One example of class distinction that stands out in my mind is the conflict between David and Dora’s parents. They won’t let him marry her because he is impoverished. Dora also becomes completely upset because she and David are going to be poor. It doesn’t matter to her so much that she loves him. The sadness that the fact that he is going to be poor brings her is not out weighted by the happiness that David’s love brings her. This demonstrates how important wealth and social class was in the Victorian age. Another example of class distinction is Steerforth. One of the reasons that he things he is superior to everyone is because he is wealthy. He has also never really had to work hard for anything in his life, he has simply just been given everything, and so he expects just to take everything. He is spoiled by his mother and this contributed to his rotten nature. David, however, has had to work hard all his life and has become a good person. Both David and Steerforth don’t have fathers and the way they handle it seems to be defined by their social class because of how they live their lives.
♥A major class distinction includes Steerforth. He is a wealthy character, and because of his wealth, he gets what he wants. For example, he gets Emily to run away with him, and when he gets bored with her, he simply leaves. He also is in a higher regard than the rest of the boys with Mr. Creakle, and this is apparent when he gets one of the teachers fired. Money means power, and Steerforth obviously is in power, and he uses his power to manipulate others. Another instance where it is shown that wealth is important is when Dora freaks out on David when he tells her that he is poor. Rather than focusing on his devotion to her, she is focusing on what she will lose if she marries a poor man. It can also be seen that the wealthier people in the novel do not work as the poorer folks do. Nora cannot do a lick of housework, and she just sits at home and plays with the dog. David, on the other hand, works hard to make himself rise up against his adversity. I think that Dickens favors hard work over getting everything easily, since he had to work hard at a younger age, as well.
In David Copperfield, a clear class distinction is the accent with which Mr. Peggotty speaks. It makes him seem inferior and not educated, yet oddly enough he is one of the most loved characters. Mr. Dick, too, is a loveable character who is not in a highly regarded social class (since he is mentally challenged). David himself, who is a highly regarded character, is not really of a high social class. Yet these are three of the good characters in the book. It almost seems like Dickens is saying not to disregard those who are poor or social outcasts because they can still be good people. I wouldn’t go as far as to say Dickens advocates loving all the social outcasts, because Uriah Heep is certainly in a lower social class and he is evil, but I think Dickens is saying we need to look at the character of a person and not their social standing. This is also true for those who have social standing. Even though Mr. Murdstone is not rich, I would still he has some social standing. He has enough money to send David to school and enough money to pay for a house, so he obviously has some funds, at least at the beginning of the novel, yet he is an evil character who is high in social standing. Betsey Trotwood, while she can be considered a social outcast, is still a member of the middle class. She has money (at first), and she is a good character, so here again Dickens shows with these two people who both have money but different personalities that we need to look at a person’s character, not their class or social standing in ultimately making our decisions and conclusions about that person.
Class distinction is clearly present in David Copperfield, but Dickens does show all the members of a class the same. For example the servant Pegotty is very loving to Clara and David. She is perhaps the nicest person to them in the entire novel. David and his mother do not quite show the same love for her though. The servant at the inn where David stayed on his way to school was very different. He was not kind and tricked David into giving him his dinner; he also tricked David into leaving him a tip. First he told David that the last guy who drank the ale died. Then he tells David “our people don't like things being ordered and left. It offends 'em. But I'll drink it, if you like. I'm used to it, and use is everything. I don't think it'll hurt me, if I throw my head back, and take it off quick. Shall I?” Steerforth is of a higher class than the other boys at school and is therefore looked upon with higher esteem and respect. In fact David calls Steerfoth sir. When steerforth asks David if he wants to spend any of David’s money David says “No, thank you, sir.” But because of his influence he gets David to buy the boys in the dorm a banquet. The poorer people, such as Macawbre and Mr. Pegotty, are shown as nicer people. The Murdstones also seem to be of a higher class and are very cruel people.
Throughout the entire novel, Dickens does not simply show that poor people can be good sometimes, he shows that oftentimes the poor people are the richest in virtue and morality. Steerforth comes from a very rich family, and he is made to look like a prick in every sense of the word. The Peggottys are pretty low-class workers, but they provide David with inspiration and love and help their friends get where they are going. On the same note, people like the Murdstones are portrayed as cruel and therefore rich.
