Introduction ‘Great Expectations’ by Charles Dickens deals with “the aspirations and ambitions of the protagonist and narrator, Pip, to improve his status in life and create conditions for better living.” (Dickens). Pip is a seven year old orphan boy who is being reared by his older sister, Mrs. Joe, and her husband, Joe, a blacksmith by occupation. The opening scene depicts the poor boy grieving over the tombstones of his parents and younger siblings. Suddenly, a convict called Magwitch accosts him and threatens to kill him unless he brings food and a file to cut the chain on his legs. The terrified boy steals these items from his home and delivers the food and file to the criminal. In his own words, “I am afraid to think of what I might have done, on requirement, in the secrecy of my terror.” (Dickens, 13 ). Subsequently, the local police apprehend the convict. However, he saves the boy from punishment at the hands of his sister by saying that he had broken into the house of Joe and stolen these items. Some time later, the boy’s uncle, Pumblechook, takes him to the wealthy Satis House, where he meets Miss Havisham and another young girl named Estelle. Although Estelle behaves coldly and disdainfully with Pip, he falls in love with her. He visits the mansion often, but later on, is given only the work of a laborer in the house, although he “longs to be a wealthy gentleman.” (Dickens). Miss Havisham’s diabolical plans Havisham had been jilted by her lover, Compeyson, on the marriage day, and she now nurses a deep hatred for men and yearns revenge. She wears an old faded wedding gown, stops the clocks to the time when she was jilted, and is keeping the wedding banquet ready for years, to wreak vengeance on people. Unknown to Pip, she is actually using Estelle to pretend to woo Pip in order to avenge her own fate. However, to the outside world, especially Mrs. Joe, she is “the immensely rich lady who lives a life of seclusion.” (Dickens and West, 14, Line.11). He now seeks training in Joe’s blacksmith shop and he dislikes the work but must go on, and is tutored by Biddy, a lady school teacher. In the meantime, Mrs. Joe is viciously attacked by a violent laborer, Orlick, and becomes a mute invalid. Pip- Beneficiary of large sum of money Later on, Pip comes to know that he has been made a beneficiary to a large sum of money by some unknown benefactor. Blinded in his infatuation for Estelle, he believes that the money has been offered by Miss Havisham so he could rise to some status, to marry Estelle. He sets out to be a gentleman and moves to London in order to pursue education and better position in life. He meets Herbert, whose father helps him to groom up as a gentleman. Orlick again comes into his life, but is sent away by Herbert and others. Mrs. Joe, his sister, meanwhile dies and a grief stricken Pip attends the funeral. He is now “regretting his desire for a more comfortable lifestyle and his infatuation with Estella.” (Great Expectations). Pip realizes Estelle’s guiles One day, a surprise visitor meets Pip who is none other than the convict, Magwitch. Pip, to his astonishment, realizes that his secret benefactor was Magwitch and not anybody else. He seeks protection from Pip against the police and his former accomplice, Compeyson and wishes to flee the country. Pip now also comes to understand that both Havisham and Estelle had been decei