How does 'Great Expectations' highlight sociological problems in relation to an individual's ambitions?

Disturbed by Victorian England's frivolous upperclass that
had little concern for those less fortunate, and concerned for the welfare of the
increasing number of poor in London, Charles Dickens perceived the society of his day as
a social prison. 

The character who best illustrates this
perception of Dickens is Magwitch, the convict, who grew up as a gamin in
London:

readability="13">

Tramping, beggin, thieving, working sometimes
when I could...a bit of a poacher, a bit of a laborer, a bit of a wagoner, ...a bit of
most things that don't pay and lead to trouble, I got to be a
man.

At Epsom races, Magwitch
is exploited by the despicable Compeyson, who has Magwitch carry out the "traps" that
Compeyson sets for others.  When they are caught and brought to trial, Compeyson stands
in the dock as the picture of a gentleman, with his fine clothes and "white pocket
handercher," but Magwitch appears as "a common sort of wretch."  And, even though
Compeyson is much more culpable of the crimes since he initiated them, Compeyson's
appearance of a gentleman along with his "counselor" bring him a lesser sentence than
that doled to Magwitch.  Thus, there is a justice for the rich, and a justice for the
poor in the Victorian setting of Great
Expectations.

The past of Magwitch certainly
haunts him his entire life.  When he goes to New South Wales and is fortunate enough to
receive a fortune from his old employer, Magwitch can only enjoy it vicariously by
sending money to Pip in the hopes of making him a gentleman.  For, he cannot uplift
himself socially in any way.

In Pip's case, his great
expectations of becoming a gentleman are foiled, for he is never introduced into
London's "polite society."  Instead, he dines sometimes in the company of Mr. Jaggers, a
rather unscrupulous lawyer who entertains men such as Bentley Drummle.  And, while Mr.
Matthew Pocket is of the gentry, he lacks the financial assets necessary for entrance
into the world of the upperclass.

Despite the attempts
of characters to socially move upward,  Dickens's novel is haunted with images of jails
and prisons as Mr. Pocket is imprisoned in a nonsensical marriage, Magwitch is an
escaped convict, Miss Havisham resides in a self-imposed prison, and Pip has imprisoned
himself in a belief that he has been supported by Miss Havisham so that he can marry
Estella.