This essay is an analysis of how Charles Dickens, the author of Great Expectations, tells readers that money is not a true teller of happiness.
Dickens uses the comparison between the upper and lower classes of 19th century England to examine the extent money has an effect on happiness. In Books One and Two of Great Expectations, a coming-of-age novel, readers are introduced to many characters of varying degrees of wealth and happiness. Pip, the main character, has been hopelessly smitten with Estella ever since their first meeting at Satis House, who in turn has snubbed him cruelly. He is elated when he is informed of his �great expectations� because he thinks that becoming rich will finally make him good enough for the likes of Estella. However, Dickens makes it clear that no amount of money is enough to buy a person true happiness, and Pip is the one who falls into this trap of materialism. That money does not necessarily provide happiness is proven time and time again through characters important in Pip�s story, such as Joe, Miss Havisham, and Jaggers. These characters either have riches and unhappiness, or a more average, lower class income and happiness---but none have both.
Joe, a common blacksmith and Pip�s brother-in-law, is very satisfied with his status as a member of the lower class. He feels that he�s �wrong out of the forge� (pg. 224) and better off working in what he feels is his rightful place. At Mrs. Joe�s funeral, he acts with �great restraint� (pg. 283) until he smokes his pipe, changes his formal clothes, and is able to socialize with Pip in the familiar forge. In an unelaborated, typical lower class setting Joe is comfortable and able to be himself, but he feels strange and tense in a higher-class, formal environment. Another example of this is the one meeting with Miss Havisham in the earlier stages of the novel. Joe aims all his answers to Miss Havisham�s queries at Pip, displaying unnatural nervousness and a �great politeness� (pg. 99). He feels out of place in Miss Havisham�s mansion, a great contrast from their own humble home. Joe, in all his awkwardness around rich individuals and having no material wealth himself, is perfectly able to find happiness. Although Joe never makes an extravagant amount of money, he�s able to find romance and happiness without those niceties; when Mrs. Joe dies, Biddy comes to help out Joe and Pip. While Pip grows cold toward Joe and Biddy, they eventually find joy in each other.
Miss Havisham is a very wealthy woman, but she spends her days bitter and craving revenge on the male population. Her entire life has been ruined by money, because her own fianc� broke off their engagement since his only motive was to pilfer her money. Because of her devastation from the cancelled wedding, her life since that day has been spent in Satis House, resentful and unhappy. Her long-broken heart makes her want only revenge on the members of the male gender, even training her adopted daughter Estella to do so. On Pip�s first visit to Satis House, Miss Havisham tells Estella that she can and should �break his heart� (pg. 58). Miss Havisham possesses the most money of everyone in Great Expectations, but she is also the unhappiest--- a reality that conveys that money does not necessarily secure happiness.
Another rather well off character in Great Expectations is Jaggers, an infamous lawyer who lives in solitude and sobriety. Evidence that supports the idea that happiness is not derived from wealth includes the stark, depressed, gloomy atmosphere of both his office and home. His office, first of all, is located very near a slaughterhouse, resulting in a street �all asmear with filth and fat and blood and foam� (pg. 163). Inside the office, he has no personal possessions and the room contains an air of trials involving death and gore. Dickens deliberately portrays Jaggers� workplace as a dismal place, although he definitely could have afforded nicer surroundings. He lives alone in a house that seems as though it has never been made messy, with �nothing merely ornamental� (pg. 211). It is as if Jaggers never has the time or mind to do something merely for leisure or entertainment, as a normal, content person should. Jaggers does not have more contact with his clients than is necessary, preferring to communicate with them through Wemmick. Jaggers, although a wealthy man, does not have any amiable or warm contact in his life, lingering in a place where everything is cold and unrelenting.
Some characters in Great Expectations have little money but are very happy; some have huge amounts of money but do not experience much happiness. Joe is content working at the forge where Pip grew up, although blacksmithing isn�t high class or extremely profitable. On the other hand, Miss Havisham owns a large estate and can afford to have servants and so forth --- but her anger and discontentment seems not to have abated since the day that initiated her shame. Alone and inflexible, Jaggers does not truly enjoy anything in life despite his riches. Pip has not yet realized that people all around him, including Joe, Miss Havisham, and Jaggers are living examples of how money, or lack of it, cannot determine anyone�s happiness. Pip needs to save himself from the trap that lures by falsely advertising that money is the source of happiness, and realize that happiness depends most on how a person perceives and treats his or herself.