Greed in Victorian Literature - Essay Example

?Greed in Victorian Literature Literary critics have always given a worthy place to the works of Sir H Rider Haggard and Charles Dickens. It has often been said that readers can easily identify some of the characteristics of Victorian literature in their works. Haggard’s King Solomon's Mines and Dickens’s Great Expectations share the common features of Victorian literature like, adventure, social anarchy, deterioration of values, and failure of religious beliefs and greed for wealth and social status. Ideologies demonstrated in Dickens’s story are poignant and significant even in the midst of current economic crisis. Pip’s journey from expectations to disgrace and the reshaping of his values and ideologies mirrors the elements of greed to change the world and create a new one. Haggard’s novel explores the search of diamond mine and the image of greed is fore grounded by the novelist all through the novel. Characters of the novel seek the treasure out of greed end up either by deterioration or by the perishing of their fortune. As a fine piece of Victorian literature both King Solomon's Mines and Great Expectations share some similarities in presenting the theme of greed. Therefore, comparative study between the two stories makes available an opportunity to learn more about Victorian literature. Both Dickens and Haggard criticize the lust and greed of white people (Victorian people) for wealth and power through Great Expectations and King Solomon's Mines respectively. Haggard’s King Solomon's Mines describes the adventurous journey of Allan Quatrain with his companions Henry, Good and Zulu to native Umbopa to seek Henry’s brother who became disappeared searching for the treasure King Solomon’s Mines. The important characters of this novel appear as greedy people and are subjected to misfortunes and sufferings during their treasure hunt. It is significant for a reader to notice that, when of Allan Quatrain and his followers offer to fight for their friend Umbopa, the man offers the treasure of Solomon’s mine as a reward for their help. But Allan Quatrain cleverly acknowledges that he kept this as a motive in his mind and the man reveals his practical sense. Another thing is that Gagool, the old witch mentions about the white man’s lust for white stones many times in the story. Because of their greed, Allan Quatrain and his fellow men subject to severe death experience in the Gagool cave. All these trials and tribulations forced them to feel regression to their lust for unbounded wealth. Concept of civilized colonization is well executed in this novel. White people try to civilize Kaukauna tribe. Quatrain and his companions promise military exchanges to Umbopa for overthrowing the evil king. But the problem is that the Victorian patronizing spirit of the white people is revealed through their conscious effort to control the African tribes through guns. White people make relationships only for their material benefits and they cannot escape from greed. White exploitation against the African tribes is visible in the novel through the character of Good and his efforts to develop relation with beautiful Kukuana girl.White efforts to civilizing Africans always reached in suppression and exploitation. Even though Allan Quatrain and his companions act as the protectors of civilization, they cannot hide their real intention and greed. Allan Quatrain reveals this when he says thus; “Then we all laughed and took it for a good omen. He was a cheerful savage was Umbopa, in a dignified sort of a way, when he had not got one of his fits of brooding, and had a wonderful knack of keeping one’s spirits up. We all got very fond of him” (Haggard 29). Protagonists like Allan Quatrain, Henry, his lost brother and Good of Haggard’s novel represent typical Victorian who searches power and wealth. They begin their journey with a noble purpose then it changed in to various dimensions. Man searching transforms to money searching at the end. Dickens’s hero Pip is also portrayed as a victim of post- industrial revolution England and reader can find some signs of imperialism in his nature. Through the adventures of his characters, Dickens harshly humiliates the Victorian aristocracy and greed of English people. Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations has often been referred as one of the most sophisticated novels in Victorian literature. Critics have identified that this is a semi- autobiographical work by Charles Dickens festooned with ruthless life realities. Therefore, analyzing the character of Pip, reader can notice the elements of unending lust for wealth, greed and imperialism that underlying his nature. Dickens’s novel Great Expectations exposes the dark side of social life of Victorian England. Each and every character of Dickens’s Great Expectations reveals a particular social status in their nature and all of them have their own intentions and expectations. Pip changes his attitude towards Magwitch, Pumblechook, and Miss Havisham for attaining his own material benefits. Poor peasants, middleclass people, the richest people and the wretched criminals are enormously helpful for the smooth running of the novel. Presence of these characters helps the readers to understand the social and historical backgrounds of Victorian England which demand geographical explorations and journeys for power and wealth. The hero Pip in Dickens’s novel is also the sufferer of post- industrial revolution England. Here it is crystal clear that Dickens made some conscious effort to humiliate the Victorian aristocracy and greed of English people. Pip’s desire to accomplish gentility so that he can make an impression on Estella reveals Pip’s self centered and self entailment nature to attain his own personal achievements. Pip always tries to make shallow pleasures and social status by obtaining financial and emotional achievements. Unfortunately, he fails to attain genuine relationship and moral self. As Bernard J. Paris comments; “The story of his expectations is pervaded by unnatural relationships in which people use or abuse others out of ambition, greed, and vindictiveness” (119). His relationship with Abel Magwitch raises some moral questions in Pip’s life. Even though feels reluctance with Magwitch, he never refuses the immeasurable wealth. Pip acts very cleverly at the time of Magwitch’s arrest. Similarly Pip simply avoids the warnings of Miss Havisham in accepting Estella as his life partner. Dickens’s hero always stands for his expectations and ambitions. A comparative study between Haggard’s King Solomon's Mines and Dickens’s Great Expectation permits the reader to think more about various themes that discussed in those works. Reader can feel similarity in demonstrating greed in both King Solomon's Mines and Great Expectation. Allan Quatrain, Haggard’s hero begins his adventure for searching his fiend’s brother then changed his thoughts and actions. He give more emphasis on capturing the treasure and he became a man with full of greed. He joins war and help Zulu for getting the diamond mines than moral achievements. Similarly, Pip in Dickens’s story changes his attitudes and moral values for material benefits. The clutches of greed haunt the heroes of Haggard and Dickens throughout their life. The heroes of both stories represent the post industrial revolution England having Victorian aristocracy. The search of wealth, power, material benefits and social status is shared a similar social and historical surroundings. Reader feels some difference in the portrayal of greed in King Solomon's Mines and Great Expectations. Haggard depicts greed through his characters in the background of revolution. But Dickens presents the image of greed indirectly through the thoughts and actions of his hero Pip. Conclusion When it concludes, it is evident that Haggard’s King Solomon's Mines and Dickens’sGreat Expectations share some common features of Victorian literature. The image of greed is obviously portrayed in King Solomon's Mines and Great Expectations. Haggard’s story explores the search of an enchanted treasure while Great expectations narrate the great expectations of a man who wish to make new relations, status wealth and social values. Both Allan Quatrain and Pip clearly represent earnest persons who keep greed in their nature. Victorian aristocracy, greed, imperialist attitude and so on are the visible features in both King Solomon's Mines and Great Expectations. Major characters of King Solomon's Mines and Great Expectations always stand for their own expectations and material benefits. Works Cited Haggard, H. Rider. King Solomon's Mines. Kessinger Publishing, 2004. Print. Paris, Bernard J. Imagined human beings: a psychological approach to character and conflict in literature. NYU Press, 1997. Print. Read More