The main character’s social mobility in Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations

ABSTRACT

In this study, the researcher analyzes Charles Dickens’ novel entitled Great Expectations by focusing on the main character (Phillip Pirrip or called Pip)’s social mobility. Furthermore, to get the proofs that literature is a reflection of a reality at a certain time, we can uses sociological approach which analyzes a literary work by comparing the literary work and the reality at that time. The researcher presents the social condition of Pip’s social mobility in the novel Great Expectations as the subject of the study. The problems of this study are: How is the main character’s (Pip) social mobility in Dickens’ Great Expectations? What are the causes of Pip’s social mobility in Dickens’ Great Expectations? And does the social Mobility portrayed in Dickens’ Great Expectations reflect that of the England society in Victorian Era?

This study uses the sociological approach. In accomplishing the research, the researcher employs the qualitative type of research and uses descriptive method that is most suitable to analyze the novel. The data are taken from the primary source, the novel Great Expectations by Charles Dickens.

From the result of analysis it is found out that in Great Expectations that Pip’s social mobility is upward mobility, he can get better life because he was adopted by anonymous benefactor. Pip was adopted because of Pip’s kindness when Pip was child; he helps someone (benefactor) to give him some food and a file. Someday, the benefactor gives Pip the whole of his money so Pip can do vertical mobility,especially upward social mobility.

There are some factors which cause Pip’s social mobility and concerned with the reality at that time. The factors are family, social status, economical condition and education. Pip can feel better life after he was adopted by the benefactor’s family. Firstly, Pip’s social status and economical condition are in lower position with poor financial situation, the other person always insult him such as Estella (the bourgeoisie class) sees him as the laboring boy and also his education is not good. And then after he gets the much money of benefactor, he has better life such as his social status, economical condition and education. For his education, he has a tutor who educates him privately and also he has good facility for his daily life.

The novel Great Expectations reflects the social condition in Victorian era. The social condition at that time is very complicated. There are much poverty and child labor in Victorian era. Besides that, the social stratification also is very clear so we can see and understand the differences of classes and social mobility in the society.