Boring, dull, lifeless, and flat. This is so drawn out and boring I kept having to remind myself what the plot was.
Best to get someone else to sum up the story rather than undergo the torture of reading it.

DNF at page 227.

The more I kept reading, the more baffled I was by what was going on. I just don't have the energy to continue reading this

A rightful classic with unforgettable characters and a lot of humor. Part 2 of the book bored me a little but the overall message is interesting and Pip is heartwarming
Always the best of friends

A sprawling novel, full of colourful, almost caricature like characters.
Still Pip’s development and growth in the book is well executed and never feels to sweet or moralistic.

Orphan Philip Pirrip (Pip) is the focus of this book and we meet him on a cemetery. It’s a banging start of a book which seems quite grim a first.
The Christmas eve dinner, with all the adults quite Roald Dahl like (with the exception of the blacksmith) in their vanity and disdain of children, belies this. Dickens is clearly here to have some fun!

His pocket change being collected by his sister to “liquidate the national debt” is another good example.
Not to say there are no serious topics covered: Joe not being able to read, domestic abuse

The story gets into higher gear when we meet a mysterious Estella. This leads to a first dilemma for Pip’s young heart: Bidy versus Estella. The role of aspiration is big in the narrative anyway, for Pip wants to be a gentleman.

Pip arrives in London in the neighborhood where my MBA is, delightful to hear all the references to places I know.
So much meetings in London in part 2 with new people, of which I don’t know the relevance for the overall story, Dickens loses me here a bit.

Joe Gargery remains funny in his awkwardness, showing the chasm of class, which Pip experiences intensely:
Made me cry again, inwardly, and that’s is the sharpest crying of all

Pip tries to adapt and at times feel out of his depth and cowardly, so it is all the better he has someone to rely on:
Never to soon, sir and never too often Pip
- Joe has a heart of gold.

Pip taking a leave out of the “I am not angry but I’m hurt” book in his quest for social upward mobility. There is even some sass developing: I’ve been locked up as much as a silver teacup
However nothing trumps Estella: You adres nothing in my breast, you touch nothing there.
Cold killer Estella.

The faults of the parents repeat in the children

Part of my existence is a beautiful speech as is the term Ecstasy of unhappiness, we should bring that back.

Part 2 was a bit boring but part 1 is near perfect comedy and part 3 has a lot of confrontations, emotions and action, very musical, Phantom of the Opera, like.

The relativity of prosperity without human connection is commented upon,rowing up the Thames around Temple, unimaginable nowadays. Loss and growth seem intertwined.
The people have the best memory ever, and are supremely obsessive as well, traveling across continents to follow people they hate.

Jaggers is so shady for a lawyer, water and fire befall the criminal bridegroom and the cold, withered bride and overall Pip his relations with women are quite saddening.

Difference between having and not having money in how people treat each other is still relevant today and Dickens his commentary of being poor in assets but rich in relations, and which is more preferable, including his appreciation of nature and experience, still hold value for our current day.

Dickens had two endings for this novel - one of continued disconnection and destruction and the other of healing and HEA. Despite the fact this may have been forced on you in school or uni, and you may have only skimmed it, it’s a worthy realism novel and deserves (and rewards) a dedicated read.

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:

n  "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."n

How life is nothing but a chain of connected events, remove any one and the result would have been different:

n  "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."n

n  "life is made of ever so many partings welded together"n

How those who are affectionate are weak. Or are they?

n  "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."n

On the importance of crying:

n  "Heaven knows we need never be ashamed of our tears, for they are rain upon the blinding dust of earth, overlying our hard hearts."n

The definition of real love:

n  “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!”n

How looks are deceiving:

n  "Take nothing on its looks; take everything on evidence. There’s no better rule."n

Verdict: Highly recommended. Worth a re-read.

n  "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."n

That is such a quote. If there was ever a novel that shows us the dangers of false perceptions then it’s Great Expectations . Pip is such a fool; he constantly misjudges those around him, and he constantly misjudges his own worth. This has lead him down a road of misery because the person who held the highest expectations for Pip was Pip himself. But, in spite of this, Pip does learn the error of his ways and becomes a much better person, though not before hurting those that have the most loyalty to him.

