Is the theme of crime and punishment central
to Dickens' Great
Expectations? Give
reasons for your answer.
Charles
Dickens' Great Expectations is epic in scope, covering the rise and fall of its
hero Pip through the class system of nineteenth century England with the growth
and failure of a tragic romance tied into the package. The several
interconnected plot lines, the wide cast of detailed and fully human
characters, and the many timeless and universal themes that play integral roles
throughout the story all mark this novel as one of the masterpieces of English
literature, and its social commentary is important both historically and as an
ongoing dialogue with modern society. One theme in particular continues to
reverberate all too resoundingly in a modern context: the novel deals with
crime and punishment in many ways both fundamental to the plot and incidental,
and the perspective this gives on the relationship between justice and wealth
-- and more specifically, between justice and class -- is quite cutting indeed.
Through
an examination of the many instances in Great Expectations in which the theme
of crime and punishment appears, it becomes quite clear that not only does
Dickens disapprove of the criminal justice system as he witnessed it being carried out, but
that many of the same issues Dickens observed are still problems today.
Perceptions of class and manipulations of appearance are shown to be more
important than actual facts in many cases, affecting both the establishment of
guilt and the scope or degree of punishment inflicted, and yet at the same time
crime provides the means by which Pip's education and rise out of his class is
facilitated. Crime is the way up and the way up is the way out of crime (or
punishment), in other words, in a complex, ironic, and often cynical yet
entirely honest and poignant portrayal of how social systems impact personal
lives. From Pip's role in Magwitch's escape to his visits to Newgate and
through several other experiences, crime, criminals, and their punishments form
an incredibly important role in shaping Pip's life and perspective as well as
the narrative that the reader experiences. Dickens' ultimate message is that
crime does not affect one's humanity nor should punishment degrade it, and a
recognition of humanity outside of class is necessary for a recognition of
humanity that extends beyond criminality.............................................
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