Goodreads | Great Expectations (Penguin Classics)

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Great Expectations - A Review	1	25 days ago, 07:45PM
Finally "really" read this book!	1	11/10/2007 10:21AM

Amanda rated it:

(review of isbn 0192833596)

03/06/08

bookshelves: eng-12

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

Summary:
Pip, an orphan brought up by his sister and her husband Joe, the blacksmith, meets a convict in a graveyard one day and helps him. Despite Pip’s help, the convict is re-captured. Later, Pip is introduced to Miss Havisham, an eccentric old lady who was disappointed in love. She is bringing up her niece, Estella, to live out her revenge by disappointing the men who love her. Pip falls in love with Estella and feels ashamed of his common life. He is apprenticed to Joe and works a...more

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Kanchan rated it:

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08/22/07

There is very little agreement amongst readers as to which of Dickens's novels is the best, but today Great Expectations is often placed near the top of polls. This contrasts with the end of the 19th century, when the author George Gissing, in his study of Dickens' works, had to remind the readers of the plot of Great Expectations as it was largely ignored compared to his other works. The book's lack of popularity shortly after it was written and its greater status today is perhaps due to the fa...more There is very little agreement amongst readers as to which of Dickens's novels is the best, but today Great Expectations is often placed near the top of polls. This contrasts with the end of the 19th century, when the author George Gissing, in his study of Dickens' works, had to remind the readers of the plot of Great Expectations as it was largely ignored compared to his other works. The book's lack of popularity shortly after it was written and its greater status today is perhaps due to the fact that it is the least "Dickensian" of any of his books. The usual grotesque characters common to many of his books are more muted and believable in this book. The book is very carefully plotted and less episodic than many of Dickens's other stories with the central character's changing viewpoint and perception of the world around him an important element of the story. There was an academic revival of interest, particularly by American critics starting in the 1940s, which has since placed it in the canon of often-read school texts.

The character of Pip contrasts sharply with the title characters in such books as Nicholas Nickleby and Oliver Twist. In these novels, the main character is more simply portrayed and the characters around them are of far greater interest. Pip, on the other hand, begins as a likable, but simple child, but develops into quite an unsympathetic character later in the book. Dickens draws the reader into following the fortunes of the changing Pip from childhood—a subject in which Dickens is an acknowledged master—on to a rather snobbish and objectionable adolescence and then to his final reformation. Although he would probably not have liked to admit it, Dickens himself was a very clear model for Pip's personality. Despite having great fondness for the poor and oppressed and wishing to improve their conditions, Dickens felt himself to be superior to them. What he saw as a shameful personal connection to the poor earlier in his life made his desire to separate from them more pronounced, and this is mirrored in Pip's story.

As is common with Dickens, the novel is an instrument to reveal the flaws of Victorian society. Dickens, being a moralist, portrays the wealthy negatively but rewards the humble characters, notably Joe and Biddy. This message is tied in to one of the central themes of the novel—placement in society and its influence on personal identity.

The ending of the book is another measure of the difference to other Dickens novels and also greatly affects the reader's interpretation of the whole story. Dickens originally wrote an unhappy ending to the book that was, however, consistent with the book's theme. Dickens rarely did this and indeed it was very unusual for Victorian novels in general. After talking to his friends and fellow novelists Wilkie Collins and Edward Bulwer-Lytton he re-wrote a more hopeful ending which is the one used in all subsequent editions. Many critics regard the first ending as far more in keeping with the morality of the proceeding story but the second ending is acknowledged to be better written from a stylistic point of view. Both endings though are atypical compared to his other books and show an uncertainty or ambivalence in the author's mind as to how the work should be ended.

Like many of Dickens's works, Great Expectations has been criticized for its excessive length. This may be related to the fact he was paid by installment for his serialised work (although it is often mistakenly claimed that he was paid by the word). It is possible that the installment approach did lead to a more verbose style than would otherwise have been used.
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Michael rated it:

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07/14/08

Read in December, 1996

My students (and some of my friends) can't ever figure out why I love this novel so much. I explain how the characters are thoroughly original and yet timeless, how the symbolism is rich and tasty, and how the narrative itself is juicy and chock-full of complexity, but they just shake their heads at me in utter amazement and say, "What's wrong with you, dude?"

What's wrong, indeed.

I give them ten or fifteen years. Perhaps they'll have to read it again in college, or maybe they'l...more My students (and some of my friends) can't ever figure out why I love this novel so much. I explain how the characters are thoroughly original and yet timeless, how the symbolism is rich and tasty, and how the narrative itself is juicy and chock-full of complexity, but they just shake their heads at me in utter amazement and say, "What's wrong with you, dude?"

