Great Expectations: Context (AQA GCSE English Literature)

Context should inform, but should never dominate, your reading of the test. Any comments on contextual factors must always be linked to the ideas in the novel. When exploring the context in which Great Expectations was written, you should consider: 

• the contexts in which the text is set
• the contexts in which the text is received
• and its literary context (genre)

Each of the below topics links directly to Dickens's ideas in Great Expectations:

• Social Class
• Ambition and Self-Improvement
• Bildungsroman Genre in the 19th Century
• Integrity and Reputation

• Pip's narrative takes place between Christmas Eve in 1812 and the winter of 1840
• Great Expectations is set during the Regency Period of 1811-1820
• It was a period when the upper class displayed a snobbishness and disdain for those beneath them:
  • They believed that by imposing strict class barriers, they could prevent the encroachment of the rapidly urbanising lower classes
• The prevailing trends of the time were superficiality, exaggerated dress and appearance and fashionable clubs and societies
• This time period marked the reign of King George III in England, but due to his evident madness, the Prince Regent was given power in 1810
• The Regency era spanned from 1810 until George III's death in 1820, which then saw the Regent take on the role of George IV
• After George IV's passing in 1830, King William took over, and eventually, Queen Victoria was crowned as queen in 1837
  • Therefore, Great Expectations takes place during a time of rapid political transformations, with England experiencing four monarchs within a very short period of time
• The majority of the events in Great Expectations take place before 1830, and even though there were important innovations during the novel's time period, they are not explored in the narrative itself:
  • Nevertheless, since Dickens wrote and published the novel between 1860-61, it is important to consider how much England would have been transformed during that time 
• During the Regency Period, aristocracy was not solely determined by noble lineage:
  • Instead, being accepted by the ruling class often hinged on demonstrating that wealth had been acquired in a gentlemanly manner
  • For example, Miss Havisham’s wealth has been earned rather than inherited and this affords her a powerful status
• Although Victorian society is often viewed as a rigidly stratified one with firmly established class distinctions, Dickens reveals a contrasting narrative:
  • Some of the characters in Great Expectations undergo significant social shifts, moving from affluence to poverty or vice versa
• During this period, social class could be easily distinguished by a person’s manner of speaking and their appearance:
  • When Estella first meets Pip in the novel, she is quick to criticise him for using the term "Jacks" instead of "knaves"
  • Further, Pip himself is conscious of his clothing while at Satis and he acknowledges that Joe looks presentable in his work clothes but appears dishevelled in his "best" outfit
  • As Pip becomes more affluent, he adopts a completely different persona and learns refined mannerisms including speech, attire, and dining etiquette in order to be acknowledged as an upper-class gentleman
• In certain aspects, Joe can be viewed as defying class stereotypes, however his use of language could suggest that his class status defines him:
• This aligns with the Victorian notion that social class is predetermined by divine order  and should not be challenged
• Estella highlights the inadequacy of the Victorian belief that possessing ‘good breeding’ is a necessary trait of a true upper-class gentleman or lady:
  • The fact that Estella is Miss Havisham's ward is well-established, but her adoption as a child obscures any speculation about her former class origins
  • Estella embodies a lady-like demeanour, exhibiting impressive speech and dress that match her fine appearance
• Dickens's message is that true justice is difficult to come by in English society and that, due to poverty and the class system, punishment does not necessarily correlate with justice 

• Great Expectations takes place during the Industrial Revolution and it was a time characterised by significant advancements in technology:
  • This opened up numerous financial possibilities for individuals from lower economic backgrounds and provided opportunities for individuals to achieve immense wealth, despite their humble backgrounds
• During the 1830s, industrialisation was on the rise along with social and political unrest:
  • The first Reform Bill in 1832 signalled the beginning of progressive social policies
• In 1837, Queen Victoria was crowned, ushering in an era of Victorian values and ideals:
  • By the time Pip returns in 1840, England had undergone a significant transformation and was now highly industrialised, socially progressive and deeply influenced by the Victorian era
• Unlike the previously dominant hereditary aristocracy (which dictated one's social class solely based on their family lineage) this era saw a new shift towards social mobility:
  • Dickens depicts this new world in the novel as it follows Pip's advancement through the class system, something that would not have been feasible in the traditional system of class hierarchy
• Dickens demonstrates his support for social mobility among those, like Pip, and he depicts a society that is constantly evolving, where wealth can be acquired and lost in an instant

• During the Victorian era, the genre of Bildungsroman emerged as one of the most popular literary types of fiction among Victorian realists and Great Expectations is written in this form:
  • The Bildungsroman genre originated in Germany and directly translates to a “novel of education”
• It generally portrayed the protagonist’s psychological and moral growth from their youth into adulthood
• The conventional structure of a Bildungsroman involved the following:
  • Loss: The protagonist experiences a profound emotional loss at the beginning of the narrative, typically during their childhood or adolescent years
  • Journey: Motivated by their personal tragedy, the protagonist embarks on a journey, either physical or metaphorical, to gain a better understanding of the world
  • Conflict and personal growth: The protagonist’s journey entails mistakes and often clashes with societal norms, though as the narrative progresses, the protagonist gradually embraces the values of society
  • Maturity: By the conclusion of the novel, the protagonist undergoes significant personal development, exhibiting a positive transformation which denotes maturity
• Dickens was known for incorporating the theme of self-improvement in his writing and it was viewed as a practical instrument of social mobility popularly associated with lower and middle-class Victorian culture
• Further, conventional assumptions of the time said that increased leisure time and economic resources enabled self-cultivation. However, Dickens portrays these conditions as actually hindering it:
  • For example, due to a lack of meaningful work, Pip finds himself in debt and becomes idle and overindulgent
• The Gothic genre also rose to prominence in the late 18th and early 19th centuries and was widespread in Victorian literature:
  • The gothic genre had become very influential and therefore many works of popular Victorian novels had elements of it
  • In many ways, Magwitch could be viewed as an archetypal Gothic character
    • He is presented initially as a monster, and grotesque

• Dickens was interested in the numerous ways that people exhibited and asserted their social class identities and goals, including subtle differences in dress, speech, and conduct
• Victorians were eager to ensure that they were adhering to the conventions of behaviour and etiquette and this was evidenced by the proliferation of guides about proper behaviour and conduct
• The concept of a gentleman or lady in the 19th century referred to individuals who displayed integrity and conducted themselves with grace in their respective societal roles:
  • However, it was evident that social status and morality were not always linked
• Respectability was a key aspect of Victorian society and there were strict social codes regarding behaviour and moral and social conventions were highly valued
• Victorian social standards of the time expected gentlemen and bachelors to act in a dignified and respectable manner and gentlemen were expected to adhere to the highest standards of behaviour 
• In Great Expectations, Dickens depicts characters who are on the fringes of social classes:
  • He depicts characters who struggle to maintain their appearance of respectability or those who unexpectedly experience social mobility within the volatile Victorian economy
• This period saw the emergence of a new middle class who were able to gain wealth and power through their own success, rather than through being born into the aristocracy:
  • This led to debates about what it meant to be a ‘gentleman’ and whether the qualities of one could be acquired or were merely based upon one’s birth right:
    • Some argued that a gentleman was someone who behaved with respect and civility, regardless of his social class
    • Others argued a gentleman was someone of a certain social standing who had certain privileges and obligations
• Despite his villainous nature, Compeyson appears like a gentleman due to his clothing and education, while Magwitch's ragged appearance hinders his chances of receiving fair treatment under the law