Great Expectations was set in early Victorian times in England when great social changes were sweeping the nation. The Industrial Revolution had transformed the social landscape, enabling people to capitalize quickly and largely. Although social status was no longer entirely dependent on heredity, the gap between classes was wide as ever. London had become quite different from the nation's rural areas. Throughout England, the etiquette of the upper class was very strict and conservative while gentlemen and ladies were expected to have good classical educations and to behave correctly in every social situation. These conditions were prevalent in Dickens's time and therefore were expressed in the writing of his novels. Pip's sudden rise from laborer to gentleman in Great Expectations f

Abel Magwitch, the most influential character in the story, is a fearsome criminal, who escapes from prison at the beginning of Great Expectations. He terrorizes Pip into doing what he wanted. Pip's kindness makes a deep impression on him in the end, and he therefore devotes himself to making a fortune and elevating Pip into a higher social class. Behind the scenes, he becomes Pip's secret benefactor, funding his education and lavish lifestyle in London through his lawyer Mr. Jaggars.

Pip is appalled, but he agrees to help Magwitch escape from both the police and Compeyson, his former partner in crime. Everything falls into place however when Pip discovers that Compeyson was the man who had abandoned Miss Havisham at the altar, and that Estella is Magwitch's daughter; Miss Havisham had raised Estella to break men's hearts, as revenge for the pain her own broken heart caused her.

Miss Havisham's beautiful young ward, Estella is Pip's unattainable dream in the novel. He loves her greatly, and though she is usually cold, cruel, and seems disinterested in him she really cares for him. As they grow up together, she repeatedly warns him that she has no heart. Though she does not know it herself and though Pip does not learn it until almost the end of the novel, Estella is the daughter of Magwitch, the convict whom Pip aids as a child. In the end it is shown that Estella does have a heart as She and Pip end the novel hand in hand, together.

One day Pip is taken by his arrogant uncle Uncle Pumblechook to play at Satis House, the home of the wealthy Miss Havisham. During this visit here meets a beautiful young girl named Estella, who unfortunately treats him quite coldly. For a good time Pip travels back and fourth to the Satis house to visit Miss Havisham and he becomes closely acquainted with her. However, more significantly, he grows very fond of Estella despite her crud treatment of him. Nevertheless, he falls in love with her and dreams of someday becoming a wealthy gentleman so that he might be worthy of her love and devotion.

As the weeks pass, Pip sees good in Magwitch and begins to care for him as if he were is own father. When the escape is attempted, Magwitch and Pip are discovered by the police, who have received a tip from Compeyson. Magwitch is sentenced to death and P

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Approximate Word count = 1549
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)