A Study On The Influence Of The Moral Values In The Victorian Age On Pip’s Growth

As one of British greatest critical realist writers, Charles Dickens, with his unique artistic skills and sharp critical consciousness, created many monumental works. Great Expectations is one of the maturest works in his later years. In this novel, the ethical & moral consciousness and perfecting process of the protagonist deeply reflect Dickens’ unique insight and understanding of the Victorian ethics and morals. They also embody the spirit of his humanitarianism.This thesis aims to apply ethical literary criticism to discussing and analyzing the relationship between the Victorian moral values and Pip, the protagonist’s growth in Great Expectations. It interprets the deep unconscious influence of different ethical relationships and ethical environments on people’s ethical ideology. From the moral values reflected in different ethical relationships between man and others, the thesis profoundly dissects its influence on Pip’s ethical and moral consciousness. These moral values are mainly affected by the religion, economy, culture and the aristocrats in the Victorian Age. At the same time, Pip’s ethical and moral consciousness is obviously further reflected in various ethical relationships among lower communities, middle class and aristocratic class. In order to understand the effects of ethical environment on one’s moral values, the thesis scrutinizes Pip’s changes of moral values when his ethical identity changes in totally different environments of lower class and upper class.In addition, Dickens’ ethical thoughts maintain a close relation with the era in which he lives. Thus, the study on the influence of the moral values in the Victorian Age on protagonist’s growth is conducive to exploring the ethical thoughts in his work. It embodies Dickens’ thinking of ethics and morals as well as his deep concern and deliberation about human life itself.