Great Expectations: Charles Dickens problematizes the notion of gentleman in the novel

Great Expectations: Charles Dickens

(The Notion of Gentleman)

Q. Critically comment on how Dickens problematizes the notion of the gentleman in Great Expectations.

Answer: In Great Expectations, Charles Dickens problematizes the notion of the gentleman, which was a central ideal in Victorian society. The novel explores the concept of what it means to be a gentleman and challenges the traditional assumptions and expectations associated with it. This essay will critically comment on how Dickens problematizes the notion of the gentleman in Great Expectations.

At the heart of the novel is the character of Pip, who initially aspires to become a gentleman, believing that it will bring him happiness and fulfillment. However, as the novel progresses, Dickens complicates this notion and reveals the flaws and limitations of the idea of the gentleman. Pip's transformation from a simple country boy to a gentleman, with the help of an unknown benefactor, highlights the superficiality of the idea of the gentleman. Pip believes that wealth and status will make him a gentleman, but he learns that true gentility is more than just external appearances.

Furthermore, Dickens challenges the notion that being a gentleman is synonymous with being morally superior. Many of the characters in the novel who are considered gentlemen are, in fact, morally corrupt, such as the cruel and manipulative Bentley Drummle, who marries Estella. Conversely, characters who are not considered gentlemen, such as Joe Gargery, Pip's humble blacksmith brother-in-law, are shown to possess the qualities of true gentility, such as honesty, kindness, and loyalty.

The novel also critiques the class system of Victorian England, which dictated who could and could not be a gentleman. Dickens exposes the hypocrisy of a society that values external factors such as wealth, status, and education over inner qualities such as morality and character. The character of Herbert Pocket, who is of lower social standing but possesses the qualities of a true gentleman, serves as a contrast to the other characters who are considered gentlemen but lack morality and character.

Finally, Dickens suggests that the pursuit of becoming a gentleman can lead to a loss of one's identity and true self. Pip's desire to become a gentleman leads him to reject his humble origins and distance himself from his family and friends. He becomes dissatisfied with his life and alienates himself from those who truly care for him. It is only after he learns the truth about his benefactor and loses his wealth and status that he realizes the importance of his true identity and the value of his relationships.

However, Charles Dickens problematizes the notion of the gentleman in Great Expectations by challenging the traditional assumptions and expectations associated with it. The novel critiques the superficiality of external factors such as wealth and status in defining true gentility, exposes the moral corruption of many characters considered gentlemen, and critiques the class system of Victorian England. Finally, Dickens suggests that the pursuit of becoming a gentleman can lead to a loss of one's identity and true self. Through the character of Pip and his journey towards self-discovery, the novel offers a complex exploration of the idea of the gentleman and its limitations.

*****

👉 Great Expectations | Dickens’ art of characterization with reference to Estelle

👉 The School for Scandal | as an eighteenth-century comedy of manners

👉 Andrea del Sarto | as a Dramatic monologue

👉 The King of the Golden River| John Ruskin’s portrayal of Nature

👉 Preface to the Lyrical Balads | as a manifesto of Romantic Criticism

👉 Moll Flanders | as a Realistic Novel