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Great Expectations

*Great Expectations* is an 1861 novel by Charles Dickens, first published serially in 1860–1861.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated September 10, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Great Expectations is an 1861 novel by Charles Dickens, first published serially in 1860–1861. It follows the orphan Pip from childhood into adulthood as he navigates class, ambition, guilt, and identity in Victorian England. The novel is commonly studied in Canadian English literature courses and secondary-school curricula, including as part of Victorian literature and novel studies.

Plot

The novel traces Pip’s life from his childhood encounters with an escaped convict to his rise as a gentleman in London. His hopes, relationships, and assumptions are repeatedly challenged as he learns the real source of his fortune and the limits of social ambition.

Themes

The book examines social class, personal worth, ambition, and moral growth. It also presents Victorian society critically while focusing on Pip’s search for identity and self-understanding.

Publication and form

Great Expectations appeared in serial form in 1860–1861 before being published as a three-volume novel in 1861. Like many Dickens works, it was written for serial readership and structured to sustain suspense across instalments.

Characters

Key figures include Pip, Miss Havisham, Estella, Joe Gargery, Biddy, Orlick, and Abel Magwitch. Their relationships with Pip drive the novel’s conflicts and its exploration of class and human character.

Key facts

  • The novel was first published serially in *All the Year Round* in 1860–1861 and issued in book form in 1861.
  • Its central character is Pip, an orphan raised in Kent who later moves to London.
  • Major characters include Miss Havisham, Estella, Joe Gargery, and the convict Abel Magwitch.
  • The story explores social class, human worth, memory, identity, guilt, and redemption.
  • It is widely regarded as one of Dickens’s major literary successes.
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Canadian context

*Great Expectations* is commonly studied in Canadian English literature courses and secondary-school curricula, including as part of Victorian literature and novel studies.

Frequently asked questions

Who wrote *Great Expectations*?
It was written by Charles Dickens.
When was *Great Expectations* published?
It was published serially in 1860–1861 and in book form in 1861.
Who is the main character?
The main character is Philip "Pip" Pirrip, usually called Pip.
What is *Great Expectations* about?
It follows Pip’s growth from an orphaned boy into adulthood, especially his experiences with wealth, class, love, and self-discovery.
What themes does the novel explore?
Its major themes include social class, ambition, guilt, redemption, identity, and human worth.

References

  1. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/Great-Expectations-novel-by-Dickens
    Supports: Authorship, publication dates, synopsis, and major themes.
  2. BBC Bitesize — https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zp3cmnb/revision/1
    Supports: Plot overview, publication period, and social-context framing.
  3. BBC Bitesize — https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zsg96fr/revision/2
    Supports: Key plot details and central characters.
  4. SparkNotes — https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/greatex/summary/
    Supports: Plot summary and character relationships.