To what extend does the main character ‘Pip’ in Charles Dickens’s novel ‘Great Expectations’ reflect the impact of Victorian Period on the society?

Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens, is considered to be one of the principal examples of the genre the bildungsroman; a novel of education. The bildungsroman generally follows the protagonist’s life from childhood innocence to experience.This study analyzes the reflection of Victorian Period on the society through the main character ‘Pip’. Brought up by a lower class, Pip is exposed to the difficulties of the poor people at a very young age. Due to his visits to Miss Havisham who represents the upper class of the society, he becomes aware of the conflict between the rich and the poor. As being an idealist character, Pip begins to long with wealthy gentleman on account of seeing the better life. Later on, after Pip learns that somebody makes him a fortune , he goes through a ‘social revolution’ .Pip turns into a member of upper class, goes off to live in better conditions , educates himself and changes the people around him. However, he finally realizes that the life that he dreams of , is not proper for him and at the end he moves back to his hometown. Since Pip explores both part of the society , he could criticize the society he lives in from his point of view which also gives some clues about the Victorian Society that Charles Dickens is inspired