What's wrong, indeed.

I give them ten or fifteen years. Perhaps they'll have to read it again in college, or maybe they'll just try reading it again as an adult to see if they can try to figure out why it's such a "classic," but after some time has passed from their initial encounter with the novel, they will find that I am not so crazy after all and that the book is in fact one of the best examples--if not the best example--of the novel. This happens to me all the time: I will re-read something I was forced to read in middle school and high school, remembering how much I hated it then, and will find that I actually love it now, as an adult. Sure, those "classics" may have taught me something about literary analysis, symbolic patterns, and the like, but I couldn't appreciate it for its complexity until I was older. I guess the rule of wine appreciation applies here, too: good taste only comes after much patience and experience.

***

Perhaps the thing I love best about this novel is the cast of characters--their names as well as their personalities. Ms. Havisham is one of my favorite characters to ever appear in all of the literature I have read. There is so much density and complexion to her character that I could literally make an entire career out of writing discourses on her characterization. She has even invaded the way I think about the world and the people I have met: I have, for instance, started referring to those instances where parents try to achieve success through their children "the Havisham effect" (unfortunately, you see this all too often in the world of teaching). Havisham's name is another exasperatingly fantastic aspect of her character: like the majority of Dickens' characters, you pretty much know what you're in for when you first read her name--she is full of lies, tricks, and deceits (or "sham"s). You don't get this sort of characterization much of anywhere else in the literary scene.

Another reason I love this novel so much is its plotting. Remember, Dickens was writing in a serialized format so he needed to keep his readers hooked so that they'd want to buy the next issue of his periodical, All the Year Round, in order to see what happens next. Thus, the plot of Great Expectations is winding, unpredictable, and quite shocking at points. Certainly, in terms of heavy action--well, what our youngsters these days would call action, fighting and big explosions and what-not--there is none, or very little at most, but that's not the thing to be looking for. Figure out the characters first, and then, once you've gotten to know and even care for them (or hate them), you will be hooked on the plot because you will want to know what happens to these people who you've invested so much feeling into. This is, of course, true of all novels, but it's what I tell my students when they read Great Expectations for the first time, and by gum, it's helped more than a few of them get through the novel successfully.

So, if you read Great Expectations in middle school, high school, or college, but haven't picked it up since, I urge you to do so. With a more patient and experienced set of eyes, you just might surprise yourself....less

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Tiza rated it:

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04/18/08

bookshelves: classics

Read in April, 2008

Whew, it took me an incredibly long time to finish this book. Actually, this book kind of fell somewhere between 3 and 4 stars but I rounded it up because I liked it better than David Copperfield. While it's true that this book can be somewhat tiresome and contrived at parts, Dickens' dry humour, beautifully haunting descriptions and unforgettable characters made it a really fun read for me. One approach that best be adopted in reading Great Expectations (and Dickens' novels in gen...more Whew, it took me an incredibly long time to finish this book. Actually, this book kind of fell somewhere between 3 and 4 stars but I rounded it up because I liked it better than David Copperfield. While it's true that this book can be somewhat tiresome and contrived at parts, Dickens' dry humour, beautifully haunting descriptions and unforgettable characters made it a really fun read for me. One approach that best be adopted in reading Great Expectations (and Dickens' novels in general) is not to plunge and go looking for the plot. The plot will find you somewhere between the pages, but it sure takes its own sweet time doing it. Meanwhile, just sit back and enjoy the carefully unfolding narrative that is Pip's life.

Like David Copperfield, Great Expectations is a tale of self-discovery, a record of one's life from childhood to adulthood told in first person. However, this book has a more brooding tone and I think it also has a more penetrating insight to its main character's motives and psychological state than its predecessor. As prompted by the title, the main story of this book is about Pip, an orphaned boy, who suddenly comes to a great fortune and is being made a gentleman. He later finds, though, that his fortune and social status bring him more misery than joy. They don't improve his relationship with Estella and damage his friendship with his uncle Joe. Moreover, what he learns behind the mystery about his benefactor turns out to be not at all what he had expected.

It's fascinating to see how Pip's elevated status and his love for Estella influence the decisions he makes and his personality, and not necessarily for the better. Somehow, at a certain stage of his narration, he becomes someone who is conceited and self-centered. Though this might put Pip in a less sympathetic light, I think it also makes him more relatable and complex as a human being who has human's weaknesses and commits mistakes. I also loved how this book describes some of life's many ironies--of how we are sometimes not being honest with ourselves, how we sometimes try hard to impress people who don't care about us rather than treasure those who really do.

