Charles Dickens's 1861 novel, "Great Expectations," tells the story of Pip, an orphaned blacksmith's apprentice who abruptly receives a mysterious fortune from an unknown benefactor. With his newfound wealth, Pip moves to London, where society's cruel class divisions and power politics soon swallow him whole.
At the heart of "Great Expectations" is Pip's own longing for greatness and his subsequent struggle against self-inflicted prejudices, which provide the novel's roller coaster of emotions. The novel follows Pip's journey as he learns to forgive, accept and find contentment in life's imperfections.
The novel begins with eight-year-old Pip living with his miserly sister and her husband, Joe Gargery, the blacksmith. Pip's dim view of his limited prospects changes when a lawyer informs him that an anonymous benefactor from “well nigh a foreign country” has bequeathed him a generous fortune and the expectations that come with it.
Shortly afterward, Pip is sent off to be a gentleman in London, under the mentorship of an eccentric lawyer, Mr. Jaggers. In the sunlit, lively streets of London, Pip befriends a gentleman named Herbert Pocket, who quickly reveals the darker elements of conviction and class division. From here, the novel's events unfold quickly: Pip unexpectedly discovers the identity of his benefactor, falls in love with the seemingly untouchable Estella, and is rejected by his once proud arm-crafter mentor Joe after he belittles him for changing his identity to one of "great expectations."
Equally important to Pip's growth and development is his relationship with Magwitch, the convict whose escaped onto his lonely island and was caught by the authorities. Through their unlikely relationship, Pip finds comfort in his conviction that Magwitch has repaid him for his christened kindness in a far better way than society ever could have. His newfound understanding of the prison system, as well as his past relationship with Magwitch, serves as a critical reminder for Pip that justice is not always found within the confines of the law.
Though wealth and class divisions are ever-present throughout “Great Expectations,” the novel ultimately is about Pip’s journey toward reconciliation, acceptance and personal contentment. Pip's fairy-tale-like dream of a happy ending with Estella is dashed by her cruel heart. Instead, Pip finds closure with Joe and Magwitch, two people who provided him with genuine, true friendship and help him understand the importance of humility and kindness more than any amount of money can.
At its core, Charles Dickens's “Great Expectations” is a novel of self-discovery, in which the central character learns how to contend with the expectations of society, while also discovering what is most important in life. Through Pip's odyssey of emotions—hope, joy, sadness, disappointment, and acceptance—readers gain insight into their own values, their role in their own lives, and how their choices shape who they become.
