summary on great expectations4

The ending
Charles Dickens wrote two different endings for Great Expectations. In the original ending, Pip meets Estella on the streets finding she is then remarried to a doctor after the death of her abusive husband Drummle. Estella and Pip exchange brief pleasantries, after which Pip states while he could not have her in the end, he was at least glad to know she was a different person now, somewhat changed from the cold-hearted girl Miss Havisham had reared her to be. As this ending was much criticized even by some famous fellow authors and his publisher as being too sad for readers, Dickens wrote a second ending currently considered as the definitive one, more hopeful but also more ambiguous than the original, in which Pip and Estella have a spiritual and emotional reconciliation. The second ending echoes strongly the theme of closure found in much of the novel; Pip and Estella's relationship at the end is marked by some sadness and some joy, and although Estella still indicates she does not believe she and Pip will be together, Pip perceives she will stay with him and this is just the end of the beginning for them. The majority of books being published currently contain the second ending.

Themes and analysis
The main themes in this novel are gratitude, shown in the way that Pip does not show gratitude towards Joe. Another is suffering. Miss Havisham and Pip suffer equally, with Havisham being stood up on her wedding day, and scammed out of her money, and with Pip never gaining Estella's love. Another theme, rise in social class, is very prominent. Dickens obviously wanted to bring attention to the problem with this in London. Pip is constantly attempting to impress Estella by raising his social class, and it only leads to his demise.

Main characters in Great Expectations
Pip, the protagonist, and his family
Philip Pirrip, nicknamed Pip, an orphan, and the protagonist. Pip is destined to be trained as a blacksmith, a low but skilled and honest profession, but strives to rise above his class after meeting Estella Havisham.
Handel, Herbert Pocket's nickname for Pip, which he uses to address Pip from their first formal meeting.
Joe Gargery - Pip's brother-in-law, and his first father figure. Joe represents the poor but honest life that Pip rejects.
Mrs. Joe Gargery, Pip's adult sister, who brings him up after the death of their parents, but complains constantly of the burden Pip is to her. A hot tempered woman, Mrs. Joe goads Joe into defending her honour against Orlick, Joe's journeyman blacksmith, who secretly attacks her as revenge, eventually leading to her death.
Mr. Pumblechook, Joe's uncle, an officious bachelor who tells Mrs. Joe how noble she is to bring Pip up by hand and who holds Pip in disdain. As the person who first connected Pip to Miss Havisham, he even claims to have been the original architect of Pip's good fortune. Pip despises Pumblechook as Pumblechook constantly makes himself out to be better than he really is. He is an imposter of the greatest sorts. When Pip finally stands up to him, Pumblechook turns those listening to the conversation against Pip.

Pip's antagonists
Compeyson (surname), another convict, and enemy to Magwitch. A professional swindler, he had been Miss Havisham's intended husband, who was in league with Arthur to defraud Miss Havisham of her fortune. He pursues Magwitch when he learns that he is in London and eventually dies.
"Dolge" Orlick, journeyman blacksmith at Joe Gargery's forge. Strong, rude and sullen, he is as churlish as Joe is gentle and kind. His resentments cause him to take actions which threaten his desires in life, but for which he blames others. He ends up in a fistfight with Joe over Mrs. Joe's taunting and is easily beaten. This set in motion an escalating chain of events that lead him to secretly injure Mrs. Joe grievously and eventually make an attempt on Pip's life.
Bentley Drummle, a coarse unintelligent young man whose only saving graces are that he is to succeed to a title and his family is wealthy. Pip meets him at Mr. Pocket's house, as Drummle is also to be trained in gentlemanly skills. Drummle is hostile to Pip and everyone. He is a rival to Pip for Estella's attentions and marries her. It is said he ill-treats Estella and took much from her. He is later killed, however, in an incident involving a horse.
"The Spider", Mr. Jaggers's nickname for Drummle.

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