Great Expectations by Charles Dickens is a timeless classic novel. It is a bildungsroman, a coming-of-age story of a protagonist, Pip, obsessed with class and wealth, and his dreams are constantly challenged by his poor background. Through his journey, Dickens explores themes of self-identity and the corruption and influence of money.
The title itself serves as a constant reminder of Pip's internal struggles. His "great expectations" is a way to escape from his impoverished life as a blacksmith's apprentice. This yearning is grown from a young age when he meets the most beautiful Estella and the opulent Miss Havisham at Satis House. Miss Havisham rewards Pip, and this wealth is believed to be from a mysterious benefactor. This wealth allows him to reinvent himself as a gentleman. He moves to London. However, the transformation is superficial. He becomes ashamed of his humble roots and alienates his loyal friend, Joe Gargery. Pip's obsession with class blinds him to the true source of his fortune – the escaped convict, Magwitch.
Magwitch is a coarse and uneducated man, symbolizing the harsh realities of social mobility. His past haunts him; despite his wealth gained through crime, he remains an outsider. Pip's initial impression of Magwitch reflects the Victorian prejudice against the lower classes. But, as the story progresses, Pip learns Magwitch's nature is filled with loyalty and sacrifices. This shatters Pip's idea of class and compels him to confront his own prejudices.
Despite his criminal past, Magwitch becomes a symbol of genuine love and selflessness, qualities absent from the wealthy characters like Estella that Pip encounters.
Pip's infatuation with Estella is linked to his desire for a higher social status. For example, during Pip's nightly visits, Estella belittles him for being a blacksmith's apprentice and makes him feel ashamed of the shoes he wears and his ability not to play the solitaire properly. Hence, Pip believes that becoming a gentleman will make him worthy of her love. Estella remains a beautiful but emotionally cold creation of Miss Havisham's revenge until the end. The revelation that Magwitch is Estella's father further complicates Pip's understanding of love and class. Estella, a product of the wealthy and proud status, Pip dreams of entering her life, empathizing with her coldness and superficiality. Ultimately, Pip recognizes that his love for Estella stems from a flawed perception of his own desire, and their paths diverge.
Pip's desires eventually lead to disappointment. He loses his fortune, and his love remains unrequited. His flaws in the novel are what make it a bildungsroman novel. Pip sheds his superficial, gentlemanly nature and recognizes the true value of loyalty and friendship. He reconciles with Joe, appreciating his genuine love and support. By helping a destitute Magwitch, Pip acts out as a humble human being with a sense of humanity, rejecting the classist values that previously guided him.
Dickens uses detailed descriptions and satirical humour to describe the hypocrisy and inequality of Victorian society. The decaying Satis House mirrors Miss Havisham's emotional trauma, reflecting a world obsessed with appearances. Characters like Bentley Drummle, with his wealth
and entitlement, represent the hollowness of the upper class. Through Pip's journey, Dickens critiques the social hierarchy that traps individuals and entangles genuine human connection.
The novel is considered to be one of the greatest examples of Bildungsroman. The protagonist's growth as a character is not linear, but by making mistakes and ups and downs leading to a self-discovery. The novel is also a perfect example of the power of storytelling. Through writing about his own experiences, Pip reflects upon them and gains a clearer understanding of himself and the world around him. Great Expectations remains a timeless classic because of its perfectly written descriptions and themes of identity, class, and the search for meaning that can resonate with the world. Pip's journey is a tale against the pitfalls of social ambition and false hierarchy, and it is a reminder of the vitality of self-identity and self-reflection.
