Great Expectations - Charles Dickens

Great Expectations reflects on an orphan nicknamed Pip. The plot revolves around his life and depicts the education of Pip. The novel traces the psychological growth of Pip in three stages: Pip spent his childhood in the marshes of Kent, his journey from rural background to the London metropolis, and finally his reluctant reconciliation with false promises and values. Pip meets a wealthy, eccentric spinster, Miss Havisham and her beautiful ward, Estella. He: instantly falls in love with her. Though he is constantly reminded that Estella is heartless, Pip yearns to become a wealthy gentleman in order to be worthy of her. When he learns about the expectations from a benefactor for him to be trained in the gentlemanly arts, he goes to London. A series of events follow, including Estella's marriage to the brutal nobleman, Bentley Drummle. After many years, Pip encounters Estella in the ruined garden at Satis House. Her husband, Drummle treated her badly, but he is now dead. Pip finds that Estella's coldness and cruelty have been replaced by a sad kindness. Both Pip and Estella leave the garden hand in hand. Great Expectations was published in 1861 and has not only been adapted into films but has also influenced a number of writers.