本論文旨在透過查爾斯．狄更斯的小說《遠大前程》探討維多利亞時期人們的社會價值觀。由於快速的工業發展、日新月異的科學發明及不斷擴增的領土，維多利亞時期可以說是英國歷史上最輝煌且擁有無限可能的一段時期。然而，這些改變卻也帶給維多利亞人們各種不安與焦慮，這些擔憂或許來自於對自身的信仰及認知的懷疑，也或許來自對國家及未來的種種不確定性。透過《遠大前程》這部小說，我們能夠瞭解到這些改變所帶給人們的影響以及隱含在其中的社會問題。
本論文的第一章介紹維多利亞時期的歷史及時代背景，而狄更斯的生平及其作品也將會在文中進行分析。除此之外，此章還會概述接下來各章節的主要論點。在第二章裡，我們將會看到維多利亞人們對於社會地位的觀念與態度。從這個時期社會階級的變動以及其對維多利亞人價值觀的影響，我們可以發現當時人們對於權勢的勢利與虛偽。第三章為財富在維多利亞時期的意義與影響。由於書中的男主角皮普因為一筆無名財產才開啟他在倫敦這個大都市裡的冒險，金錢對於他及他身邊的人的影響正好反映出維多利亞時期對於財富的看法及價值觀。在第四章裡，我們將會深入分析小說中主要角色的幻想。更準確地說，當一個人無法誠實面對自己的內心及現實世界時，他對自身或這個社會所懷抱的理想或期望就會變成不切實際的幻想；然而不論是腳踏實地的理想或是不切實際的幻想，都展現出維多利亞時期的主流價值觀。
最後，本論文的結論將會再次重申各章節的主旨及本文的中心思想。狄更斯試圖藉由這本小說來揭開當時的社會問題並提出建言，讓人們了解真正該追尋並實踐的真理及美德。

This thesis aims to investigate the social values of the Victorian people through the analysis of Charles Dickens’s Great Expectations. The Victorian Age is well-known for its rapid development of industry, innovative theories of science, and massive expansion of its territory, all of which make England a country full of opportunities. However, these changes also bring the Victorians uncertainties and worries to themselves and the country. Through analyzing Great Expectations, we will be able to observe how these alterations change people’s social values and the possible problems that are hidden in them.
Chapter I will be an introduction to the background and history of the Victorian Age as well as a general review of Dickens and his works. The main ideas and concepts of this thesis will also be discussed. In Chapter II, we will see the Victorians’ ideas of social status. Through looking at the distinctions of social classes in this period and their influences on people’s social values, the snobbishness of the Victorians will be studied. Chapter III will be an analysis of the meaning of wealth in the Victorian Age. Since Pip’s “adventure” begins with the inheritance of a great fortune, it is important to see how he and other people are influenced by money, which shows the social values towards wealth in the Victorian Age. In Chapter IV, we will see the wishful thinking of the characters in this novel, which indicate the impacts that the mainstream social values in the Victorian Age bring to people. By means of looking at their dreams and fancies, we will know the importance of having right attitude towards oneself and reality.
In the last chapter, not only the main ideas of the previous chapters but also the subject of this thesis will be restated. Through Great Expectations, Dickens would like to disclose the social problems that England is facing in the Victorian Age and propose the virtues that the Victorians should truly work hard for.

Chapter I Introduction.......1
Chapter II Social Status.....15
Chapter III Wealth............37
Chapter IV Wishful Thinking..58
Chapter V Conclusion........80
Works Cited.....................87

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