"Great Expectations" is a novel written by Charles Dickens, first published in 1861. The story is a bildungsroman, a coming-of-age narrative, that follows the life and moral development of an orphan named Pip.
The novel is set in Victorian England and explores themes of social class, identity, and the impact of wealth and societal expectations on individuals.
The plot begins with Pip encountering an escaped convict named Magwitch in a graveyard. Later, Pip is invited to the home of the eccentric and wealthy Miss Havisham, where he meets her beautiful but cold-hearted ward, Estella. Pip, initially a humble orphan, is soon informed that an anonymous benefactor has provided him with the opportunity to rise in social status and become a gentleman in London.