Great Expectations

Main Characters and Their Development

• Philip Pirrip, better known as Pip, is a young man whose life prospects and ambitions change dramatically after unexpectedly receiving a fortune from an anonymous benefactor. Over time, Pip learns to value love and friendship over material wealth.
• Estella Havisham is the adopted daughter of Miss Havisham, raised by her in coldness and pride to exact revenge on the male gender for her own sufferings. Her encounters with Pip in early childhood and later in youth leave a lasting impact on her life.
• Miss Havisham is an eccentric, solitary woman who opens her home to young Pip and Estella, using the latter as a tool for revenge against men for her own broken heart.
• Joe Gargery is a kind and honest blacksmith, Pip's adoptive brother. His unwavering loyalty and friendship become a pillar of support for Pip throughout the novel.
• Abel Magwitch is an escaped convict whose unexpected role as Pip's anonymous benefactor becomes a major turning point in the plot and causes a moral crisis in Pip's life.