Great Expectations

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens is an epic novel that trenchantly explores themes of identity, social class, ambition, and morality. Set in 19th century England, the narrative follows the life of an impoverished orphan named Pip, who comes into a “handsome” fortune at the hands of an anonymous benefactor.

The novel begins with a young Pip living with his stern sister and her kind- hearted, blacksmith husband Mr Joe Gargery. Whilst visiting the graves of his parents, Pip encounters a frightening escaped convict, later discovered to be Able Magwitch, who terrifies Pip into helping him. This primary encounter instigates a chain of events that subsequently shape Pip’s future.

Pip is then invited by Miss Havisham to visit her estate, Satis House, to play. Miss Havisham is an immensely wealthy, grim lady who lives a peculiar life of seclusion as she is transfixed by the tragic moment of her wedding day, in which she was betrayed by her fiancé.

Here Pip is introduced to Estella, a young, beautiful girl who was adopted by Miss Havisham and raised to be cold and heartless in Miss Havisham’s vicarious desire to wreak revenge on the male sex. Nonetheless, Pip begins to fall in love with Estella despite her capricious and insulting nature.

After visiting Miss Havisham at Satis House over an extensive period of time, Pip receives news that he has come into a “handsome” fortune at the hands of an anonymous benefactor and must depart his proletarian upbringing on the marshes to be educated as a gentleman in London.

Driven by his rapacious desire to earn Estella’s affection and ascend in the 19th century social hierarchy, Pip abandons his honest home life. He becomes ashamed of his origins and instead endeavours to become an affluent and reputable gentleman. However, his insatiable ambition and burgeoning arrogance eventually lead to his downfall.
Contrary to his beliefs throughout the entirety of the narrative, Pip discovers that his anonymous “liberal benefactor” had not been Miss Havisham but rather Magwitch, the convict who he had helped at the beginning of the novel. The revelation of his benefactor’s identity provokes Pip to confront his own prejudices and biases, realising the power of empathy and forgiveness, as well as understanding that genuine value lies in the integrity of one’s character rather than their social status or affluence. As such, Pip comes to possess a newfound appreciation for Joe’s unwavering affection and friendship.

When Pip’s great expectations eventually send him into debt and perpetual dissatisfaction, he finally realises the genuine value of camaraderie, loyalty, and kindness. Pip learns of Estella’s suffering under the authority of Miss Havisham and it is revealed that Estella had also learned formative lessons about compassion and love. When reunited, Pip and Estella seek consolation in each other’s company.

The novel concludes with a bittersweet yet optimistic inference, as the older version of Pip narrates the story of his life with a newly acquired maturity and wisdom having experienced the tumultuous journey of the expectations and damaging ideals associated with social class