UNCOVERING SCATTERED BRITISH COMPLACENCY IN CHARLES DICKENS’ GREAT EXPECTATIONS: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Abstract

This paper focuses on uncovering the scattered British complacency which makes one of the major themes of Charles Dickens's Great Expectations. Dickens' portrayal of British society in the novel critiques the complacency and social stratification that characterized British society during the Victorian era. It critically explores the theme by through the characters, their attitudes, and their behaviors, as well as the social and economical context of the time period in which the novel was written by viewing them through the lens of close reading technique in a qualitative way. The study is significant in the sense that Dickens' critique of British complacency is relevant to contemporary society as this critical analysis sheds light on the underlying themes and social commentary in the Great Expectations and provides insight into the ways in which literature can serve as a vehicle for social criticism and change.