Dickens and his Dickens and his TimesTimes

Great ExpectationsGreat Expectations

Adapted from AP Learning Unit – Adapted from AP Learning Unit – Prestwick HousePrestwick House

Charles DickensCharles Dickens

Born in 1812Born in 1812 Wrote Wrote Great ExpectationsGreat Expectations in 1860 in 1860 Separated from his wife Catherine in Separated from his wife Catherine in

18581858 Extra-marital love interest was Ellen Extra-marital love interest was Ellen

Ternan (18 year old actress)Ternan (18 year old actress) Possible model for EstellaPossible model for Estella

The Corn LawsThe Corn Laws

1815-18461815-1846 Laws regulate the import of foreign Laws regulate the import of foreign

corn (generic name for ALL grains) to corn (generic name for ALL grains) to keep British corn at an artificially high keep British corn at an artificially high price.price.

Favored wealthy landownersFavored wealthy landowners Devastating to poor, esp. urban poorDevastating to poor, esp. urban poor Large percent of wages go for food Large percent of wages go for food

rather than goods.rather than goods.

Corn Laws cont.Corn Laws cont.

Fewer goods purchased means Fewer goods purchased means factories sell less and lay off workersfactories sell less and lay off workers

Newly unemployed less able to Newly unemployed less able to purchase food or goods than beforepurchase food or goods than before

Economy spirals toward depressionEconomy spirals toward depression Parliament repeals Corn Laws in Parliament repeals Corn Laws in

1846 to save the economy1846 to save the economy

Social Class and the Social Class and the GentlemanGentleman

1919thth England in a time of rapid, England in a time of rapid, bewildering, and sometimes violent bewildering, and sometimes violent social changesocial change

Wealth USED to be measured by land Wealth USED to be measured by land ownershipownership

New trends evolve: cash-based New trends evolve: cash-based economy and the creation of an economy and the creation of an economically powerful middle classeconomically powerful middle class

Social Class cont.Social Class cont.

Middle class demands political power Middle class demands political power and social acceptanceand social acceptance

Concept of “gentleman” must Concept of “gentleman” must evolve; a confusing processevolve; a confusing process

Status of gentleman no longer a right Status of gentleman no longer a right of birthof birth

Character now contributes to that Character now contributes to that statusstatus

Social class cont.Social class cont.

Some are gentlemen by virtue of Some are gentlemen by virtue of economic/political powereconomic/political power

Some are gentlemen by virtue of Some are gentlemen by virtue of occupation: clergy, military officers, occupation: clergy, military officers, members of Parliament, etc.)members of Parliament, etc.)

Some DENIED status due to occupation: Some DENIED status due to occupation: engineer, brewer, etc.)engineer, brewer, etc.)

Pip is sent to London to become a Pip is sent to London to become a gentleman – ambiguity of goal is gentleman – ambiguity of goal is appropriateappropriate

Hulks and TransportationHulks and Transportation

Hulks were large ships without masts, Hulks were large ships without masts, which had been used in battle, retired, which had been used in battle, retired, and fitted out for housing male and fitted out for housing male convicts awaiting transportation to the convicts awaiting transportation to the colonies.colonies.

Floating prisonsFloating prisons Moored on the ThamesMoored on the Thames Practice began in 1770s and continued Practice began in 1770s and continued

until 1856until 1856

Hulks cont.Hulks cont. Terrible conditions: disease and death Terrible conditions: disease and death

rampantrampant Government continued to seek new places Government continued to seek new places

to transport convicts rather than reformto transport convicts rather than reform Transportation to British colonies in America Transportation to British colonies in America

(Georgia), Australia, and Tasmania(Georgia), Australia, and Tasmania Sentence ranged from 7 years to lifeSentence ranged from 7 years to life Conditions very similar to that of slaves Conditions very similar to that of slaves

being shipped to America – many died being shipped to America – many died during 4-6 month journey, many more sick during 4-6 month journey, many more sick or dying upon arrivalor dying upon arrival

Hulks cont.Hulks cont.

