Great Expectations

Pip, the main character in Charles Dickens's Great Expectations, writes the story in first person as a middle aged man looking back on his life. Pip's parents die when he is young making him an orphan. Pip is "brought up by hand" by his sister, who treats him with scorn. His sister's lack of love, however, is tempered by her husband Joe, a blacksmith. Joe is a simple, uneducated man and Pip's only "friend" during childhood. Pip commiserates with Joe about his sister's verbal thrashings, trying to make the best of his unhappy upbringing.Early in the story, Pip has an encounter with a convict in the cemetery among the marshes near his home. Unbeknownst to him, this man would be the source for his "Great Expectations" later in life.One day Pip is invited to the home of Ms. Havisham. Ms. Havisham is a single, eccentric, old woman who stopped living in the real world many years earlier when she was spurned by her lover on her wedding day.Ms. Havisham has adopted the beautiful Estella, and from the moment Pip meets her, he is infatuated with her beauty. Estella represents wealth, education, success, and opportunity--things Pip values but thinks he will never have.Dissatisfaction within himself grows as he wants to be more in life than a partner with Joe in the forge. Pip becomes unhappy not only with himself, but also with Joe, who represents what he does not want to be--uneducated and simple. Failing to appreciate Joe's moral character, Pip's world view begins to change as he sees education as something to be attained--the sure way out of his wretched life and the means by which he could woo the object of his unmerited affections, Estella.Pip's life changes dramatically when he is visited by a well respected and fiercely admired lawyer, Mr. Jaggers, who brings him an unusual message. Mr. Jaggers tells Pip he is to receive "Great Expectations," but the benefactor is to remain anonymous until and only if they choose to reveal their identity. Pip mistakenly assumes the benefactor is Ms. Havisham, and the manipulating, self serving woman does nothing to dissuade him from his incorrect assumptions.The story takes Pip to London where he lives a life of excess and discards many virtues from his childhood. He no longer wants anything to do with Joe and believes his future course has been immutably set--that he is to marry the beautiful Estella. He shares his indulgences with his new friend, Herbert, whose acquaintance he had made years earlier at Ms. Havisham's place. The two of them rack up excessive debt as Pip sees himself as "a man in waiting" for all his fortunes to come to pass.Things are not what they seem, however. It is eventually revealed that the benefactor is not Ms. Havisham but the convict, Mr. Magwitch, whom Pip had met in the cemetery many years earlier when he was a young, impressionable boy.Pip is confronted face to face with the despised convict, hounded by the remembrances of him torturing him in the cemetery, dreams that lingered, causing him much consternation. But now he has to accept the undeniable truth that his turn of fortune is not because of Ms. Havisham's provision, but the despicable convict's desire to make him a gentleman. The convict wants his life to be redeemed for something good and chooses Pip to be that vehicle.Through a series of events, Pip acknowledges the inexcusable way he has treated Joe and wants to make amends. Before he can accomplish this, however, other happenings complicate his life. The convict, now in England, needs Pip's protection. Pip must make a way for Magwitch to leave England without being discovered.While Pip hides him with a trusted friend, Pip comes to realize that the convict he had earlier despised has more redemptive qualities than Pip has within himself. As he makes provision for the convict's escape, Pip sees Magwitch change for the better, and in so doing, Pip also changes. Instead of hating the convict, Pip grows to love him. The self centeredness of Pip's indulgences is replaced with care, not only for the convict, but in growing degrees, for others.In the process of trying to escape, the convict is attacked by his long-time archrival and enemy. As a result, Magwitch is severely injured, discovered by the authorities, put on trial and convicted, but dies from his injuries before his death sentence can be carried out. Magwitch's estate is turned over to the authorities to make restitution for past wrongs. Pip is left penniless and obligingly accepts that his Great Expectations and source of income have dissipated into nothing. Meanwhile, Estella marries someone else--a man whom Pip despises.A few years earlier, Pip had secretly made arrangements for his friend Herbert to have a small expectation out of his "Great Expectations," amounting to a sizable sum of money. When it becomes known to Pip that he will lose his "Great Expectations" to the authorities, his only thought is for his friend. Pip returns to visit Ms. Havisham and requests, in a show of repentance for the wrongs she had done to him, a sum of money that Pip could again secretly provide to Herbert.Herbert wisely uses this money to successfully buy into a business venture. He later marries and moves overseas in his business pursuits--none of which would have been possible without Pip's anonymous provision to Herbert.Pip credits this as the only redeeming thing he has accomplished, reflecting on all the other things he did or didn't do that could have been used for good.Pip falls ill following the death of his convict friend, Magwitch, and Joe comes to England to care for him until he is well. Joe surreptitiously leaves early one morning when Pip is sufficiently recovered, and when Pip wakes up, he discovers Joe has paid off all his creditors. Pip immediately returns home in penitence to confess to Joe all his past wrongs, realizing that Joe is a better man than he. He recognizes in his now humble state that his "Great Expectations" deceived him into using it as a source of pride against Joe.Upon arriving home, Pip's expectations are not what he envisioned. His sister who raised him by hand has long since died as a result of an attack on her by the evil Orlick. His childhood friend and confidant, Biddy, has just married Joe. In the end, redemption works its way for good. Joe and Biddy are happily married and the sore memories of Pip's sister are forgotten.Pip returns to London and within a month, leaves England and joins Herbert's firm, Clarriker and Company, overseas. Pip lives abroad with Herbert and his wife, and after successfully making partner, eleven years later, returns to his boyhood home in England. He discovers Joe and Biddy now have a son who reminds him of himself.Before bidding Joe and Biddy a final farewell, Pip makes one last trip to the Havisham place, the old woman having died many years earlier. Pip discovers Estella in the garden, a chance meeting since she no longer lives there. The old house and brewery have been torn down and sold off except for the garden enclosed by the ivy covered wall.Years of a stormy, failed marriage have softened Estella's vindictive, prideful nature, and she confesses that "suffering has been stronger than all other teaching and has taught me to understand what your heart used to be."The reader is left to ponder whether Pip and Estella ever marry because Pip says, "I saw no parting from her."In the end, Pip learns much about what matters--wisdom he would not have possessed if he had stayed working at Joe's forge. As a middle aged narrator looking back, there is sadness but sweetness about what he has lost because of what he has gained. Perhaps the reader is the real winner, having seen redemption on so many levels within each character. In the end, if we are honest, we can identify these shortcomings in ourselves. If Pip can work out his "Great Expectations" to bring redemption, perhaps we can, also--that is, again, if we are honest. Our sinful nature will always be there, but if we look for good, God will not disappoint us. Maybe "Great Expectations" will not only find us, but redemption will be there, too, just as it was in Pip.