Since there are two versions of ending in this book, people tend to compare one version to the other. Either is fine for me, but if I really have to choose, I think I'll prefer the original ending to the revised one because it's more relevant to the message that this book is trying to impart, in my opinion.

Anyway, I heartily recommend this book, especially to three Goodreads friends who had so kindly coer--*coughcough* encouraged me to write this review. This one would still be floating in the vacuum if it weren't for you guys and your brilliant, cracktastic advices and banter ;). ...less

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Melissa rated it:

(review of isbn 0192833596)

07/15/08

bookshelves: master-s-exam

Read in July, 2008

I enjoyed this (my third or fourth?) reading of Charles Dickens' Great Expectations the most. In all likelihood, my enjoyment stemmed from the immense relief I felt at escaping from Modernist novels; I did read this directly after my misguided venture into James Joyce's Ulysses. It could be that I've grown or matured since last time. But, in all seriousness, it's probably because this the first time reading Great Expectations that I was able to truly appreciate Pip as a protagon...more I enjoyed this (my third or fourth?) reading of Charles Dickens' Great Expectations the most. In all likelihood, my enjoyment stemmed from the immense relief I felt at escaping from Modernist novels; I did read this directly after my misguided venture into James Joyce's Ulysses. It could be that I've grown or matured since last time. But, in all seriousness, it's probably because this the first time reading Great Expectations that I was able to truly appreciate Pip as a protagonist.

I realized that as I read Dickens various bildungsroman novels, his heroes tend to travel through the narrative as silhouettes of young men, with generically handsome, but naive faces. Of course, they all have their distinguishing characteristics: Nicholas Nickleby is emotional and impulsive, David Copperfield is "blind," and Oliver Twist... has that strange ethereal glow. But they are pretty much silhouettes that the reader can inhabit (as the author often did) and grow with throughout the tale. Pip is different. He is a fully developed character whose arrogance, snobbery, and pretensions made me want to distance myself from him. What I realized this time around was that, as repulsive as he often was, Pip is so easy to relate to. In his most shameful moments, he is so human. I begrudged him his faults because, in some indirect way, I have shared them. My replusion was also tempered by the fact that the older Pip narrating the story was exceedingly ashamed and guilty of his younger self. It's a situation that is more uncomfortable but also more realistic than the common "if I knew then what I know now" retrospective narration.

Place Pip among a cast of heartwarming and humorous characters (the uneducated but heroic Joe and Wemmick, who separates his business life and his private life to the extreme, especially stand out) in an entangled plot that begs questions about the moral supremacy of the upper class, the formation of identity, the dangers of love and dreams, and the proper role of parenthood, and you have a quality novel. As anyone might expect of <3 Charles Dickens <3.

(I have to admit that, as I read, I sometimes couldn't help but picture scenes from the South Park parody of Great Expectations.)

Quotes!

"So, throughout life, our worst weaknesses and meannesses are usually committed for the sake of people whom me most despise."

"It is a principle of his that no man who was not a true gentleman at heart, ever was, since the world began, a true gentleman in manner."

"For, there was something very comfortable in having plenty of stationary."
(Why don't I have post-its with this quote on them?)...less

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Mercedes rated it:

(review of isbn 0192833596)

10/08/07

Interview with Pip

Q: Pip, what's you're real name?
A: Philip Pirrip

Q: Who did you live with at the begining of the story?
A: My sister and her husband, Mrs. and Mr. Joe Gragery

Q: Where were your parents?
A: Both my mother and father were dead, alone with my seven younger brothers.

Q: What do you think of your sister and brother-in-law?
A: My sister usually smacked me whenever I got out of line. She usually cleaned or stomped around the house. Mr. Joe is nice and very friendly....more

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Kristina rated it:

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04/14/08

bookshelves: victorian

Read in April, 2008

recommends it for: anyone who likes a nice, leisurely read

Like many people, I read this book in high school. (Thus it has a rather bad reputation. Some people complain it's too long and wordy. What are they reading for, then? Just to get to the end as quickly as possible?) But when I was considering books to teach for a Victorian class I got hired for (which was subsequently canceled), I realized I couldn't really remember anything about it except for Miss Haversham, so I thought I'd refresh the ole memory.

