The pursuit of knowledge is something that drives us to better ourselves as human beings.  Everyday, we subconsciously consume an abundant amount of information from our surroundings.  Whether it is understanding a complex concept of mathematics or developing a taste for new foods, our minds are trained to receive information from the outside world and put it to use within our own lives.  Now, I will start by saying that not all of this information is meaningful – in fact, most of the knowledge we consume on a daily basis is pretty worthless in the long run.  So, the question then becomes: what makes certain knowledge more meaningful than others?  One might argue that the most meaningful knowledge is gained through challenging life experiences.  I do not disagree.  There is much to be learned from the successes and failures of our own lives.  However, this concept confines our knowledge to our own experiences, while there is much to be learned from the experiences of others.  This is why it is important to study great works of literature.  These literary “classics” present characters faced with the realistic challenges of life that end up shaping them into well-rounded members of society.  The knowledge they gain from these experiences is meaningful, and whether or not you ever face those same challenges, you are able to learn from them through the study of these great books.  In a world that has increasingly become corrupted by the rise of material prosperity, cruelty, and selfishness, these “great” works of literature attempt to rectify this downfall in our culture.  The meaningful knowledge gained from these books can not only shape you into a better person, but also direct you towards a more meaningful life – a life worth living.  

To fully approach this idea, we need to take a step back and address the question: What makes great works of literature “great?”  When first asked this, I simply thought that this idea of “greatness” was a direct result of a book’s popularity.  After gaining a deeper understanding, I realized that this idea was false.  Great works of literature, such as Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, Salinger’s Catcher In the Rye, Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, etc., are not famous for their popularity, but rather for being widely taught in classrooms around the world.  Think about it.  I guarantee you were taught at least one of these books during your time in high school.  I’m not saying that they are not popular – they definitely are – but the fact that they are introduced to high school classrooms year after year without failure is why we consider them to be “great” works of literature.  

Now comes the question of why they were taught.  Out of all the books in the world, why have these continually been a part of high school curriculums?  The answer to this is threefold: First, all these great works of literature are very well-written and are used as an example for high quality literature.  Second, they appeal to a diverse audience.  Their powerful and meaningful themes can be easily understood by readers sharing no similarities in background, level of education, or societal and cultural values.  Third, these works have many valuable life lessons woven into the plot.  These lessons attempt to outline the reality of the world and the challenges it poses, and are big factors in the growth and maturity of our next generation – a generation that is slowly becoming corrupted by the downfall of society.   

Having answered these questions, it’s time to take a deeper look into one of these classics.  Take Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations, for example.  A story following the challenging life of an orphan boy living in 19th century England, this novel outlines the ideal qualities of what we consider a “classic.”  The style Dickens uses to illustrate the major themes of this story is what I find most interesting.  Essentially, this novel is a memoir.  The story is told through the eyes of the main character, Pip, as he reflects on his life, the mistakes he made, and how much he has learned since adolescence.  This style is unique but also extremely effective.  It allows Dickens to develop two different personalities for one character – one being Pip the protagonist and the other being Pip the narrator.  Through the reflection of the Pip (the narrator), Dickens is able to instill powerful thematic messages in his readers.  

Dickens introduces the theme of individualism through the progression of Pip’s childhood.  Born into a tough life with no real parental figures to support him, Pip is forced to develop a strong sense of self-improvement.  This is clearly displayed through his desire to escape the life he was born into.  Pip is lead to believe that he has more to offer than what is expected of him – hence the title Great Expectations – and does not sit back and let his unfortunate upbringing dictate his future.  He is motivated to find success for himself because he knows that it will never be simply handed to him.  This idea of self-determination and drive to better one’s life is a valuable mindset to have, and although it has the potential to set you on a path to a better lifestyle, it is not the main message Dickens is attempting to instill in his readers in this specific novel.  Instead, he uses this theme in order to explain a deeper message – but I’ll get to more of that later.

Dickens also makes a point in the novel to focus on the importance of loyalty and the essential role it plays in the formation of meaningful relationships. This idea is mainly expressed through the character Magwitch, the dirty runaway convict that Pip meets as a child.  At the time his first encounter with the man, Pip is portrayed as an innocent, curious kid with surprisingly good morals.  Recognizing his potential, Magwitch places his faith in Pip and anonymously grants him with his greatest desire: the opportunity to become a gentleman.  Without looking back, Pip sets off to pursue is dream, losing sight of his relationship with Magwitch.  Throughout the novel, we can also see the decline in his other relationships, illustrating Pip’s increase in self-centeredness and decrease in loyalty as he pursues his own goals.  

To express his most meaningful message, Dickens utilizes the reflections of Pip as a narrator to make connections between the themes of individualism and loyalty.  When Pip first sets off for London in pursuit of his dream, he saw an opportunity.  The way he viewed this opportunity, however, was not the way Magwitch intended him to.  The young and immature Pip at the time of his departure was focused on one thing: becoming a wealthy English gentleman. Furnished by his close relationship with Miss Havisham, as well as his newly formed obsession with her daughter Estella, he desperately desired to escape the confinements of his current life in order to seek the opportunities he so quickly associates with the idea wealth.  His newly formed ambitions for wealth and advancement in social class are not the qualities Magwitch wanted him to gain.  As he looks back on these events as the narrator, the older and more mature Pip comes to see the truth.  Magwitch placed his faith in him in order to disprove the assumption that a low-class member of society could never become a gentleman.  He comes to the realization of how many friends and relationships he has discarded in his pursuit of becoming high-class.  He prioritized self-improvement and the pursuit of wealth over loyalty and kindness.  The way Dickens utilizes the two personalities of Pip allows us to fully understand the lessons he intends to share – lessons that they could potentially put to use within our own lives.

Through the way he frames the narration of the Pip’s life, Dickens attempts to steer us away from the dangers of the material world, illustrating the idea that the messages within great works of literature can set us on a path towards a more meaningful and happy life.  Pip’s life story stresses the importance of relationships and the qualities of humility and loyalty over the importance of class and wealth.  In today’s society, one could potentially argue that happiness is a direct result of wealth and that the only way to live a better life is to be “better-off” money wise.  Yes, this opinion does have some truth in it – wealth can definitely “buy” us happiness in some cases.  But what Pip learns, and what Dickens is trying to share with us, is that the increase in focus of obtaining this wealth has a negative impact on the other pleasures of life – pleasures that originally made up the foundation of our happiness.  It is interesting to think about how long ago this novel was written (1861).  Just over one and a half decades half passed since its release, and its messages are still relevant to 21st century society.  In truth, Pip developes the same desires as any corrupted young adult of today’s world.  There is no way of Dickens knowing that this would be the case, but I do think it says a lot about the direction the human race has been heading in.  Even back in the 19th century, there were signs of corruption at the hands of material prosperity.  This problem has only increased with time.  Collectively, I think we all need to restore the social values of our past culture in order to decrease this growing amount of corruption in today’s world.  We should take Dickens’ message seriously, and start on a path towards a more meaningful life.