19th century England, also known as the Victorian Era, was a period during the reign of Queen Victoria from 1837 to 1901. It was a long period of peace, fulfillment and self-confidence for Britain becoming the richest nation of the time. Industrialization has played a major role in wealth and mass production of goods over time, but with the good has come bad. Many people moved from the countryside to the cities because there was no longer a need for agriculture while things could be done faster in factories, which became overpopulated and caused disease. Many people also moved to the city for greater economic opportunities. This was also a time when women began to have a voice in the world and were given the rights they deserved. Furthermore, this was a In this society masculinity is characterized by a rigid social order. This novel is mostly about becoming a gentleman, which in Pips' eyes is what it means to be a man. Being a gentleman was highly valued in Victorian society and with that he can gain a lot of respect and loyalty from many people. These gender roles seen in Great Expectations were seen throughout the Victorian 19th century, meaning that the story is not completely, but mostly based in some way on the author's life. Great Expectations was somewhat based on Dickens' life as a child. Some people have said that it is almost impossible to read this novel without feeling Dickens' presence. Dickens gives us Pip as a younger version of himself. It is believed that he is giving us a sense of guilt and shame for what he did as a child with the things that Pip does that haunted him throughout his childhood and how he managed to become very successful after having nothing and coming from a very poor area.