The corrupting power of money is strong through this novel



The money Pip received clouds his vison completely. He, in his innocence, longed to be a gentleman, but when he has the chance he forgets everything thing he is. In his self-imposed aggrandisement he can only deduce that his money came from a source of respectability; his limited capacity has determined that only he, a gentleman, could receive money from a worthy source. But, what he perceives as respectable is the problem. Indeed, Dickens contrasts societies’ gentleman (created through social station) with the true gentleman of the age who may, or may not, have any money. Pip has falsely perceived that to be a gentleman one must have money, and must have the social graces that comes with it. However, this is far from the truth as Pip later learns. He thinks Joe is backward and ungentlemanly, but Joe, in reality, is more of a gentle man than Pip could ever be.

In this, he has forgotten his routes and his honest, if somewhat rough, upbringing. He has been tainted by money and the rise in class that came with it. I think if he never received the allowance he would have eventually been happy at the forge. He may have sulked for a year or two, but, ultimately, he would have got over himself as he does eventually do. The money gave him hope; it gave him a route in which he could seek his Estella. Without the money he would have realised she was, in fact, unobtainable regardless of his class; he would have moved on and got on with his life. But, that wouldn’t have made for a very interesting novel.

Pip’s journey of morale regeneration is the key

Indeed, Pip wouldn’t have learnt a thing. Through the correcting of his perceptions he learns the value of loyalty and simple human kindness. This changes him and he is, essentially, a much better person for it. He learns the errors of his ways, and how shameful and condescending his behaviour has been to those that hold him most dear, namely Joe. You can feel the pain in his narration as he tells the last parts of his story; it becomes clear that Pip could never forgive himself for his folly. He wishes forgiveness from those that love him that’s why he forgives Havisham, but I don’t think he fully deserves it. He is repentant, but the damage is done.

Heaven knows we never be ashamed of our tears, for they are rain upon the blinding dust of the earth, overlaying our hard hearts.



Pip’s morale regeneration was a necessary facet for the brilliance of this work. It creates an ending that, for me, was perfect. It is not the ending that Pip thought he would get, but it is the ending this novel deserved. Pip’s morale regeneration and revelations are just not enough to offset the past. He has grown but, like Havisham, cannot turn back the clocks. The ending Joe receives signifies this; he, as one of the only true gentleman of the novel, receives his overdue happiness. Whereas Pip is destined to spend the rest of his life in a state of perpetual loneliness, he, most certainly, learnt his lesson the hard way.

"Suffering has been stronger than all other teaching, and has taught me to understand what your heart used to be. I have been bent and broken, but - I hope - into a better shape.

Anguish is in equal measures



Pip’s story though, ultimately, sad is not the most woe begotten of the character stories in this novel. Abel Magwitch and Miss Havisham are two incredibly miserable individuals because life has really got them down. Havisham is the caricature of the spinster; she is stuck in the past (quarter to nine to be precise) and is unable to move on; she has turned bitter and yellow; she has imposed herself to perpetual agony. Despite her harshness and venom there is a flicker of light within her soul that Pip unleashes. For me, she is the most memorable, and well written, character in this novel because her story transcends that of Pip’s.

And then there is the lovable Abel Magwitch. The poor man had been used and cheated; he had been bargained away and sacrificed. He has been shown no kindness in his life and when he meets a young Pip in the marshes he is touched by the small measure of friendship the boy offers him. His response: to repay that debt, with what he believes to be kindness, in turn. These characters are incredibly memorable and harbour two tragic and redemptive stories. But, in order to display their anguish to the world and society, they both use another to exact their revenge. Havisham uses Estella to break the hearts of men, like hers was once broken; Magwitch creates his “own” gentleman as a revenge to the world of gentleman that betrayed him.



I love Great Expectations. It is more than just a story of love; it is a strong story about the power of loyalty and forgiveness; it is a story about falsehoods and misperceptions; it is a story of woe and deeply felt sadness: it is about how the folly of youth can alter your life for ever. It is an extraordinary novel. I've now read it three times, and I know I'm not finished with yet.

