Gender Roles In Charles Dickens Great Expectations

Gender Roles in Great Expectations

To begin with, on March 8th, 2016, the 102nd annual “International Women’s Day” took place.Women have progressed so much throughout the last 102 years, but they still are not where they wish to be. The current goal women wish to obtain is 50/50 equality by 2030. This issue of asperity has been prominent since the beginning of time, even shown in Charles Dickens’s novel Great Expectations. Some may say that equality for men and women has come a long way, but there are still many noticeable differences. Markedly, Dickens displays how repulsive women are to him an umpteen amount of times, especially through the characters Missus Joe and Miss Havisham. Also, Dickens shows more remorse towards the main character,

To illustrate, Havisham finds love in her earlier days “she perfectly loved [Compeyson], they were going to marry but the day came, but not the bridegroom” (Dickens.179,180). In other words, the evidence is showing the beginning of a terrible life for Miss Havisham. Dickens took away the one thing that this character longed for. Throughout the novel, Miss Havisham is the reason for the misery of Pip’s adolescence. After she informs Pip and Joe that he is to become an apprentice, Pip asks curiously “am I to come again?”, but Havisham flatly says “no” (Dickens.100). Even so, this evidence exhibits that Havisham feels nothing for a child she has known almost a decade. Dickens loves to portray her as a heartless monster. In the same light, years later Pip leaves after another visit with Havisham and “[looks] into the room where [he] had left her...[he] saw a great flaming light spring up” (Dickens.403). Furthermore, this evidence demonstrates how Dickens felt the need to off strong female leads. Also, he killed her in a cruel death, similar to Mrs. Joe’s, which can not be seen as a coincidence. Briefly, Miss Havisham was seen as an insane old woman who seemed to be singled out by Dickens and led a suffering

Dickens conveys the impression that he gave more to male characters, like Pip than girls. The first instance that this can be seen is when “[Havisham] wants [Pip] to go and play there” (Dickens.50). It is important to note, that this evidence symbolizes the fact that Miss. Havisham has the power to see to Pip becoming a gentleman eventually. Which is what he wants with much ferocity. However, receiving this chance should never have been on the cards for a poor orphan boy. Another indication of this is when Pip gets a chance of a lifetime, he is going to be a gentleman! Be that as it may, “[his]... benefactor remains a profound secret” (Dickens.139). As a matter of fact, this evidence proves Pip is so excited about becoming an efficient member of society, he did not care much about his benefactor. He thought that finally getting what he wanted would him Estella, his love interest. Moreover, it is unquestionably evident that Pip was a jerk to Joe and Biddy while he was away. For example, he barely ever saw either of them, and Pip always felt he was better than both Joe and Biddy. Almost like both of the two owed him something. Yet, their child is “[given…] the name of Pip for [his] sake”, and even though Pip loses all of his money and statuses, when he sees Estella “[She gives their relationship] a place in [her] heart” (Dickens.486,489). Above all, this evidence shows Pip did get his “great expectations”, with a happy family. He also got a sense of