Great Expectations – Class and Social Ambition

A comprehensive and professionally structured resource exploring how Dickens presents class prejudice, social mobility and personal ambition in Great Expectations.

This resource examines how Pip’s desire to become a gentleman develops from his experiences at Satis House and gradually damages his relationships, values and sense of identity. It considers how Dickens contrasts social status with moral worth through characters including Joe, Estella, Magwitch, Miss Havisham and Drummle.

Key features:

• Clear analysis of Pip’s class shame, social ambition, self-deception and eventual moral development
• Focus on Joe’s integrity, Drummle’s inherited privilege, Magwitch’s generosity and Estella’s influence on Pip’s self-perception
• Exploration of the forge, Satis House and London as contrasting settings connected to honest labour, social aspiration, decay and illusion
• Nine structured exercises covering quotation analysis, character comparison, symbolism, narrative methods, context, interpretation, creative writing and extended essay preparation
• Detailed answer key and a 17-slide supporting presentation with teaching content, activities, suggested answers and summary material