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away kids weren't as dumb as they are now. In school, you read actual CLASSICS instead of now standard woke vanilla literature that is "safe" for everyone. I read an abridged version of Great Expectations in the 12th grade. It was actually IN our literature book. Not in an honors course, but the standard regular class that ALL 12th graders took. I had been feeling a bit nostalgic for those days and decided that I wanted to reread the novel. I remembered bits and pieces of the book, the overall plot, but not a lot of the particulars.The main character, Pip, is just a young kid when the book starts, visiting the grave of his dead parents. While there, he encounters an escaped convict that will have a profound effect upon his life, though he doesn't know it at the time. He has been raised by his 20 years older sister and her husband, Joe, a blacksmith.Pip's path is to apprentice with Joe and follow him into that that profession. But his aspirations begin to change when a rich weirdo woman named Ms. Havisham invites Pip to come "play" at her house. If that had happened in 2021, Havisham would immediately have been suspected as some kind of Michael Jackson pedophile. It's really not a completely far away comparison. Ms. Havisham's house is frozen in time because of a broken heart. All the clocks stopped at the same time, she still wears her wedding dress from twenty years prior. Even her wedding CAKE still sits on the table, covered by spider webs, bugs, and rats!It's also at the house that Pip meets Estella, Havisham's ward, whose beauty is only matched by her coldness, and Pip is instantly smitten. Estella looks down on Pip's lowly blacksmith future, inspiring Pip to become a "gentleman" so he can win her heart! Strangely enough, soon after that, Pip is contacted by a mysterious benefactor whose sole aim is to make his dreams come true!I have to admit I am a late admirer of Dickens. I had read David Copperfield, Oliver Twist, and even this book in the past and was pretty meh about the author. But in the past year or so I have read Hard Times, A Tale of Two Cities, and then a reread of this book and I'm pretty much a huge fan now and want to read all his works. The blurb on the back of this book calls Great Expectations a "haunting late novel". Why haunting? I guess because it does have a sort of gothic supernatural tinge to it, bordering on horror at some points. Ms. Havisham is scary what with her haunted house and suspension in time, all her windows shuttered from sunlight. It made me respect Pip all the more that he was brave enough to interact and even "befriend" such a ghostlike apparition. Even Estella, the great beauty, reminds me of the robot from Ex Machina, who seemed to have human emotions but in the end was a purely reptilian entity.And then there's Pip's encounter with an escaped convict at the beginning of the novel in a disquieting graveyard where he is threatened with a horrible death if he does not bring food and drink.Another reason it might be called haunting is because the story lingers in your thoughts long after you finish reading it. Mainly, because it has a Shakespearean humanity to it. Yes, this is what humans do. They do stupid things in order to obtain the affections of someone they love, even though their purpose is completely doomed. They do good AND bad things. Pip disassociates with his former friends and family once he becomes a gentleman because he finds them embarrassing, but he also helps set up one of his friends in a good career situation. He does the good deed anonymously purely out of altruistic motives. That's why I compare Dickens to Shakespeare. He is talented enough that he can show the full breadth of human experience, which only the masters ever accomplish.A couple of weeks ago, I was talking to a friend about Jimi Hendrix's guitar playing. I marvel at Hendrix because he never seems to run out of a musical idea. He only puts the guitar down at some point or stops playing. No matter when he starts again, it just seemed like his playing was merely on pause, even when he begins a complete different song. It just flows out of him. I feel the same way about Dickens. His storytelling seems almost effortless. I don't get the feeling that he ever had writer's block. His plots seem so original even though they are pretty simple. Each book he writes contains a universe. Even the minor characters seem to be alive and make a statement even if they appear even in just a couple of lines.Great novel.

