Marxism consists of the political and economic theories of Karl Marx, in which class struggle is a central element in the analysis of social change in Western societies. Marxism applies to the novel Great Expectations in many ways. Dickens uses Pip's complex and changing relationships with Estella, Joe, and Magwitch to show the subjugation of the working class by the privileged. Estella grew up in a prosperous family and judges Pip for being working class. He insults his appearance when he says, "But he is a common journeyman. And look at his boots! (Dickens 45)" because he is not of the upper class. He also criticizes the way he speaks when he calls one of the playing cards Jacks instead of Jacks (Dickens 46). Dickens uses his negative comments about Pip's appearance and use of slang to highlight the differences between the two classes. He also insults Pip with a comment calling him a "stupid, clumsy travail (Dickens46)." Due to the differences between their classes, she immediately labels him as unintelligent due to the way she was raised with uncommon people. Pip thinks about what Estella would think of her family and what Joe does to make a living Pip also contemplates how her sister and Joe eat dinner at the kitchen table and what the absolute lower class would be like for Estella. “I thought of how Joe and my sister were then sitting in the kitchen, and how Miss Havisham and Estella never sat in the kitchen, but were far above the level of such common things (Dickens 55).” This shows how minimal differences between the two classes contribute to greater variance in the attitudes of the two. Through his contact with Estella and Miss Havisham, Pip discovers the reality... middle of paper...ntation of the distinctions between social classes that Dickens uses in Pip's relationships with Estella, Joe and Magwitch to show how the lower class is judged on social status or appearances, rather than morals and values. The lower class is looked down upon and taken advantage of by the upper class, and this is prevalent in the novel Great Expectations. Works Cited Katsev, Igor. "The Name Abel - Origin and Meaning of Abel." Male and female names. NP, 2007-2012. Network. March 25, 2012. .Moore, Andrew. “Studying relationships with high expectations.” . Np, 2000. Web. 15 March 2012. "Pip's Expectations." Charles Dickens. Np, 05/07/2002. Network. March 17 2012. .