One example of class distinction is the way that the Steerforth Family loves compared to how the Peggottys live. David experiences both sides. The Steerforths' words and actions are never direct and they almost beat around the bush to get their point across. One action is set up for another. The Peggotty's on the other hand, are very abrupt and to the point. I think that Dickens uses this to portray his feelings on wealth. Just because the Peggotty's arent rich doesnt mean that they cant get what they want. It may be a tougher road, but theyll get there. The Steerforth's use money, and even though they have the resources, they still have to take the long route to things.
An example of class distinction in David Copperfield is the opposite paths that Dora and David take in life. While they ultimately end up married and together, David and Dora are two completely different social classes. David is eternally poor (he even gets depressed about being poor) and Dora is eternally a spoiled girl who always has money. Dora is a woman who puts money first in life. David on the other hand, understands the hard work it takes to achieve financial status in the Victorian society. David works for his money while Dora gets it handed to her. This poses a problem when David is courting Dora and has the task of having to gather enough finances to make Dora’s parents allow him to go after Dora. Also, the fact that Dora always has had money reflects on her inability to be a common day woman and do the work around the house. David disdains Dora for not being able to do the work of a housewife, but ultimately, even though the financial backgrounds are at opposite ends of the spectrum, David and Dora love each other and get married. Opposites attract in David Copperfield.
Dickens had many cases when he contrasted high society to low society. The first example is clearly the Murdstones vs. the Peggottys. The Murdstones treat David like absolute filth, and make his life as terrible as they can possibly imagine it. The Peggotys on the other hand basically live to serve. Clara Peggotty takes care of David since the moment he is born and would sooner take a bullet than harm David. Mr. Peggotty seems the parental, fatherly type who is genuinely concerned about anyone and everyone. So in this comparison high class is portrayed as cruel and cold whereas the low class is viewed as caring and loving to the core. Money and wealth are viewed as the highest priority during the Victorian age. This can be seen in David’s courtship of Dora. Dora is appalled at the thought of being poor and is inconsolable even though David is madly in love with her. The contrast to this is the Micawbers. While money is important to them, it is simply because they need to pay off debts, but they keep borrowing. Although, even with the lack of money and the thought of debt hanging over their heads they still manage to stay jovial during dinner.
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One example of class distinction that stands out in my mind is the conflict between David and Dora’s parents. They won’t let him marry her because he is impoverished. Dora also becomes completely upset because she and David are going to be poor. It doesn’t matter to her so much that she loves him. The sadness that the fact that he is going to be poor brings her is not out weighted by the happiness that David’s love brings her. This demonstrates how important wealth and social class was in the Victorian age. Another example of class distinction is Steerforth. One of the reasons that he things he is superior to everyone is because he is wealthy. He has also never really had to work hard for anything in his life, he has simply just been given everything, and so he expects just to take everything. He is spoiled by his mother and this contributed to his rotten nature. David, however, has had to work hard all his life and has become a good person. Both David and Steerforth don’t have fathers and the way they handle it seems to be defined by their social class because of how they live their lives.
♥A major class distinction includes Steerforth. He is a wealthy character, and because of his wealth, he gets what he wants. For example, he gets Emily to run away with him, and when he gets bored with her, he simply leaves. He also is in a higher regard than the rest of the boys with Mr. Creakle, and this is apparent when he gets one of the teachers fired. Money means power, and Steerforth obviously is in power, and he uses his power to manipulate others. Another instance where it is shown that wealth is important is when Dora freaks out on David when he tells her that he is poor. Rather than focusing on his devotion to her, she is focusing on what she will lose if she marries a poor man. It can also be seen that the wealthier people in the novel do not work as the poorer folks do. Nora cannot do a lick of housework, and she just sits at home and plays with the dog. David, on the other hand, works hard to make himself rise up against his adversity. I think that Dickens favors hard work over getting everything easily, since he had to work hard at a younger age, as well.
