that lying to rise the social ladder is not good and shows that honesty and kindness is what makes someone worthy, not social class. In short, Joe proves that social class is not what is important in life, and that status doesn’t determine worthy as a