Great Expectations

by Charles Dickens

Great Expectations mainly follows the growth journey of the protagonist named Pip. During his childhood and young adult years, Pip is a blacksmith’s apprentice in a country village. He suddenly gets sponsored (his great expectations) by a mysterious benefactor and moves to London where he receives high-class education. He is fascinated by the extravagance of London and its upper class, and has experienced tremendous changes in terms of his personality, lifestyle, temperament, etc. Later, he finds it super surprising when the true identity of the benefactor is finally revealed. In addition, this book also tells the romance between Pip and Estella, a young woman he adores but who cannot respond to his love. Great Expectations is often considered a reflection of the class system of Victorian England. What the author truly aspires to convey about social class is that wealth and class are less important than affection, loyalty, and inner worth.?