The events that take place here in these 2 chapters are incredibly significant for the narrative arch of Genesis. First we see the fulfillment of Joseph's dreams at the beginning of the story beginning to take shape. Up until this point there was seemingly no hope for him to be a ruler to whom his brothers bow down. Up to this point his story had gone from bad to worse: sold into slavery by his brothers, falsely accused and imprisoned, forgotten about in prison. Now, as the second in command with a famine on the horizon we can see the fulfillment of his dreams coming into focus.
Moreover, there is a bigger picture fulfillment that happens here as well. Remember back to God's covenant promise to Abraham. God tells Abraham and "all peoples on earth will be blessed through him." (Gen. 12:3) As Abraham's descendant we see Joseph fulfilling that promise, albeit partially, after saving the entire region from starvation during the famine. Genesis 41:57 says, "And all the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe everywhere." Joseph as the final main character in the book of Genesis ties a nice bow on the narrative arch of the book and brings the story to a conclusion.
Although, as we will as the story of the Bible continues to unfold, saving the region of Egypt from starvation is not all God has in mind to bless the whole world through the descendants of Abraham. The prophets will begin pointing ahead to a future anointed one, the Messiah, who will bring an even greater blessing to the world. This is fulfilled then in it's larger sense in Jesus.
While we are comparing Joseph to Jesus we see here another moment of typology. Just like in the story of Joseph it is Jesus' suffering that leads to his exaltation. Philippians 2:6-11 summarizes this nicely. Jesus humbled himself by being made man and dying on the cross. "Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Phil. 2:9-11) Just as when Joseph rode his chariot throughout Egypt and everyone shouted before him, "Bow down!" (41:43 - the word here is likely an Egyptian word that sounds similar to the Hebrew word for bow. It could also mean make way as the NIV translates it) so every knee will bow to Jesus.