Great Expectations Theme

     There are many themes and messages in Great Expectations, but the one message that was emphasized over and over throughout the whole book was that happiness can not be attained by means of material possessions. Instead, satisfaction in life stems from the simpler aspects of our existence. At the time, it seems that Dickens used the novel as a way to tell his readers that as a society they were becoming increasingly out of touch and materialistic. His message is that contrary to popular belief, money does not equal happiness, and if you spend your life pursuing portable property then you will become increasingly unhappy as you lose touch with the simpler parts of life. Through the contrasts between his characters Dickens says that if you want to be happy you should surround yourself with friends and family, as well as live an honest and noble life, instead of surrounding yourself with nobility, and alienating those individuals who love you. Although the book is over a hundred and fifty years old, sadly the message has lost none of its potency, as people have changed very little over time. Our culture is different but people still act in much the same way as when the book was written.