The Great Expectations - Charles Dickens

A caged bird strives for freedom..To fly is it's identity..If it may have any opportunity to fly away in to the blue sky,it won't do any analysis but straight away rushes in to the sky..Isn't it ? The moment all the little bird needs is nothing but "Freedom to Fly"..

Here is one more pearl added to the garland...The Great Expectations by Charles Dickens..It is considered as the greatest work ever in the Dicken's literary journey..Starving in an unhealthy environment Pip feels miserable with his own life..One day,all of a sudden,a great fortune has been bestowed upon him which provides him with wings to fly,to fulfill his dreams..The story was set in the year 1860 which depicts the life experiences of Pip and how the immature and innocent little lad transformed as a complete individual...The protagonist Pip is the narrator of the story..

Copyright A Homemaker's Utopia

Orphan boy Pip is victim of domestic violence by his aggressive sister Mrs.Joe..However he ill-treated by his sister,the little one receives so much love and affection from his sister's husband Mr.Joe Gargery...Mr.Joe is a black smith,very kind and noble man with whom Pip shares all his dreams and sorrows...One day Pip encounters a convict at graves..Being afraid of him,Pip forcibly steals food from house for him..This is the first time Pip really feels guilty..But Pip could not imagine this small encounter is going to impact his future in an unexpected way...


Joe's uncle,Mr.Pumblechook not only bullies Pip but he thinks of himself as a fortune-maker of the boy and  employs him in the Satis house to play with Estella,the adopted daughter of the weird and cold Miss Havisham...Pip feels miserable in presence of the beautiful and proud Estella but couldn't help admiring her..He tries to find ways to be worthy of her..

The air of completeness and superiority with which she walked at my side,and the air of youthfulness and submission with which I walked at hers ,made a contrast that I strongly felt.

Out of my thoughts ! You are part of my existence,part of myself .You have been in every line I have ever read,since I first came here,the rough common boy whose poor heart you wounded even then.You have been in every prospect I have ever seen since-On the river,On the sails of the ships,on the marshes,in the clouds,in the light,in the darkness,in the wind,in the woods,in the sea,in the streets.You have been the embodiment of every graceful fancy that my mind has ever become acquainted with.

The so ordinary life of the boy takes a fabulous turn with surprising entry of a dynamic lawyer Jaggers,when he announces him as a beneficiary of  a great fortune..But the benefactor's details were hidden from him..Assuming Miss.Havisham is his benefactor,Pip moves to London without giving a second thought of leaving behind his relations and affections..In the process of getting trained to be a Gentle Man at Mr.Mathew Pocket's,Pip and his best buddy Herbert,both fails to control their expenses and finally they  remains fully in to debts..Meanwhile a stranger enters Pip's house,introducing himself to be his benefactor,Abel Magwitch..Pip finds the stranger is none other than the old acquaintance at graves..Magwitch is a convict deported from England who actually came to repay his gratitude..Pip's dreams melts down by learning that the great fortune came over him is provided by a convict..From here on-wards the story takes so many twists and turns...

Words can not tell what a sense I had,at the same time,of the dreadful mystery that  he was to me...

Man often doesn't give much value to the things which are easily affordable for him..Pip deserts Joe and Biddy's love to gain mirage like love of Estella..But when he realizes his mistake it was too late for him..Neither he gains Estella's love nor Biddy's,for Biddy is married to Joe after Mrs.Joe's death..Though Pip shows ingratitude in Joe's case,he compensates that guilt by taking Magwitch's responsibility by serving  him in his last days..

Dear Joe,I hope you will have children to love,and that some little fellow will sit in this chimney corner of a winter night,who may remind you of another little fellow gone out of it forever.Don't tell him Joe,I was thankless:Don't tell him,Biddy,that I was ungenerous and unjust: Only tell him that I honoured you both.

The novel consists of many characters and each and every character is unique and distinctive in its own way..Few characters are like reflections of our lives.The relationship between Pip-Joe and Pip-Magwitch were greatly established in the story..Particularly Magwitch's role is quite different with antagonistic shades..There are so many unforgettable characters in the story -The most peculiar and weird Miss.Havisham who lives a miserable life in a dark chamber;the cold hearted Estella,who follows Havisham's footsteps;the powerful,cunning and  professional Jaggers;his kind assistant Wemmick;loyal friend Herbert;the real antagonists Compeyson and Orlick ..And the list goes on...

A certainly long read with nearly 500 pages,keep you completely engaged and stick you to the story line up till the end...Its a must read for classic lovers..:-)
Happy reading friends..:-)