(Book 876 From 1001 Books) - Great Expectations, Charles Dickens

The novel was first published as a serial in Dickens's weekly periodical All the Year Round, from 1 December 1860 to August 1861. In October 1861, Chapman and Hall published the novel in three volumes.

On Christmas Eve, around 1812, Pip, an orphan who is about seven years old, encounters an escaped convict in the village churchyard, while visiting the graves of his parents and siblings.

Pip now lives with his abusive elder sister and her kind husband Joe Gargery, a blacksmith. The convict scares Pip into stealing food and a file. Early on Christmas morning Pip returns with the file, a pie and brandy.

During Christmas Dinner that evening, at the moment Pip's theft is about to be discovered, soldiers arrive and ask Joe to repair some shackles. Joe and Pip accompany them as they recapture the convict who is fighting with another escaped convict.

The first convict confesses to stealing food from the smithy. A year or two later, Miss Havisham, a wealthy spinster who still wears her old wedding dress and lives as a recluse in the dilapidated Satis House, asks Mr Pumblechook, a relation of the Gargery's, to find a boy to visit her.

Pip visits Miss Havisham and falls in love with her adopted daughter Estella. Estella remains aloof and hostile to Pip, which Miss Havisham encourages. Pip visits Miss Havisham regularly, until he is old enough to learn a trade.

Joe accompanies Pip for the last visit, when she gives the money for Pip to be bound as apprentice blacksmith. Joe's surly assistant, Dolge Orlick, is envious of Pip and dislikes Mrs Joe. When Pip and Joe are away from the house, Mrs Joe is brutally attacked, leaving her unable to speak or do her work. Orlick is suspected of the attack. Mrs Joe becomes kind-hearted after the attack. Pip's former schoolmate Biddy joins the household to help with her care.

Four years into Pip's apprenticeship, Mr Jaggers, a lawyer, tells him that he has been provided with money, from an anonymous benefactor, so that he can become a gentleman. Pip is to leave for London, but presuming that Miss Havisham is his benefactor, he first visits her.

Pip sets up house in London at Barnard's Inn with Herbert Pocket, the son of his tutor, Matthew Pocket, who is a cousin of Miss Havisham. Herbert and Pip have previously met at Satis Hall, where Herbert was rejected as a playmate for Estella.

He tells Pip how Miss Havisham was defrauded and deserted by her fiancé. Pip meets fellow pupils, Bentley Drummle, a brute of a man from a wealthy noble family, and Startop, who is agreeable. Jaggers disburses the money Pip needs. ...

عنوان: آرزوهای بزرگ؛ نویسنده: چارلز دیکنز؛ (علمی و فرهنگی، دوستان، افق) ادبیات؛ تاریخ نخستین خوانش: سال 1975میلادی

با ترجمه: ابراهیم یونسی، تهران، سال انتشار 1351، با ویرایش، چاپ هفتم، با شابک 9789646207486؛ سال 1391، انتشارات دوستان

ترجمه: محسن سلیمانی انتشارات افق 1387؛ این نسخه، متن چکیده و کوتاه شده

آرزوهای بزرگ را می‌توان به نوعی زندگی‌نامه خودنگاشت «دیکنز» نیز دانست، که همچون آثار دیگرش، تجربیات تلخ و شیرین وی از زندگی و مردمان را، نمایان میسازد؛ داستان «آرزوهای بزرگ»، وضعیت سیاسی اجتماعی دوران خود ایشانست، و نویسنده حقایق اجتماعی را با بیانی لطیف به تصویر کشیده است

چکیده داستان: «پیپ» هفت ساله، زندگی محقر و فروتنانه‌ ای را در کلبه‌ ای روستایی، با خواهری بدخلق و سختگیر، و شوهر خواهرش «جو گارگِری»، آهنگری پرتوان اما مهربان، و نرم‌خو، می‌گذراند؛ او که روزی برای سر زدن به قبر مادر و پدرش، به گورستان می‌رود، ناگهانی با یک زندانی فراری محکوم به اعمال شاقه، به نام «آبل مگویچ»، روبرو می‌شود؛ آن زندانی، داستانی ترسناک، برای کودک سر هم می‌کند، تا او نانی برای رفع گرسنگی، و سوهانی برای رهایی خویش، از غل و زنجیری که به دست و پایش بسته‌ است، برایش بیاورد؛ «پیپ» هم از روی ناچاری و هم از دل‌رحمی، او را یاری می‌کند

