Great Expectations

Great Expectations

[1867 Edition]

by Charles Dickens

This is an eBook compiled and reformatted by Emmanuelle Britt H.

Genre: Bildungsroman

Setting: England, early 19th century

Time: Late 1810s to early 1840s

Social commentary:

Great Expectations is a social commentary on the class system in England in the early 19th century. Dickens shows how the poor and working class are often exploited by the wealthy and powerful.

The importance of family:

Great Expectations explores the importance of family. Pip's relationship with his sister, Mrs. Joe Gargery, is particularly important. Mrs. Joe is a kind and loving woman who provides Pip with a sense of stability and home.

The power of redemption:

Great Expectations shows how people can change and improve their lives. Pip's transformation from a naive and self-centered boy to a mature and responsible man is a powerful example of redemption.

The importance of hope:

Great Expectations is a hopeful novel. Despite the many challenges that Pip faces, he never gives up hope for a better future. He eventually achieves his dream of becoming a gentleman, but he does so through hard work and determination, not through luck or privilege.

CHARACTERS:

Pip:

The protagonist of the novel. Pip is a young boy who is raised by his sister and her husband, Joe Gargery. Pip is initially a naive and self-centered boy, but he undergoes a significant transformation over the course of the novel. He becomes a mature and responsible man who learns the importance of hard work and determination.

Estella:

A young woman who is raised by Miss Havisham. Estella is beautiful and intelligent, but she is also cruel and manipulative. She is initially a major obstacle in Pip's life, but she eventually comes to love him.

Magwitch:

A convict who helps Pip achieve his dream of becoming a gentleman. Magwitch is a complex character who is both good and bad. He is a criminal, but he is also a kind and generous man.

Miss Havisham:

A wealthy woman who is obsessed with the past. Miss Havisham is a tragic figure who is trapped in the past. She is unable to move on with her life, and she takes her anger and bitterness out on Estella.

PLOT:

Great Expectations is a coming-of-age story that follows the life of Pip from childhood to adulthood. The novel begins with Pip's encounter with the escaped convict, Magwitch. Magwitch gives Pip a large sum of money, which Pip believes is a gift from an anonymous benefactor. Pip uses the money to go to London and become a gentleman.

In London, Pip meets Estella, a beautiful young woman who is raised by Miss Havisham. Estella is cruel and manipulative, and she makes Pip's life difficult. However, Pip eventually falls in love with Estella, and they marry. Pip eventually learns that the anonymous benefactor who gave him the money was Magwitch. Magwitch is arrested and sent to prison, and Pip is forced to confront the truth about his past. Pip eventually comes to terms with his past, and he finds redemption.

CRITICAL RECEPTION:

Great Expectations was a critical and commercial success when it was first published. The novel was praised for its complex characters, its social commentary, and its Dickensian humor. Great Expectations is considered one of Dickens's greatest novels, and it has been adapted into numerous films, television shows, and stage productions.

LEGACY:

Great Expectations is a classic of English literature. The novel is still read and enjoyed by readers today. It is a powerful story about the importance of family, the power of redemption, and the importance of hope.