Alan Gan

Period 8
3/11/12
As the old adage goes, money doesnt buy you happiness. But in literature it
is not always shown to be that way. In both Great Expectations and Nicholas
Nickelby, Dickens implements the idea of money and how it is related to happiness
throughout the plots of both novels. Money may in fact lead to happiness and this
idea can be supported in the texts of both Great Expectations and Nicholas
Nickelby, but any happiness gained from money is only temporary and does not last
ultimately in the end. In the tragic stories of Miss Havisham and Ralph Nickelby,
both very involved with money, happiness can be seen throughout their lives and
the primary cause of this happiness points straight towards their wealth.
In Great Expectations, Miss Havisham is a lonely and miserly old woman who
never got over lost love. She was also quite a wealthy woman during her time as
she had inherited her fathers fortunes. Miss Havisham then falls in love with a man
who pursued her and wooed her to take her fortunes away from her or at least a
part of it. In this case, it was money that attracted the man who Miss Havisham
loved so dearly. The money had brought her happiness that she had never known
before. I believe [Miss Havisham] had not shown much susceptibility up to that
time; but all the susceptibility she possessed, certainly came out then, and she
passionately loved him. There is no doubt that she perfectly idolized him. (173)
This quote shows how happy she was with that man and how much happiness the
money that drew the man towards her was giving to her. Despite the seemingly

happy effects of money in this situation, Miss Havisham was ultimately left for dead
by the man whom she had once loved. Wealth had caused the man to stick around
her and cause great joy within her, but wealth itself had caused her ultimate
downfall.
Ralph Nickelby of Nicholas Nickelby is a prime example of how wealth at first
may give the illusion of happiness but altogether fades away into dust. Ralph, much
unlike his brother, was a very wealthy man with many investors pouring their
money into his business. He was a luxurious man who attended many fancy dinners
and parties with these investors whom he called his friends. Ralphs abundant
wealth attracted these men to him and gave him company as well as slight
friendship which for most people defines happiness. Upon the death of his father,
Nicholas Nickelby seeks out Ralph for financial help, who reluctantly agrees to help
him. Later, after hearing about an alleged scandal claim from Mr. Squeers about
Nicholas, Ralph sees this as an opportunity to get rid of Nicholas and his family as
they are a leech to his wealth. He then, in an effort to selfishly keep his money for
himself, tries to sabotage Nicholass reputation as well as allowing Nicholas sister
to be molested by his own friends. Upon hearing these horrid acts, an investor
uninvests himself in Ralph, causing a deep plummet in his already diminishing
wealth. In the beginning, Ralph was content with his money, but by the end, he had
lost almost all his wealth and happiness because of his pursuit against Nicholas to
protect his own fortunes.
In conclusion, money gives a person the illusion of happiness, but in reality it
is almost never so. The tales of Miss Havisham and Ralph Nickelby show that being
money can sometimes blind you from what is going on around you and consume
you within its grips. In the end of everything, money can cause grief and can also

stir up the darker side of typically good people. It turns out the saying holds true.
Money in fact does not buy anybody happiness.