زمانی از آن رویداد می‌گذرد، و «پیپ» کوچک، توسط زنی میانسال و ثروتمند، موسوم به «میس هاویشام (یکی از استادانه‌ ترین شخصیت‌های آفریده شده توسط دیکنز)» اجیر می‌شود، تا گهگاه برای همنشینی، و سرگرم‌ نمودنش، پیش او برود؛ «هاویشام» که در گذشته‌ ای دور، و به هنگام عروسی، معشوقش او را بیرحمانه ترک گفته، از آن زمان، به زنی دلسرد، و انتقام‌جو، بدل گشته‌ است؛ او «اِستِلا»، دخترکی زیبا، اما گستاخ و مغرور را، به فرزندی پذیرفته است، تا به او بیاموزد، که چگونه مردان را به بازی گرفته، و بدانسان انتقام خویش را، توسط او، از مردان بستاند؛ «پیپ» کوچک در آن خانه، به «استلا» دل می‌بندد، و تحت تأثیر توهین‌ها، و آزارهای دخترک، نخستین آرزوهایش، مبنی بر ترک زندگی محقر، و روستایی، و زیستن چون نجیب‌ زادگان، در او نقش می‌بندد؛ «پیپ»، سال‌ها نزد «جو گارگِری» شاگردی می‌کند، تا به عنوان یک آهنگر، امرار معاش نماید، اما رویدادی دیگر زندگی او را دگرگون می‌کند؛

حقوقدانی در «لندن»، به نام «جَگرز»، به او خبر می‌دهد، که یک ولینعمت ناشناس، هزینه ی تعلیم و تربیت او را، برای رفتن به «لندن»، و آموختن فرهنگ افراد متشخص، پذیرفته، و پس از آن، ثروت کلانی به او خواهد رسید؛ به این ترتیب، قهرمان نخست داستان، روستا و شوهر خواهر دوست‌ داشتنی خود را، ترک می‌کند، تا به آرزوهای بزرگ خویش، که یافتن تشخص، و لیاقت، برای دستیابی به «استلا» است، برسد

او در دوره ی زندگی در «لندن»، بسیاری از آداب و رسوم زندگی شهری، همچون طرز رفتار، لباس پوشیدن، و مشارکت در انجمن اشخاص فرهیخته، و با فرهنگ را، می‌آموزد، و «استلای» محبوبش نیز، که اکنون مردان بسیاری خواهان او هستند، با تجاربی مشابه، دست و پنجه نرم می‌کند؛ «پیپ» این‌بار به «استلا» اظهار عشق می‌کند، ولی «استلا» به او می‌گوید، که لیاقت عشق «پیپ» را ندارد، و به «بنتلی درامل»، مردی پست‌ فطرت، دل‌بسته‌ است؛ «پیپ» که همیشه خانم «هاویشام» را، ولینعمت مرموز خود می‌پنداشته، در پایان، به این موضوع پی می‌برد، که ولینعمتش «مگویچ»، همان زندانی فراری ست، که در کودکی یاریش داده بود؛

او همچنین درمی‌یابد، که «مگویچ» پدر «استلا» است؛ اما زمانی این راز برملا می‌شود، که «مگویچ» طی یک درگیری دستگیر، و زخمی شده، و در بستر مرگ افتاده، و تمام اموالش توسط دولت ضبط شده‌ است؛ از طرفی «استلا» نیز، با «درامل» ازدواج کرده، و بدرفتاریهای بسیاری، از او دیده‌ است؛ «پیپ» که به هیچ‌یک از آرزوهای خود نرسیده، به کلبه ی محقر روستایی خود، پیش «جو» بازمی‌گردد؛ هرچند «دیکنز» تصمیم داشت، تا «پیپ» را در رسیدن به «استلا» عاقبت ناکام بگذارد، و داستان را به صورتی غم‌ انگیز به پایان برساند، اما به توصیه ی دیگران، پایان آنرا با درس گرفتن «استلا»، از شکستهای زندگی، و بازگشتش به نزد «پیپ»، تغییر می‌دهد، تا به مذاق خوانشگران آن زمان خوش بیاید

تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 21/07/1399هجری خورشیدی؛ 30/05/1400هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی

Great expectation was my first book of Dickens. Years ago when I read it, I could not possibly understand its importance from the perspective of social injustice and class conflict of that time. I remembered that initial self-introduction of a young boy, where he talked about his family names and discussed why he preferred himself to be called as Pip and not Philip.

I still had a fresh picture of how one day suddenly Pip encountered that fearful man, who was soaked in water, and smothered in mud, and lamed by stones, and stung by nettles. Who limped, shivered, glared and growled and cried in a terrible voice...

“Keep still, You little devil, or I’ll cut your throat!”

Another image that was still persisting in my mind was that of Miss Havisham, who lived in a dilapidated house. Where in a dreary room, which was faintly lighted by candles, speckled legged spiders running home on that table cloth darkened with black fungus, mice rattling behind the panels, and she with a hand upon Pip’s shoulder, leaning on her crutch headed stick, pointing to that big table saying …

“This is where I will be laid when I am dead. They shall come and look me here.”

I reread it, to recall what else had happened in Pip’s life, which I had partially forgotten. This time I could feel this dramatic work of Dickens with some maturity and totality. I could feel the constant inner struggle of Pip with his own conscience. Pip was ambitious and he constantly tried to become a gentleman. His purpose was to impress a young noble girl, Estella.

In fact, I grew with this story this time; I understood and reckoned many new themes. Themes of crime, class conflict, ambition, and guilt were more clearly comprehended by me.

The imagery of Dickens has created some eternal and timeless characters in this book. I truly adored and approved this story yet again.

It just sprawled and quivered into me!

n   “I took her hand in mine, and we went out of the ruined place; and, as the morning mists had risen long ago when I first left the forge, so, the evening mists were rising now, and in all the broad expanse of tranquil light they showed to me, I saw no shadow of another parting from her.” n

Superb mature Dickens with the effervescent Pip and his Great Expectations which fall a bit short of his ambitions. Lots of plot twists and wonderful descriptions of London and its suburbs as well as the Thames.

"Fu quello un giorno memorabile, poiché provocò in me grandi cambiamenti. Ma lo stesso accade in ogni vita. Provate a immaginare di cancellarne un giorno particolare, e pensate a come sarebbe stato differente il suo corso. Voi che leggete, fermatevi a pensare per un attimo alla lunga catena di ferro o di oro, di spine o di fiori, che non vi avrebbe mai avvinto, se non si fosse formato il primo anello in un giorno memorabile."

Dickens è la mia coccola, il mio rifugio quando sono indecisa su cosa leggere o ho bisogno di andare sul sicuro.
Ciò che mi piace da morire dei suoi libri e che preferisco, sono tre elementi.

Il primo è la scrittura che pilota con grandissima maestria, giocando con il tono, con le figure retoriche ed i termini, dipingendo quadri al limite del surreale e che spesso fanno sorridere anche quando descrive momenti particolarmente significativi.
Le sue descrizioni sono sempre abilissime, soprattutto per quel che riguarda la vita a Londra, una Londra dell’epoca, piena di contraddizioni.

Il secondo è la capacità di narrare gli animi umani pur senza utilizzare retorica, ma dipingendo degli avvenimenti che mettano alla prova i protagonisti, in questo caso Pip, il giovane ragazzo che è la voce narrante, ma anche Estella, e perfino Biddy e Joe, anche se toccati indirettamente. La morale è immediatamente intuibile, si rivela come una folgorazione, nelle ultime pagine dei suoi libri.
E questo non fa eccezione.

