Great Expectations

Magwitch

"' She lived and found powerful friends. She is living now. She is a lady and very beautiful. And I love her'" (Dickens, 465).

Interestingly enough, the girl whom Pip has been obsessed with during the greater part of this novel also came from nothing. She is the daughter of an old women named Magwitch, whom has no role in society. Although she had had the upper hand before, this new found knowledge will equal the playing field between the two characters.

Religion

"'O God bless you , God forgive you!'" (Dickens, 364).

Unlike many other Victorian novels, religion is a theme that Dickens explores very little. Religion is something that every person can be a part of, no matter what level of society they belong to. This novel has barely mentioned religion, and in this quote it is only mentioned as an exclamation. Dickens didn't include religion as a main theme because it doesn't play an important role in Pip's story.

Noble Pip

"' You acted nobly, my boy' said he. 'Noble Pip!" (Dickens, 317).

Although Pip is no longer the poor orphan he was at the beginning of the novel, he is still held back by societies standards. He has no blood to make him 'noble', so he can only really reach so far. As the story has unfolded, he has become more and more aware of this limitation. It is also interesting that Dickens chose to use the verb acted, simply because it implies that Pip doesn't truly belong where he is.

Hamlet

"On our arrival in Denmark, we found the king and queen of that country elevated in two arm-chairs on a kitchen-table, holding a court" (Dickens, 254)

Of course, Dickens is alluding to Hamlet, not to the actual monarchs of the country. The parallels that can be drawn between the two characters, Pip and Hamlet, are startling. The most obvious and important is that they are both confused youth that get themselves into a bit to much trouble. This is another example of Dickens showing the flaws of Pip, and through him society. hamlet ends up being responsible for his own demise, and if Pip continues in the same fashion, he may have a similar end.

London

"After two or three days, when I had established myself in my room and had gone backwards and forwards to London several times" (Dickens, 196).

London was, and is, known as the social center of England. because of Pip's launch into the social scene of Victorian England, it was only suitable for him to go to London. Dickens is also using this setting to add to the theme of social class in his novel. Pip isn't yet a full fledged member of the upper class, which makes the quote "backwards and forwards" very interesting. Dickens is showing that Pip is stuck between the two parts of his life.

Take Another Glass of Wine

"'Take another glass of wine, and excuse my mentioning that society as a body does not expect one to be so strictly conscientious in emptying one's glass, as to turn it bottom upwards with the rim on one's nose'"(Dickens, 178)

This is perhaps the first time in the book where society has been outwardly slandered. Dickens is showing that many people back in Victorian England believed society to be a ridiculous set of rules and standards. This entire book focuses on this fact, and this is just one way Dickens is showing that.He is also using the act of drinking wine to metaphor society, which strengthens the books merit standing.