Survivors were set to work as servants Survivors were set to work as servants or laborersor laborers

Some saved money and became Some saved money and became settlers themselves or returned to settlers themselves or returned to EnglandEngland

Some failed to be reformed, were Some failed to be reformed, were chained, whipped, and set to hard chained, whipped, and set to hard labor for the rest of their liveslabor for the rest of their lives

Expense of transportation, complaints Expense of transportation, complaints of settlers brought practice to a closeof settlers brought practice to a close

Literature and the Industrial Literature and the Industrial RevolutionRevolution

Industrial revolution creates new class of wealthy Industrial revolution creates new class of wealthy individuals – factory owners, investors, etc.individuals – factory owners, investors, etc.

Wives could afford to hire help – had leisure timeWives could afford to hire help – had leisure time Printing technologies advance speed and Printing technologies advance speed and

decrease costs: Books are cheap and easy to get!decrease costs: Books are cheap and easy to get! The novel thrives – ideal for those with time to The novel thrives – ideal for those with time to

read. read. No distinction between literary novels and No distinction between literary novels and

popular bestsellerspopular bestsellers Dickens, George Elliot, Bronte sisters, and Dickens, George Elliot, Bronte sisters, and

Thomas Hardy are widely ready across all social Thomas Hardy are widely ready across all social classesclasses

Caricatures, Stereotypes, and Caricatures, Stereotypes, and ConventionsConventions

Many of Dickens’ characters are Many of Dickens’ characters are exaggerated or outlandish making a exaggerated or outlandish making a “flat” main character seem normal“flat” main character seem normal

Static characters (Joe, Miss Havisham) Static characters (Joe, Miss Havisham) emphasize Pip’s change from contented emphasize Pip’s change from contented lad, to social climber, to regretful adultlad, to social climber, to regretful adult

Gothic elements were utilized: eerie Gothic elements were utilized: eerie setting, child/young woman in danger, setting, child/young woman in danger, evil monster, villainous aristocratevil monster, villainous aristocrat

Conventions cont.Conventions cont.

Other conventions include:Other conventions include: Poor orphanPoor orphan Woman in whiteWoman in white Mysterious benefactorMysterious benefactor Unrequited love (yes, even here)Unrequited love (yes, even here) Country as good, city as badCountry as good, city as bad Noble savageNoble savage Mists, moonlight, ruinsMists, moonlight, ruins

First Person ProtagonistFirst Person Protagonist

Only two novels use this perspective: Only two novels use this perspective: Great ExpectationsGreat Expectations and and David David CopperfieldCopperfield

Allows for the exploration of multiple Allows for the exploration of multiple views (the experience of Pip and the views (the experience of Pip and the distance of the older narrator Pip distance of the older narrator Pip who can and does offer commentary who can and does offer commentary on the events he is recounting)on the events he is recounting)

First Person cont.First Person cont.

Caution: details are only offered as the Caution: details are only offered as the narrator experienced or remembers narrator experienced or remembers them.them.

Accuracy may be questionableAccuracy may be questionable Narrator may be lying, omitting details, Narrator may be lying, omitting details,

or exaggeratingor exaggerating Author’s tool: why did Dickens choose Author’s tool: why did Dickens choose

it?it? Narrator IS NOT author hereNarrator IS NOT author here

Timing of the novelTiming of the novel Dickens uses details to suggest story took Dickens uses details to suggest story took

place in the pastplace in the past One pound notes were out of circulation One pound notes were out of circulation

from 1826-1915, placing our story prior to from 1826-1915, placing our story prior to 18261826

Death sentence for transported felons who Death sentence for transported felons who return abolished in 1835 (Magwitch)return abolished in 1835 (Magwitch)

Paddle-wheelers replaced by screw-Paddle-wheelers replaced by screw-propellers in 1839propellers in 1839

The Gibbet (leaving hanged criminals to The Gibbet (leaving hanged criminals to rot) abandoned in 1832rot) abandoned in 1832

King George III is mentioned – died in 1820King George III is mentioned – died in 1820

EndingsEndings

Current ending is not Dickens’ originalCurrent ending is not Dickens’ original Dickens intended Pip to move East to Dickens intended Pip to move East to

work for Herbert’s firm, no final work for Herbert’s firm, no final meeting with Estellameeting with Estella

Dickens wished to please readers, so Dickens wished to please readers, so created alternate ending –still sadcreated alternate ending –still sad

Changed it again to make it happier – Changed it again to make it happier – final revision: “I saw no shadow of final revision: “I saw no shadow of another parting from her.” (1862) another parting from her.” (1862)