Read Pip's Full Story: CONTAINS SPOILERS
SPOILERS AHEAD FOR GREAT EXPECTATIONS!
Orphaned Pip lives with his harsh sister, Mrs. Joe, and her blacksmith husband, Joe Gargery. While visiting his parents' graves one day, Pip encounters an escaped convict named Abel Magwitch, who threatens and commands Pip to bring food and a file to aid his escape. Pip does so, but meets another convict on the way, a sinister man with a scar on his face. This is Compeyson, a man who had manipulated and used Magwitch to commit criminal acts, then arranged for him to take most of the blame when they were caught and tried for their crimes. The two escapees are later recaptured when a vengeful Magwitch apprehends Compeyson and forgoes his own escape to ensure Compeyson returns to prison to serve his full sentence.
Pip’s childhood years are tormented by his sister and her friends, Pumblechook and Wopsle. One day Pumblechook arrives with a strange proposal: the wealthy and mysterious Miss Havisham would like Pip to come visit her home, Satis House. As a young woman, Miss Havisham was engaged to a man (the scheming Compeyson) who took large sums of money and then jilted her. She has since refused to move on; she continues to wear her wedding dress and her dining table is covered with the rotten remains of the wedding feast. Miss Havisham has adopted a girl about Pip’s age, Estella, and is raising her to be a weapon to break men’s hearts. Estella is proud and unkind, but Pip is fascinated by her.
When Pip is old enough to begin an apprenticeship with Joe, Miss Havisham covers the cost of the indentures in return for the many hours Pip has spent in her home. However, Estella has criticized Pip’s lower-middle-class life and appearance so often that he is dissatisfied with Joe’s trade and yearns to become “a gentleman.” Mrs. Joe dies, and young Biddy comes to keep house for Joe. She and Pip become friends, but no other girl can compare with Estella in Pip’s heart.
The mysterious Mr. Jaggers, a London attorney, informs Pip that an anonymous benefactor has given Pip “great expectations” and will pay for his education and a fine lifestyle in the city. Pip goes to London to embark on his new life, guided by Jaggers, the clerk Wemmick (who is more helpful than he seems), and Herbert Pocket, a relation of Miss Havisham’s whom Pip met briefly as a child at Satis House. Pip and Herbert become close friends, but Pip’s quest to live like a gentleman leads to bad habits and debt. Beautiful Estella returns from finishing school; she remains cold and indifferent to Pip’s love, but receives attention from Bentley Drummle, a brutish aristocrat.
Pip is surprised at home one night by Abel Magwitch, the convict he had helped 14 years earlier. Magwitch had been sent to the penal colonies in Australia after completing his prison sentence, and had worked single-mindedly to become wealthy, determined to repay Pip’s kindness by making him a gentleman. Pip had assumed his benefactor was Miss Havisham, and that she intended Estella and Pip to marry. Jaggers had coincidentally been acting as solicitor for Miss Havisham as well as Magwitch. Pip is horrified by the source of his money, but is touched by Magwitch’s dedicated affection. Magwitch’s return to England is punishable by death, and the older man confesses that his nemesis, Compeyson, is still living and may have seen him in London.
Pip goes to visit Miss Havisham and Estella, and is informed that Mr. Drummle has proposed. Pip is appalled, but Estella declares herself utterly heartless, a product of Miss Havisham’s teaching. Determined to protect Magwitch by getting him safely out of the country, Pip, Herbert, and Wemmick develop a plan to row the older man (code name: Provis) down the river from London until they can meet with a ship bound for Europe. Pip plans to go with him, since he would now be considered an accomplice to Magwitch’s illegal return. Pip goes to Satis House to say goodbye and learns that Estella and Drummle are married. Miss Havisham is consumed with regret and asks Pip’s forgiveness. Her ancient wedding dress accidentally catches fire and Pip tries to rescue her, burning his hands, but she dies shortly afterward.
Pip learns that Magwitch had a child who was given into Jagger’s safekeeping when the mother committed a crime of passion. Miss Havisham was looking for a child to adopt, so Jaggers assisted both clients simultaneously. Estella is Magwitch’s daughter.
Pip and Herbert now turn their full attention to getting Magwitch/Provis to safety. They begin their journey down the river, but are overtaken by the scarred Compeyson leading a boat full of soldiers. The two former convicts grapple, fall overboard, and are struck by a passing ship. Compeyson is drowned and Magwitch dies soon after, content that he has nonetheless made Pip a gentleman.
However, the remainder of Magwitch’s property is seized by the crown and Pip is left bereft and in debt. Joe (now married to Biddy) comes to help him and quietly pays some of his debts. Years later, Pip visits the ruined and empty Satis House and is shocked to find Estella there. Her marriage to Drummle was full of abuse, but she is now widowed and distinctly changed. In their final conversation, Estella asks Pip if they are friends. “We are friends,” he tells her, as they take hands and leave the ruins of their childhood.
