Charles Dickens' "Great Expectations": Characters and “Family Tree”

“It is the real unconquerable rush and energy in a character which was the supreme and quite indescribable greatness of Dickens.” - G. K. Chesterton 

"Great Expectations" is a novel by Charles Dickens that follows the life of Pip, an orphan boy who dreams of becoming a gentleman. The novel is set in Victorian England and explores themes of social class, love, and redemption. The relationships between the characters in the novel form a complex web of interactions that drive the plot of the novel. As Pip navigates the world of Victorian England, he is forced to confront his own aspirations and the consequences of his actions. In the end, he learns valuable lessons about the importance of loyalty, love, and forgiveness. The following is a breakdown of the main characters and their relationships to each other:

Pip (Young Phillip Pirrip):

The narrator as well as the protagonist of the story. Pip is an orphan being raised by his sister, Mrs. Joe Gargery and her husband, Mr. Joe Gargery, a blacksmith. In constant fear of punishment -A sensitive boy, he is frequently beaten or starved and verbally abused by his sister. Pip is ambitious and longs to improve his social standing. Pip has long-standing belief that he deserves more in life than becoming a blacksmith like Joe.  He becomes infatuated with the cold-hearted Estella, who he meets at the house of the eccentric Miss Havisham. Pip is made conceited and mean by his good fortune; but he always remains a good fellow, with a desire to do right, and with warm feelings.  Pip spends much of his life either daydreaming or defending himself, is not really a hero. 

 

Mrs. Joe Gargery:

  Pip's hot-tempered sister who raised him after their parents died. She is harsh and abusive towards Pip and Joe. A bitter, angry women who bring up Pip “by hand". She whips him whenever she can and complains about what a burden he is while she does it. But she has a change of heart after she is attacked and becomes disabled.

 

Mr. Joe Gargery: 

Pip's kind-hearted brother-in-law who works as a blacksmith. Though he is theoretically Pip’s adoptive father, Pip sees him as an equal and a friend. Joe is uneducated and perhaps a little slow but he understands the important things in life.  He is a simple man who is content with his life and is always loyal to Pip.

Mr. Wopsle:

The village church clerk whose dream it is to get on the pulpit and preach as he considers himself an excellent speaker.  He dreams to be an actor.

Mr. and Mr. Hubble:

Simple, silly folks from Pips' village.  Mr. Hubble is a wheelwright.

Uncle Pumblechook: 

  Joe’s uncle a well-to-do corn-chandler in the village. He considers himself upper-class and is actually a bombastic fool.

Mr. Wopsle’s great aunt: 

Runs the so-called school in town out of a cottage. A “ridiculous old lady”.

Biddy:

A kind, intelligent girl Pip’s age who works for Mr. Wopsle’s great aunt at the school. Later she comes to work for Joe taking care of Mrs. Joe Gargery.

Miss Havisham:

A strange wrinkled up lady who never sees the sunlight and never gets out of her bridal gown. She’s actually a very old hearted, yet wealthy, lady who lives just outside the village in the Satis House. A wealthy, eccentric woman who was jilted at the altar many years ago. She lives in a decaying mansion and raises Estella to be cold and manipulative towards men.

Estella:

Miss Havisham's adopted daughter who is beautiful but cold-hearted. She is raised to break men's hearts and does so to Pip, whom she uses to exact revenge on all men.

Geogiana: 

Aging relative of Miss Havisham who don't have inch of love for the women but are greedy for her money.

Sarah Poket:

 Aging relative of Miss Havisham who don’t have an inch of love for the women but are greedy for her money. They buzz around Miss Havisham like flies. A withered, sharp-tongued, snobbish woman who resents Pip’s ascent to her own elevated social class

Cousin Raymond:

Aging relatives of Miss Havisham who don’t have an inch of love for the women but are greedy for her money.

Camilla:

 Again relatives of Miss Havisham who don’t have an inch of love for the women but are greedy for her money.

Dolge Orlick: 

A gruff evil man that Joe employs around forge. He seems to hate just about everybody, but has a crush on Biddy.

Matthew Pocket:

 Miss Havisham’s cousin, but not one of her relatives that is greedy. Herbert Pocket's father and a distant relative of Miss Havisham. He is a kind and intelligent man who helps Pip with his education. Matthew Pocket has charge of nine children two nurse and a pretty but useless wife. He also tutors young gentlemen including Pip.

Herbert Pocket:

  Matthew’s son. An extremely cheerful and honest boy about Pip’s age.  He comes from a wealthy family but chooses to make his own way in the world. He becomes Pip’s best friend in London. He helps Pip adjust to life in London and aids him in his endeavors to become a gentleman.

Mr. Jaggers: 

Rational and seemingly emotionless lawyer for Miss Havisham and for pip. He is an excellent speaker and logician, however, and specializes in getting criminals light sentences.

John Wemmick: 

Mr. Jaggers staff clerk by day, esoteric and generous man in private. Wemmick lives in a cottage he fashioned into a castle and fights to divide his public and private life. Wemmick becomes a good friend of Pip’s.

The “Aged”:

Wemmick's elderly and quite deaf, relative. The Aged lives with Wemmick in his castle and is quite happy when you node at him.

The avenger: 

Pip’s servant boy who Pip finds more of a nuisance than a help. Pip never has enough for him to do, so the Avenger always seems to be standing around.

Bentley Drummle:

Another student and boarder of Mathew Pocket. A wealthy, arrogant man who is interested in Estella. He is Pip's rival for her affections and becomes her husband. He is a moody, disgruntled “spider” but comes from an upper-class family. The rich and sulky leader of the dandified Finches of the Grove (and thus the epitome of Pip’s misguided early notion of a gentleman), who marries and violently mistreats Estella.

Startop: 

Another student and boarder of Mathew Pocket. He is a good friend of Pip’s and Herbert’s. 

Miss Skiffins: 

Wemmick's sweetheart and eventual wife.

Clara:

Herbert secret sweetheart. She is secret because Herbert knows him mother would stay she is below his “station.”  She’s actually a sweet, fairy-like girl who takes care of her dying drunk of a father.

Abel Magwitch (“The Convict”):

A convict who escaped from prison and meets Pip in the graveyard. Pip helps him by giving him food and a file, and Magwitch later becomes Pip's secret benefactor. He is a rough ex-con, but seems to have a good heart.

Study Inputs:

1.Great Expectations - writing about working people, and villagers, and people with small ambitions?

2.“family tree” chart  

Ardhendu De