Bueno

5 stars & 5/10 hearts. Every time I start reading this book again, I realized I forgot how much I love it. In the first place, the setting is excellent. Dickens is a master at creating mood by his setting. And then there are the characters.- Pip. As a kid he’s so pathetic and appealing, but as soon as Estella appears he gets just so mean to Joe and Biddy. He is good to Herbert, and Miss Havisham, and towards the end to Magwitch, but for the most part he’s just silly and weak and stupid. However, he did have a good deal of love and good in him at times, so overall, I like him, but I can’t respect him or love him until the end, where he becomes a good, strong man.- Joe. I love Joe so much. What a MAN he was! I never before realized the reason he allowed Mrs. Joe to rule him and beat him & Pip, but this time I got it and I almost cried. Poor dear Joe, trying so hard! And then his explanation for why he didn’t interfere with Pip & Mrs. Joe… and his complete acceptance of the Magwitch & Pip affair in the marshes… and just all his speeches! He’s just so full of goodness and wisdom and love. <3- Miss Havisham. The woman was crazed by betrayal and intense hurt. You can’t hate her for what she did. She was good and kind when she could be, and her repentance was genuine.- Estella. She was proud and cold and hard, but somehow you could see that was all she knew and all she could be, because of Miss Havisham. On her own she would have been, or could be, such a warm, loving woman. I like to think Pip won her in the end, after his years of unswerving adoration. I think she made him a good wife. <3- Magwitch. At first, Magwitch is coarse and brutal and frightening. But when you find who he is, you can’t help loving the poor man. Had he had help at any time in his career, he would have turned into a good man. Even as it was, he had a kind heart and a sort of quiet trust in God. His story is heartbreaking and such a good reminder not to judge by appearances, and to give help whenever we can to those who struggle with the law. Compeyson, on the other hand, is pure evil, and so is Orlick.- Jaggers. I can’t love Jaggers. He is a little too close to the wrong side of the law for my comfort. He also terrorizes everyone. He does have some good in him, though, and I think he could have been a good man if a woman had loved him and helped him. Wemmick is a humorous, shrewd character whom I hugely enjoyed, especially with his Aged (whom he treated so well! <3).- Herbert is a dear, and that’s all to be said of him. <3 He deserved his Clara. The Pockets were all so funny, although a little annoying. Mrs. P. was an idiot and Mr. P. was a very weak man. Startop was great. Biddy is a darling. Mrs. Joe was awful, but I wish we knew why she was like she was though. Mr. Pumblechook and Mr. Wopsle are hilarious. Pumblechook is an old fraud and I despise him, but Wopsle is just an amusing idiot. The Hubbles are minor but amusing parts as well. Though I can’t understand why on earth they all ganged up on Pip that way.The plot is really the slow revelation of all these characters. It’s intriguing. Also at times exciting and at times relaxed, very often funny, sometimes sad, other times reflective. Dickens is a master at weaving threads together and Great Expectations is a great example. Overall, I think the theme of the book is “don’t judge people by what they are, but who they are,” and it teaches this very well.A Favourite Quote: “I had little objection to his being seen by Herbert or his father, for both of whom I had a respect; but I had the sharpest sensitiveness as to his being seen by Drummle, whom I held in contempt. So, throughout life, our worst weaknesses and meannesses are usually committed for the sake of the people whom we most despise.”A Favourite Beautiful Quote: “The best light of the day was gone when I passed along the quiet echoing courts behind the High Street. The nooks of ruin where the old monks had once had their refectories and gardens, and where the strong walls were now pressed into the service of humble sheds and stables, were almost as silent as the old monks in their graves. The cathedral chimes had at once a sadder and a more remote sound to me, as I hurried on avoiding observation, than they had ever had before; so, the swell of the old organ was borne to my ears like funeral music; and the rooks, as they hovered about the gray tower and swung in the bare high trees of the priory garden, seemed to call to me that the place was changed, and that Estella was gone out of it for ever.”A Favourite Humorous Quote: “I had observed at church last Sunday, when I accidentally held our Prayer-Book upside down, that it seemed to suit his convenience quite as well as if it had been all right. Wishing to embrace the present occasion of finding out whether in teaching Joe, I should have to begin quite at the beginning, I said, “Ah! But read the rest, Jo.”“The rest, eh, Pip?” said Joe, looking at it with a slow, searching eye, “One, two, three. Why, here's three Js, and three Os, and three J-O, Joes in it, Pip!” …“How do you spell Gargery, Joe?” I asked him, with a modest patronage.“I don't spell it at all,” said Joe.“But supposing you did?”“It can't be supposed,” said Joe.

