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.

Great Expectations

"' Now, I return to this young fellow. And the communication I have got to make is that he has great expectations'"(Dickens, 138).

What the lawyer means by saying that 'he has great expectations' is that Pip has been left a great sum of money. This is what Pip has dreamed has finally come to reality. he is now a man with means, meaning that he is a member of the sacred upper class. Dickens is going to explore who Pip's character becomes with this different setting.

Education

"The educational scheme or course established by Mr. Wopsle's great-aunt may be resolved into the following synopsis" (Dickens, 71).

Because of Pip's standing in society, he hasn't had the chance to have a formal education. Every member of the upper class is armed with simple education, whether the person is female or male. By getting a proper education, Pip is closing the gap between him and the upper class.

Foreshadowing

"The cold wind seemed to blow colder there than outside the gate; and it made a shrill noise in howling in and out at the open sides of the brewery, like the noise of wind in the rigging of a ship at sea."

Dickens is using cold to foreshadow the plot of the story. By saying it was colder inside the gate then outside, Dickens is hinting to the reader that whatever is about to happen in this story will not be a positive influence to Pip, whether it is evident instantly or later in the novel.

Family

"Joe made the fire and swept the hearth... it was a dry cold night... the frost was white and hard. A man would die to-night of lying out on the marshes" (Dickens, 49)

By using opposites, like fire and ice, Dickens is showing that even though Pip is an orphan, he does have a family and a home, which is more then many others will ever have. Although his situation isn't one of perfection, Dickens is showing that perhaps Pip is fortunate in some ways, although not fortunate by societies standards.

Freedom

"'Let him go free? Let him profit by the means I found out? Let him make a tool of me afresh and again'" (Dickens, 35).

This is yet another hidden social opinion expressed by Dickens. One major theme of this book is the restraints of social classes. This speech made the prisoner take the form of the lower class, and 'him' represents the upper class which doesn't think about the consequences to others. Those who have the money and status of the upper class of England have the freedom to do whatever they please, which is what many people of the lower long for.