Compare the ways in which Pip views Joe as a child as he grows up in "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens.

Essay by manutdchick4evaA+, October 2005

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In this essay I will be explaining and comparing the ways in which Pip, as a child, views Joe as he grows up, in "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens.

"Great Expectations" was written in 1861 by Charles Dickens. However, it was set early in the 19th century. Throughout "Great Expectations" Dickens explores early Victorian England, and how much money meant to people, how much it changed people and turned them into snobs at that time.

Some of Charles Dickens' past may have triggered him to write this book. Charles Dickens's father was jailed for debt - like Pip in Great Expectations. Charles was mortified about his father's imprisonment; this had a massive impact on him, and Charles lived in great fear of poverty.

By using his own history and experience Charles Dickens tried to get across that in those days if you were in debt you would be put in prison.

For a sensitive man like Dickens, who wanted to be considered as respectable he made sure he worked really hard to avoid this.

Charles Dickens took up a cause of social justice. Although, in those days there was a big barrier between the rich and poor, Charles wanted social and financial fairness for all, just like in the story of "Great Expectations".

This barrier between the deprived and the wealthy led to his message for all to be paid fairly so that they were free from debt and respected. Nevertheless, the acquisition of wealth in the rising middle classes led to supercilious amongst the two classes, from those who had money.

(In 1850 a cooks wage was � a year which in nowadays is only �50. In 1850 a pound was equal to �) Also, normally for an average worker's...