Browsing by Author "Rashid, Mohammed"
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Item THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL FACTORS ON THE CHARACTERIZATION IN JANE EYRE, DAVID COPPERFIELD AND GREAT EXPECTATIONS(2022-02-16) Rashid, Mohammed; Aras, GökçenThis thesis analyses the behaviours of the three main characters in Jane Eyre, David Copperfield, and Great Expectations respectively. The thesis applies the social influence theory and its factors which are examined in the experiments of Stanly Milgram, Solomon Asch, and Muzafer Sherif. The thesis shows the impact of these factors on the behaviours, decisions, educations, marriages, and attitudes of the protagonists. The three protagonists Jane, David, and Pip suffer from the influence of nearly the same factors of the social influence theory. The three above mentioned novels are written in first-person narration, in which the influence of the factors starts in the main characters’ early childhood. In Jane Eyre, the protagonist faces difficulties to adapt her behaviours to the norms of Gateshead. Jane seeks for an independent identity, gender equality, and a qualified education, and career. The factors of the social influence theory become the main obstacles in Jane’s way to reach her goals. Not only the protagonists, but most of the other characters are affected by the factors of social influence theory such as obedience, conformity, social class, and social change. In David Copperfield, the protagonist’s life is shattered due to his stepfather Mr.Murdstone. David loses his property, education, safety, freedom, and his mother’s love by the coming of his stepfather. David does not succeed in adapting his behaviours to the norms of the Murdstones because of the unsuccessful negotiation. As a result, David is sent away from home. David’s behaviours are greatly influenced by some other characters like Steerforth and Agnes who become the bad angel and the good angel for David respectively. It is possible to see the effects of the social class factors in Great Expectations. Pip dreams access to a higher class so as to be in the same class with Estella. The issue of class affects Pip’s education, marriage, and attitudes. The thesis shows how the class changes the behaviours of the characters and their decisions. Added to this, the huge role of the social class in building up the relationships and how the people of upper class treat the people of the lower class in the novels, are explored. Furthermore, the issue of justice is discussed in detail in the three novels, and how justice is violated by the factors of social influence theory specifically by the social class explored in the thesis.