Great Expectations

Synopsis

'you are to understand, Mr. Pip, that the name of the person who is your liberal benefactor remains a profound secret...' Young Pip lives with his sister and her husband the blacksmith, with few prospects for advancement until a mysterious benefaction takes him from the Kent marshes to London. Pip is haunted by figures from his past - the escaped convict Magwitch, the time-withered Miss Havisham and her proud and beautiful ward, Estella - and in time uncovers not just the origins of his great expectations but the mystery of his own heart. A powerful and moving novel, Great Expectations is suffused with Dickens's memories of the past and its grip on the present, and it raises disturbing questions about the extent to which individuals affect each other's lives. This edition includes a lively introduction, Dickens's working notes, the novel's original ending, and an extract from an early theatrical adaptation. It reprints the definitive Clarendon text. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

Summary

Chapter 1

* Introduces Pip, a young orphan living with his abusive sister and her husband, Joe Gargery.
* Pip steals a file and food for a mysterious convict who escapes from the marshes.
* Real Example: Pip's fear and guilt after meeting the convict symbolize the burden of his secret.

Chapter 2

* Inspector Jaggers informs Pip that a wealthy benefactor is paying for his education and apprenticeship.
* Pip suspects Miss Havisham, a rich and eccentric spinster, as his patroness.
* Real Example: Miss Havisham's cruelty towards Pip foreshadows the challenges he will face in his pursuit of a better life.

Chapter 3

* Pip begins his apprenticeship with Joe as a blacksmith.
* He visits Miss Havisham's house and meets Estella, her beautiful but cold-hearted adopted daughter.
* Real Example: Estella's disdain for Pip highlights his inferiority complex and the social barriers he faces.

Chapter 4

* Pip continues his education and dreams of becoming a gentleman.
* He grows distant from Joe and his old life.
* Real Example: Pip's transformation symbolizes the allure of wealth and status and its potential to corrupt.

Chapter 5

* Pip falls in love with Estella, despite her cruelty.
* He becomes a snobbish and arrogant young man.
* Real Example: Pip's blind infatuation with Estella illustrates the dangers of unrequited love and the power of delusion.

Chapter 6

* Pip learns that his benefactor is not Miss Havisham but a convict named Abel Magwitch.
* Magwitch reveals his past as a wealthy convict and his desire for Pip to become a gentleman.
* Real Example: Magwitch's redemption and the revelation of Pip's true benefactor challenge societal norms and explore the complexity of human nature.

Chapter 7

* Pip is torn between his loyalty to Magwitch and his fear of social rejection.
* He betrays Magwitch and denies his connection to him.
* Real Example: Pip's cowardice and selfishness mark his moral decline and the consequences of his choices.

Chapter 8

* Pip suffers the consequences of his betrayal: he is abandoned by his friends and society.
* He returns to his humble beginnings and reconciles with Joe.
* Real Example: Pip's journey back to his roots symbolizes his redemption and the true meaning of happiness and fulfillment.

Chapter 9

* Pip learns the truth about Miss Havisham's past and her motivations for tormenting him.
* He forgives her and finds a new understanding of her character.
* Real Example: Miss Havisham's tragic backstory humanizes her and explores the themes of love, loss, and vengeance.

Chapter 10

* Pip and Estella reunite.
* Estella reveals that she has grown out of her cruelty and now feels pity for him.
* Real Example: Their reconciliation symbolizes the power of forgiveness and the possibility of redemption even after the darkest of circumstances.