What to say? It's Dickens. He writes beaut...more Like many people, I read this book in high school. (Thus it has a rather bad reputation. Some people complain it's too long and wordy. What are they reading for, then? Just to get to the end as quickly as possible?) But when I was considering books to teach for a Victorian class I got hired for (which was subsequently canceled), I realized I couldn't really remember anything about it except for Miss Haversham, so I thought I'd refresh the ole memory.

What to say? It's Dickens. He writes beautifully. The beginning of this novel -- not the famous bit about Pip's name, but the part about his fascination with his parents' graves -- is amazing. I didn't love this novel as much as BLEAK HOUSE, but that is one of my favorite novels, so it's hard to match. I was surprised to find that Pip was a little bit of a jerk. But truly, I don't know that I've ever read a novel -- Victorian or contemporary -- that more thoroughly captures the depth of ungratefulness and subsequent guilt that a child often exhibits toward a parent. Pip is often contemptable, but his actions seem painfully real.

SPOILERS FOR BOTH THIS NOVEL AND BLEAK HOUSE FOLLOW.

Something I'm interested in about Dickens that I'm still trying to wrap my head around is the idea of "fascination," or morbid obsession, which expresses itself sometimes in stalker behavior (say, Guppy toward Esther) and sometimes in a kind of matter-antimatter attraction, or a headlong dive into the grave (such as with Magwitch and Compeyson). What is this all about? And a related idea: the way that certain things *must* happen, and you know it's going to happen, and the protagonist tries to stop it and would be able to with a different author, but this is Dickens so the thing has to happen. Examples: Magwitch's capture, fight with C., and death; Lady Dedlock's flight and death, even after being forgiven. Part of me feels like the thing *has* to happen because it's more convenient for the protagonists; Esther longs for her mother, for example, but what kind of complications would arise if she had found Lady D. in time? (Especially since poor Dickens really can't seem to imagine the possibility of a woman actually surviving premarital sex.) But another part of me loves the hopelessness of the situation -- you can see it's coming, you can see the protagonist is powerless, and yet it must happen, you must see it happen. There's something brilliant about this, and something in it that's akin to death.

Last word: Miss Haversham is awesome, better than I remembered....less

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Jennifer rated it:

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02/28/08

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

This is a summary of my thoughts and feelings after my first read of the book.

I am moved by the idea that Pip had so many opportunities to do well and turn towards the light and at every instance instead chose the foolish, selfish, cowardly path until it was finally too late. Yes, he finally came to his senses and recognized his folly but only after it was too late to make a great difference in his life. His great expectations were wasted. I believe the monetary expectations were simply...more This is a summary of my thoughts and feelings after my first read of the book.

I am moved by the idea that Pip had so many opportunities to do well and turn towards the light and at every instance instead chose the foolish, selfish, cowardly path until it was finally too late. Yes, he finally came to his senses and recognized his folly but only after it was too late to make a great difference in his life. His great expectations were wasted. I believe the monetary expectations were simply a metaphor for his expectations of becoming a decent and even great human being. He wasted all his opportunities to build his character. After one poor choice he had the opportunity to admit it, face the consequences and make a fresh start but instead he wasted his time trying to cover it up and forged several more links in the chain of bad choices that ultimately made up the greater part of his life. What might have been is a sad and fitting summation of his life. He even thinks in the end that he might finally be worthy enough to ask Biddy to marry him – he still has not fully faced the consequences of his actions and is saved the embarrassment of having everyone else aware of this fact by finding Biddy and Joe after they have already been married. It is fitting that Pip and Estella walk away from the ruin and wreckage of an old building together with only half or even less of their lives left to try and build something new and honest out of the wreckage of their own bent and broken lives. I often thought while reading this, what poor choices am I hiding from or not facing up to that might be crumbling at the corners of my life? I am reminded of Emily Dickenson’s poem, Crumbling’s not an instants act.

Another theme I found compelling was the idea that both Pip and Estella were greatly hindered by the circumstances of their respective upbringing but Magwitch clearly came from much worse circumstances and look what he ultimately accomplished? He created a gentleman! He never blamed anyone for his problems, accepted his faults and rose above meanness, cultivating a heart full of love and gratitude despite never being treated with any love or kindness by anyone. What he interpreted as kindness on Pip’s part was really only fear and he tried to repay it a thousand times over. Estella and Pip recieved kindness and affection from many, many people despite their difficult childhood’s and did not recognize or appreciate it till it was too late to benefit from it.
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Tierra rated it:

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10/14/07

recommends it for: everyone

Tierra Trarbach

Ms. Kuhn

English III

14 October 2007

1. The story starts out with a young orphan boy named Philip Pirrip, "Pip". He lives with this sister and brother inlaw southeast of England.

