Great Expectations is a novel written by the English author Charles Dickens that follows the life of an orphan, Pip. It ranks among Dickens’s greatest and most popular works. Great Expectations was first published in the magazine All The Year Round, which Dickens edited, in 1860 and 1861. It was published in book form in 1861.
Dickens used experiences from his own life to shape the plot and characters of the novel. The story traces the growth of Philip Pirrip, known as Pip, from a shallow youth to a young man of greater depth and character. Pip narrates the story. He starts out as an ordinary village boy, brought up by his unkind older sister, Georgiana, known as Mrs. Gargery, who is married to the kindly village blacksmith, Joe Gargery.
The action begins when Pip aids an escaped convict, the frightening Abel Magwitch, who is quickly recaptured and sent to Australia. But he will remember Pip’s kindness. Pip visits the wealthy and eccentric Miss Havisham. Many years earlier, her lover had deserted her on the day of their wedding. In revenge, Miss Havisham has taught her ward, the beautiful Estella, to hate and torment men. Pip falls in love with Estella, who treats him cruelly. Pip longs to become a gentleman, worthy of Estella’s love.
After Pip serves for several years as an apprentice in Joe Gargery’s blacksmith shop, he discovers he has a secret benefactor. A benefactor is a person who provides money or other support. Pip assumes that his benefactor is Miss Havisham. The benefactor gives Pip money to enable him to go to London and become a gentleman. Pip goes to London to achieve his “great expectations,” deserting Joe. However, Pip’s new life proves difficult. He discovers that his mysterious benefactor is not Miss Havisham but the convict Magwitch, who made a fortune in Australia. Magwitch, it turns out, was Estella’s father.
Meanwhile, Estella has married Pip’s enemy, Bentley Drummle, who mistreats her. Before Miss Havisham dies in an accidental fire, she regrets teaching Estella to be cruel to men and asks Pip’s forgiveness. Pip finds himself having to help Magwitch again, who is sought by the authorities because he returned from Australia while still under sentence. Ultimately, Magwitch is recaptured and sentenced to death. He dies in prison before his execution. Pip returns to Joe Gargery in time to save the man from going to jail for debt. Years later, Pip and Estella are reunited as friends. Estella’s husband dies, and the story ends with the implication that Pip and Estella will ultimately join together as more than friends.
Dickens had originally considered a less happy ending but was advised by the English writer Edward Bulwer-Lytton to give the story an optimistic conclusion. See Dickens, Charles.
