Great Expectations

Charles Dickens

Summary

"I have been bent and broken, but - I hope - into a better shape."

From the terrifying encounter with a fugitive in a misty graveyard to the decaying grandeur of Satis House, Philip Pirrip—known simply as "Pip"—embarks on a journey that will take him from a humble blacksmith's forge to the heights of London society. When a mysterious benefactor grants him "great expectations," Pip abandons his past and his true friends to pursue the cold and beautiful Estella. But in the shadows of his new life, secrets of crime, revenge, and unrequited love await. Charles Dickens' most sophisticated novel is a haunting exploration of how our desires can blind us to the people who matter most.

The Haunting Legacy of Satis House: Few images in literature are as iconic as Miss Havisham, the jilted bride frozen in time, wearing her decaying wedding dress amidst the remains of a rotting feast. Dickens uses Satis House as a powerful metaphor for the stagnation caused by revenge and the "gilded cage" of class expectations. It is here that Pip's heart is first broken and his obsession with "gentility" begins.

A Critique of the Victorian Class System: Through Pip's transformation, Dickens exposes the superficiality of social status. As Pip acquires the polish of a gentleman, he loses the moral core provided by the honest, hard-working Joe Gargery. The novel challenges the reader to look beneath the surface of wealth and education to find true nobility, culminating in a series of shocking revelations that link the highest circles of society to its lowest criminal depths.

Experience the mystery that spans a lifetime. Purchase "Great Expectations" today and discover a world of shadows and light.

Available since: 01/07/2026.

Print length: 540 pages.

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