I recently purchased "Great Expectations (Unabridged with the original illustrations by Charles Green)," and I must say, I am absolutely thrilled with this edition! Charles Dickens' timeless classic deserved nothing less than a 5-star treatment, and this version delivers in every way possible.First and foremost, the inclusion of the original illustrations by Charles Green adds an extra layer of authenticity to the reading experience. These intricate and beautifully detailed drawings truly bring the characters and settings to life, enhancing the reader's immersion into Pip's world.The unabridged text ensures that you won't miss a single word of Dickens' masterful storytelling. The prose is as captivating as ever, and I found myself getting lost in the vivid descriptions and complex characters all over again. This edition maintains the integrity of the author's work, and I appreciate the commitment to preserving Dickens' narrative in its entirety.The physical quality of the book is top-notch as well. The pages are crisp, the print is clear and easy to read, and the book itself feels durable and well-made. It's a collector's item for any Dickens enthusiast.Whether you're a lifelong fan of Dickens or a newcomer to his works, this edition of "Great Expectations" is a must-have addition to your library. It's a true treasure for book lovers, and I can't recommend it highly enough. A five-star rating is well-deserved for this beautifully crafted edition that pays homage to one of literature's greatest novels.

Para mi nivel (entre B1 y B2) es muy adecuado. He podido leerlo sin problema. El anterior que intenté leer lo acabé dejando porque tenía que estar xontinuamente buscando palabras y ade+ iba muy lento con lo que no conseguia engancharme, asi que estoy muy contenta porque cumple con mis expectativas.

Just like he did in A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens emphasizes the importance of friends and family and the need to stay in touch with one's roots in the classic novel Great Expectations.The story brilliantly depicts the evil side of money, how it changes a person. It is an extraordinary depiction of love, loyalty, and forgiveness, of false perceptions, and the derived sadness. The plot is slow at the beginning, but it picks up pace as the pages turn, only to keep the reader hooked to it.As is always the case with Dickens' characters, they are vividly described in the prose. It is easy to fall in love with the positive ones, but the way he writes, makes one intricately understand the negative ones as well. And let's be honest, people are both good and bad, so there is always a gray area. Miss Havisham (a character in this book), for instance, is so eerily described that the reader is left unsure whether to love her or hate her - certainly can't just ignore her!There is no doubting the genius that is Dickens. Few instances:The subtlety by which he takes a jab at the way humans misuse religion is just wonderful:"Mrs. Joe was a very clean housekeeper, but had an exquisite art of making her cleanliness more uncomfortable and unacceptable than dirt itself. Cleanliness is next to Godliness, and some people do the same by their religion."How life is nothing but a chain of connected events, remove any one and the result would have been different:"That was a memorable day to me, for it made great changes in me. But it is the same with any life. Imagine one selected day struck out of it, and think how different its course would have been. Pause you who read this, and think for a moment of the long chain of iron or gold, of thorns or flowers, that would never have bound you, but for the formation of the first link on one memorable day.""life is made of ever so many partings welded together"How those who are affectionate are weak. Or are they?"It’s a weakness to be so affectionate, but I can’t help it. No doubt my health would be much better if it was otherwise, still I wouldn’t change my disposition if I could. It’s the cause of much suffering, but it’s a consolation to know I possess it, when I wake up in the night."On the importance of crying:"Heaven knows we need never be ashamed of our tears, for they are rain upon the blinding dust of earth, overlying our hard hearts."The definition of real love:“I’ll tell you,” said she, in the same hurried passionate whisper, “what real love is. It is blind devotion, unquestioning self-humiliation, utter submission, trust and belief against yourself and against the whole world, giving up your whole heart and soul to the smiter—as I did!”How looks are deceiving:"Take nothing on its looks; take everything on evidence. There’s no better rule."Verdict: Highly recommended. Worth a re-read.