“E ora torno a questo giovanotto. E la comunicazione che gli devo fare è che ha grandi speranze”

In questo nello specifico, e per tutto il libro, il dilemma è tra le apparenze e i principi , tra il cogliere al volo l’occasione per migliorarsi e realizzare le proprie “grandi speranze” e il restare fedeli a se stessi.
Perché i principi, o meglio alcuni valori morali, sono sempre al centro delle storie di Dickens, e questo è il terzo elemento che adoro nei suoi libri.

“Il cielo sa che non dovremmo mai vergognarci delle nostre lacrime, perché sono pioggia sulla polvere accecante della terra che ricopre i nostri cuori induriti. Mi sentii meglio dopo aver pianto…più addolorato, più consapevole della mia ingratitudine, più raddolcito. Se avessi pianto prima, Joe sarebbe stato con me, in quel momento.”

Nei personaggi di questo ho ritrovato tutte le classiche figure a lui care: i malfattori che rinsaviscono, spesso grazie all’aiuto di piccoli innocenti; le tante, la maggior parte, persone che seguono la strada sbagliata e alla fine pagano aspramente i loro crimini; quelle povere e ignoranti ma le sole capaci di affetto vero e sentimenti puri e di comportarsi in maniera onesta senza chiedere nulla in cambio.
Sia beninteso, nei romanzi di Dickens spesso anche i primi pagano, nonostante si ricredano sulle cattive azioni commesse e cambino rotta. Ed è ciò che succede anche qui, e che causa grande sofferenza anche al nostro protagonista Pip, sia direttamente che indirettamente.
Purtroppo nonostante tutto non sono riuscita a provare simpatia per lui, perché è la sola causa dei suoi mali e della delusione delle sue “grandi speranze”, ma non ho potuto non avere gran pena per lui dopo tutte le sfortune che gli sono piovute sul capo e che ha dovuto sopportare amaramente.
Invece non si può non amare Joe e Biddy che appartengono a quell’ultima categoria, proprio perché è lo scrittore a desiderarlo.
Allo stesso modo invece ho provato affetto per Provis, nonostante il ragazzo continui a dipingercelo con pieno disprezzo, fino al momento in cui per magia si ravvede.
È il classico esempio di figura cara allo scrittore, sulla cui esistenza pesa la strada che ha intrapreso per colpa di figure abiette che si sono messe sulla via, e per cui è costretto a pagare un prezzo troppo alto.

Le cose vanno sicuramente in una direzione in cui il fato pesa in maniera più pesante che se si fosse trattato di vero fato e non fosse stato diretto dalla mano dell’autore proprio verso certi protagonisti, ma questo non risulta sgradevole seppur molto triste, perché è ciò che ci si aspetta dalle storie di Dickens.

I had to wade through this for Year 12 English, loathed it the whole way through, and can't undersatnd the enthusiastic praise it always seems to receive. I don't get it! What's to like? The story centres around a completely unlikable twit and a stone cold bitch, surrounded by a further cast of such extreme eccentrics that you're left wondering where all the *normal* people went.

Actually, Dickens in general just gets on my nerves - I don't enjoy his writing style at all. His humour is clunky and obvious, I can always see all the places where I'm supposed to laugh. He always seems to be revelling in the cleverness of his own wit.

5.0 Stars What a tremendous experience reading this novel has been. I enjoyed every moment of it, and delighted in its characters, its story, and its message.

In Pip, we have a good natured young man who after meeting the beautiful Estella, becomes overly ambitious in hopes of winning her affection. Once he comes into his great expectations, he becomes convinced that Miss Haversham means for he and Estella to be together. And is stunned when this turns out not to be the case. In the last third of the book, Pip learns some valuable lessons about wealth, gratitude, love, and family. And in the end is a much better person for his experiences.

I love Pip as a character, and he is of course my favorite, but there were so many great characters in this book. Pip has some great friends in Herbert and Wemmick, and he has love of family in Joe and Biddy. Magwitch is another tremendous character, and the Pocket family is good fun. In the end even Estella seems to have overcome her upraising and turned out pretty good.

All in all, a story of mistakes and redemption. But most of all, a story of love and the family you make.

I think that I will actually miss Pip, in the coming days. I’ve enjoyed being in his world.