"Great Expectations": Novel portrays reflection of today's consumer society Matthew Melton This article first appeared in the Citrus College Clarion newspaper "Great Expectations," which many consider to be Charles Dickens' masterpiece, has lessons for today's society.

Written in 1860-61, the novel illuminates life's sweeping triumphs as well as its melancholy moments through the eyes of Pip, an orphan who is taken in by his sister and brother-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Gargery.

Pip's impoverished existence causes him to long for something better.

Think of the average immigrant of today, arriving in the United States seeking the American dream and you can quickly see the timeless quality of this story.

Pip's fortunes are forever altered upon meeting Miss Havisham, a wealthy old woman with a broken heart. It is through her that Pip is introduced to the love of his life: the unattainable Estella.

The quintessential novel of its age,"Great Expectations" mirrors the material, elitist attitude of upper-class Victorian England in the 19th century.

This elitist attitude is not unlike the ones you can observe today by, say, tuning into shows likeLaguna Beach or The Hills on MTV, or driving down Rodeo Boulevard in Beverly Hills.

The difference is that Pip longs to be part of the elite in order to win the affections of Estella.

Like social climbers or new money individuals of today, Pip desperately attempts to transcend his perceived mediocrity, paying little or no regard to the "little people" along the way.

He is given a helpful push in this direction after being sponsored by a mysterious benefactor, on his way toward becoming a Victorian gentleman.

What follows is an epic tale of ambition and disappointment, full of diverse characters and heart-pumping scenes of desperation.

The 1998 film version starring Ethan Hawke and Gwyneth Paltrow is no match for Dickens’ superior writing.

While a good attempt, much of the original story and thus its true meaning was lost in translation in favor of a contemporary approach. Furthermore, the film is devoid of the poignant narrative provided by Dickens, including the passage:

"Heaven knows we never need be ashamed of our tears, for they are rain upon the blinding dust of earth, overlying our hard hearts.  I was better after I had cried, than before more sorry, more aware of my own ingratitude, more gentle."

The classic is a reflection of desire for material wealth and status similar to the climate that exists in the consumer culture of modern America.

Yet beyond this superficiality, "Great Expectations" is a sprawling portrait of longing and loss, which everyone can relate to.

If you read the novel as a teenager, give it another look from the perspective of someone who is older and more experienced.

The story might make more sense to you now.