Capitalistic Gender Norms and Class Arrogance in Charles Dickens’s Great Expectations: A Marxist Analysis

Abstract

This research paper seeks to examine the complex influence of capitalism on gender norms and the continuation of class arrogance in society, employing a Marxist analytical framework. This study aims to reveal the intricate mechanisms by which capitalism strengthens traditional gender norms and worsens class disparities by analyzing the interaction between economic systems, gender dynamics, and social hierarchies. Utilizing Marxist ideas of class conflict and exploitation, this paper examines how capitalist systems sustain gender disparity by assigning women to unpaid domestic work positions inside the household. Moreover, it will examine how the bourgeoisie's dominion over the means of production solidifies their authority and sustains class haughtiness, intensifying the marginalization of persons from lower social classes. Besides, this paper analyzes the ways in which characters in Charles Dickens' Great Expectations belonging to various social classes handle and internalize gender stereotypes and class boundaries through a careful examination. This analysis will specifically examine the experiences of female characters in the novel, including Mrs. Joe, Biddy, and Miss Havisham, in order to clarify how their identities and opportunities are influenced by capitalist ideology. The ultimate goal is to provide insight into the lasting impacts of capitalism and how they affect gender equality and class unity in today's society.

Keywords: Marxism, Capitalism, Gender Roles, Class Arrogance, Social Hierarchy.