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1-Page Summary of Great Expectations

Overall Summary

Great Expectations is a novel by Charles Dickens. It was originally published in serial form, and it was later published as a book. The story takes place during the Victorian Era, and it follows Pip’s journey from childhood to adulthood. Great Expectations has been adapted into many different media formats over the years, including plays and movies.

The novel Great Expectations tells the story of an orphan named Philip Pirrip, or Pip. He lives with his older sister and her husband who is a blacksmith. His brother-in-law is his best friend.

Pip improves his life by seeking out further education and visiting the home of Miss Havisham, an eccentric old spinster. He falls in love with her adopted daughter Estella, but she does not return his feelings.

Pip is a young boy who works in the forge. He has an older sister, and he gets into an argument with one of his coworkers named Dolge Orlick. During the argument, Orlick attacks Pip’s sister, leaving her disabled for life. Soon after that incident, London lawyer Mr. Jaggers reveals to Pip that he received a large inheritance from someone named Miss Havisham (who was once engaged to be married but had her heart broken by a conman). He also learns that he will be moving to London and rooming with Matthew Pocket’s son (Herbert) at their home in London so that he can attend school there as well as learn how to become more sophisticated because people are starting to see him differently now that they know about his new wealth status.

Pip, who was poor at the beginning of the novel but now has money, returns home to his village and feels like he’s been neglecting Joe and Biddy. He goes back to London with Herbert Pocket. When Pip returns to London, a convict who escaped from prison at the start of this story shows up again. The convict reveals that he is actually Pip’s benefactor—someone who helped him out in his time of need when nobody else would—and that he made a lot of money in Australia (where they both used to live) and wanted to repay Pip for what he’d done for him. This man reveals that he was once partners with an evil conman named Compeyson, whom Miss Havisham had loved before she lost her fortune.

Pip confronts Miss Havisham about Estella’s engagement to Drummle, and she reveals that it was all a ploy. She regrets her actions and asks for forgiveness. Pip is devastated by the news as he leaves. As he leaves, Miss Havisham accidentally sets herself on fire and dies from her injuries soon after. Orlick tries to kill Pip in the marsh but Herbert saves him at the last minute with help from townspeople.

Magwitch and Herbert help Magwitch escape from prison. The police chase them down the river Thames, but they get away. When they go to court, Magwitch is sentenced to death for murder. Pip loses his inheritance and goes into debt when he takes care of Joe’s family while Joe goes to London to nurse Pip back to health after a serious illness.

Pip, after living in London for many years, returns to England. He visits the site of Miss Havisham’s demolished house and finds Estella there. She is now a widow. Her marriage made her kinder and more understanding of others’ feelings because she was hurt by it. Pip finally leaves his dream behind him as he walks hand-in-hand with Estella towards their future together.

Chapter 1

Pip narrates Great Expectations. Pip, whose full name is Philip Pirrip, is an orphaned boy who lives with his much-older sister and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Gargery. The novel opens on a scene in a graveyard where Pip traces the letters of his dead parents’ names on their tombstones.