Great Expectations The title of this novel is Great Expectations and was written by Charles Dickens. Dickens wrote and set this novel in the mid-1800s in London, England. Great Expectations is about an ordinary young boy named Pip who blossoms into a gentleman with high expectations of himself. The main and secondary characters are Pip, Estella, Miss Havisham, Magwitch and Jaggers. Pip is the protagonist and narrator of the novel. The novel spans the time when he was a young boy to his age when he is recognized as a true man of the world. Pip has immature tendencies where he will believe he deserves better than what he gets in life. While everyone should have a certain level of self-esteem and respect, they hold themselves in high regard compared to other people. Pip feels that he should be able to rise in high society. After meeting Estella, he wants nothing more than to earn her respect and hand by becoming a gentleman. Through a series of very fortunate events, starting with the kindness shown to the condemned man in the first chapter, he is able to fulfill his expectations and hopes. As the story progresses, maturity overtakes Pip. He realizes that being a gentleman will not always give him what he wants in life, including Estella. Estella is introduced to Pip through Miss Havisham. Estella plays Pip's antagonist throughout his life. Miss Havisham adopts Estella more like a puppet than a little girl. Miss Havisham became angry on her wedding day and refuses to let go of that moment in life, so Miss Havisham uses Estella as a human form of unrequited love and revenge on Pip. Not only that, but Miss Havisham uses her social status as an excuse to treat everyone however she feels. This is why Estella comes across as cold to Pip. She flaunts her wealth in his face, treats him like he's nothing but common trash, and plays with his emotions. Unbeknownst to him, social status isn't everything. She thought she could make the best of her social status, but ended up with the worst. As for Miss Havisham, she too has a taste of reality. Miss Havisham realizes that bygones are bygones. He feels remorse for the way he raised Estella to treat Pip and also for the way he treated him.