Essential Literature: "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens

“Great Expectation” is certainly one of the most famous novels by English Author Charles Dickens. It is a bildungsroman. The story is narrated in first person perspective that depicts the personal growth of a character named Pip, whose life flows through joy and calamities, which gradually evolves his expectations from life. Now if there was a doubt about the method of master storytelling of Mr. Dickens, it was evaporated in thin air after the release of this magnificent novel. The story is told with such care filled with real characters that it’s a miracle I didn’t finish reading this novel in a single day.

Characters

Let’s discuss the colorful characters which populate this tale; Pip is simply amazing though he would not be that much if not for the complexities of his allies and foes. Mr. and Mrs. Joe Gargery are an odd couple; Joe himself his quite loving and a gentleman where as his wife (and Pip’s sister) is strict and uneasy Lady. For 1-15 Chapters you are left to enjoy them and never had they disappointed. Biddy is another fascinating character for whom you feel. Now let’s move on to the inhabitants of Satis House; Ms. Havisham, a wealthy and eccentric woman with troubled past and more troubled mind, and her adopted daughter, Estella. Without these two, this novel would have failed badly. Anything remotely related to them grabbed my attention firmly. Estella always intrigued me with her cold and conflicting nature. In London, Mr. Jaggers and his clerk Wemmick were another duo well done. And Herbert Pocket, just a good natured guy who you always want on your side.

Plot

The plot is divided into three major segments. The first consisting of 19 Chapters is set in Kent, the hometown of Pip. This segment forms the first expectations of Pip: Being a gentleman and being rich. The second segment is set in London as Pip leads the road to being a gentleman. And last segment is better defined as the breaking point for Pip. All of his dreams are broken and so is his heart. It’s a sad story with so many heart-breaking moments, I cried several times in final few chapters. The dialogues are so real and sublime. From Ms. Havisham visitors to Ms. Wopsle performance in theatre, From Estella’s confession of “Having no Heart” to Pip finding about his benefactor, this novel is filled with startling moments.

Abel Magwitch story was tragic. His introduction in first chapter was fascinating as a fearsome convict. But the real magic of his character was casted when he reappeared in Chapter 39 and revealed himself to be the secret benefactor of Pip. That was an awesome twist, which throws the story into a gear which it needed. After that it’s all revelation of his past and how it’s connected to almost everyone Pip ever met. The twists about Molly (Mr. Jaggers House mistress), the reveal of Estella’s parentage, the past of Ms. Havisham, almost everything was, in some way, connected to Abel Magwitch.

Two Endings

The original ending by Mr. Dickens found Pip a solitary man. Estella marries a doctor and story ends with Pip realizing that suffering had been a stronger teacher for Estella than Ms. Havisham’s teaching. However due to Mr. Dickens finding it to be too depressing and on the suggestion of a friend, he altered it. The revised edition is widely applauded and is better written but I, myself, prefer the original one. It better suits the tone of a story. Pip was supposed to not get the girl because of his terrible mistakes and her cold heart and it felt more real. However Pip “seeing no shadow of another parting from her” felt too much traditional and a fairy tale.

Verdict

It would be a really long time before the picture of marshes would fade from my mind or I would forget the cold courtesies of Estella or the beautiful scene of Mr. Wemmick’s Castle. Several times have I read the adventure of Pip smuggling Magwitch out of England and their misfortune and I don’t plan to stop anytime sooner. Yes, there are better books than this, but none have been able to construct a beautiful significance of life and all its fortunes and misfortunes.