2. As Pip is looking at this parents graves' he is scared by a convict who has chains wrapped around his legs and he demands for food. Seeing that Pits' brother in law, Joe Gargery, is a blacksmith the convict demands for a saw to cut off the chains.

3. Pips siser, Mrs. Joe,...more

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Anh rated it:

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07/18/08

The book begins with a fight between Pip, an orphan being raised by his sister and her husband, with a convict who has escaped from a prison ship. The convict scares Pip to steal food for him and take his leg shackle out. This incident is crucial for a young man like Pip. After that, Pip's kindness warms the convict's heart. However, the convict waits many years to truly show his gratitude.
Pip's visit to Miss Havisham, a rich woman in the village, changes him. At the house, he meets E...more

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Kristina rated it:

03/06/08

Read in March, 2008

I had read the condensed version of Great Expectations when I was about eight, but I had never really been inspired to pick up an actual Charles Dickens novel because in my mind it was thick and it was old, therefore the book must be boring and hard to read. Well I had to read a book off a list this year for my English class so I figured I would take a real book, not just some little hundred page thing. I wanted something that actually took effort. I was immediately surprised at the ease with wh...more

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Angela rated it:

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05/27/08

Read in April, 2008

recommended to Angela by: My english teacher

We read this book as a class for English, and one of my friends who had already read it prepared us by saying it was a boring, depressing book ("confusing" might've been in there too). I found this to be partially true. The vocabulary/writing style was definitely confusing, but reading it as a class helped (our teacher has read the book about 17 times). The first 3/4 of the book is fairly dull and has little purpose besides providing a detailed narrative of the main character's life, d...more

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Susan rated it:

04/03/08

Read in January, 2008

recommends it for: Charles Dickens' Fans

The Great Expectation focuses on the life of a poor boy, Pip, who inherits a great fortune and moves higher up the social hierarchy. Before meeting Miss Havisham, Pip was set on becoming a blacksmith and apprentice of Joe Gargery, his brother-in-law. After being hired to accompany Miss Havisham, Pip was exposed to the life of the upper class. He soon falls in love with Miss Havisham’s adopted daughter, Estella. For her, he sought to change himself into a gentleman of the upper class. The Great...more

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Linda rated it:

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06/13/08

bookshelves: junioryearadvisoryreadingnovels

Read in December, 2007

This novel taught me a great deal of morality. I learned that there are always possiblities out there. This novel brought heavy burden of remorse into my life because Pip tries to achieve his dream, yet there were social barriers that prevents Pip from achieving his dream. It is about the social struggle of the poor and the hardship they encounter to achieve their status. I noticed that the theme is loyalty. Even at the start of the novel, I can see the theme evolving. When Pip went to visit his...more

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Debbie rated it:

01/21/08

bookshelves: 1001-to-read-before-you-die, classics, fiction

Read in October, 1984

recommends it for: fans of wordy prose

It's the book that turned me off of Dickens. I still shudder when I think of being forced to read it in high school. The descriptions just go on forever...make it stop!

Pip, an orphan, meets an escaped convict and treats him kindly. This simple action will change Pip's life forever. Pip falls in love with Estella, a cold-hearted girl, who, thanks to bitter Miss Havisham, has been well-trained as a heartbreaker. She is wealthy and looks down on Pip, a poor boy with no expectations.

Wh...more

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Jacob rated it:

04/03/08

Great Expectations is a novel by Charles Dickens, which tells the story of a young, orphaned boy’s ascent through ranks of society in 19th century Britain. Initially, I found the Dickens's language to be rather intimidating, but the more I read, the more I got used to it. Dickens has a very fluid style of writing which lends itself particularly well to novels. The plot of the text is arguably the novel’s greatest strength. Although at times it meanders off into seemingly irrelevant side sto...more

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Teresa rated it:

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10/07/07

Read in July, 2007

recommends it for: anyone

I feel like Charles Dickens is one of those writers that you either love or hate. Some people including myself love his details, although I must say that sometimes he does go rambling on and on about one scene a bit too much. This is one of my favorite reads not because it's a love story but because I like the characters - I love Pip and Estella. It really is a grand story about unrequited love, similar to Wuthering Heights. Yet, there is something about the character of Miss Havisham. Just beca...more

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