In David Copperfield, a clear class distinction is the accent with which Mr. Peggotty speaks. It makes him seem inferior and not educated, yet oddly enough he is one of the most loved characters. Mr. Dick, too, is a loveable character who is not in a highly regarded social class (since he is mentally challenged). David himself, who is a highly regarded character, is not really of a high social class. Yet these are three of the good characters in the book. It almost seems like Dickens is saying not to disregard those who are poor or social outcasts because they can still be good people. I wouldn’t go as far as to say Dickens advocates loving all the social outcasts, because Uriah Heep is certainly in a lower social class and he is evil, but I think Dickens is saying we need to look at the character of a person and not their social standing. This is also true for those who have social standing. Even though Mr. Murdstone is not rich, I would still he has some social standing. He has enough money to send David to school and enough money to pay for a house, so he obviously has some funds, at least at the beginning of the novel, yet he is an evil character who is high in social standing. Betsey Trotwood, while she can be considered a social outcast, is still a member of the middle class. She has money (at first), and she is a good character, so here again Dickens shows with these two people who both have money but different personalities that we need to look at a person’s character, not their class or social standing in ultimately making our decisions and conclusions about that person.
Class distinction is clearly present in David Copperfield, but Dickens does show all the members of a class the same. For example the servant Pegotty is very loving to Clara and David. She is perhaps the nicest person to them in the entire novel. David and his mother do not quite show the same love for her though. The servant at the inn where David stayed on his way to school was very different. He was not kind and tricked David into giving him his dinner; he also tricked David into leaving him a tip. First he told David that the last guy who drank the ale died. Then he tells David “our people don't like things being ordered and left. It offends 'em. But I'll drink it, if you like. I'm used to it, and use is everything. I don't think it'll hurt me, if I throw my head back, and take it off quick. Shall I?” Steerforth is of a higher class than the other boys at school and is therefore looked upon with higher esteem and respect. In fact David calls Steerfoth sir. When steerforth asks David if he wants to spend any of David’s money David says “No, thank you, sir.” But because of his influence he gets David to buy the boys in the dorm a banquet. The poorer people, such as Macawbre and Mr. Pegotty, are shown as nicer people. The Murdstones also seem to be of a higher class and are very cruel people.
Throughout the entire novel, Dickens does not simply show that poor people can be good sometimes, he shows that oftentimes the poor people are the richest in virtue and morality. Steerforth comes from a very rich family, and he is made to look like a prick in every sense of the word. The Peggottys are pretty low-class workers, but they provide David with inspiration and love and help their friends get where they are going. On the same note, people like the Murdstones are portrayed as cruel and therefore rich.
One example of class distinction is the way that the Steerforth Family loves compared to how the Peggottys live. David experiences both sides. The Steerforths' words and actions are never direct and they almost beat around the bush to get their point across. One action is set up for another. The Peggotty's on the other hand, are very abrupt and to the point. I think that Dickens uses this to portray his feelings on wealth. Just because the Peggotty's arent rich doesnt mean that they cant get what they want. It may be a tougher road, but theyll get there. The Steerforth's use money, and even though they have the resources, they still have to take the long route to things.
An example of class distinction in David Copperfield is the opposite paths that Dora and David take in life. While they ultimately end up married and together, David and Dora are two completely different social classes. David is eternally poor (he even gets depressed about being poor) and Dora is eternally a spoiled girl who always has money. Dora is a woman who puts money first in life. David on the other hand, understands the hard work it takes to achieve financial status in the Victorian society. David works for his money while Dora gets it handed to her. This poses a problem when David is courting Dora and has the task of having to gather enough finances to make Dora’s parents allow him to go after Dora. Also, the fact that Dora always has had money reflects on her inability to be a common day woman and do the work around the house. David disdains Dora for not being able to do the work of a housewife, but ultimately, even though the financial backgrounds are at opposite ends of the spectrum, David and Dora love each other and get married. Opposites attract in David Copperfield.
Dickens had many cases when he contrasted high society to low society. The first example is clearly the Murdstones vs. the Peggottys. The Murdstones treat David like absolute filth, and make his life as terrible as they can possibly imagine it. The Peggotys on the other hand basically live to serve. Clara Peggotty takes care of David since the moment he is born and would sooner take a bullet than harm David. Mr. Peggotty seems the parental, fatherly type who is genuinely concerned about anyone and everyone. So in this comparison high class is portrayed as cruel and cold whereas the low class is viewed as caring and loving to the core. Money and wealth are viewed as the highest priority during the Victorian age. This can be seen in David’s courtship of Dora. Dora is appalled at the thought of being poor and is inconsolable even though David is madly in love with her. The contrast to this is the Micawbers. While money is important to them, it is simply because they need to pay off debts, but they keep borrowing. Although, even with the lack of money and the thought of debt hanging over their heads they still manage to stay jovial during dinner.
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