Philip "Pip" Pirrip

Pip, an orphan aspiring to become a gentleman, narrates his life story in Great Expectations, exploring his journey from humble beginnings to wealth and disillusionment. While Pip's desire for self-improvement and social status initially leads him to mistreat those who care for him, he ultimately matures, realizing that humanity and kindness are more valuable than social rank. Full Pip Analysis

Miss Havisham

Miss Havisham, abandoned at the altar, becomes a bitter recluse obsessed with revenge. Living in her crumbling mansion, she raises Estella to be as cold as she is, training her to break men's hearts. Eventually, she realizes the damage she's done and seeks Pip's forgiveness. Full Miss Havisham Analysis

Estella

Estella, Magwitch's daughter, is raised by Miss Havisham to be beautiful, cold, and unfeeling. She treats men—especially the devoted Pip—with cruelty and distance. Estella claims to have "no heart," but her harsh upbringing makes her closed off and hardened, just as Miss Havisham intended. Full Estella Analysis

Abel Magwitch

Abel Magwitch, known as "The Convict," begins as a hardened career criminal who escapes from prison and frightens Pip in a cemetery. Moved by Pip's kindness, however, he decides to repay the boy by secretly funding Pip's rise into society, driven by a romantic vision of making him a "gentleman." Full Magwitch Analysis

Joe Gargery

Joe is a blacksmith who, unfortunately for him, married Pip’s cruel sister. He is perhaps the most entirely admirable character in the novel: kindly, thoughtful, generous, and humble. He genuinely loves Pip and endures the vicious treatment of Mrs. Joe for his sake. When Pip treats him in a cold and snobbish manner, he is saddened but understanding and unreproachful. Pip eventually comes to realize and appreciate Joe’s true goodness, which is evident to the reader throughout the novel.

Mrs. Joe

Mrs. Joe is Pip’s older sister and Joe Gargery’s wife. She is an excellent housewife, keeping everything perfectly clean and tidy, but this appears to be her only virtue. She is mean-spirited, harsh, cruel, and hectoring in her behavior to both Joe and Pip.

Compeyson

Compeyson is a minor character but plays two key roles in the story as the man who jilted Miss Havisham and as Magwitch’s former partner in crime, who is responsible for his capture. In contrast to Magwitch, Compeyson, appears gentlemanly and refined; however, he is entirely without the quixotic idealism of his former associate.

Biddy

Biddy is a friend of Pip’s from school. She acts as a foil to Estella and, to some extent, Mrs. Joe, as she is simple, kind-hearted, and good.

Herbert Pocket

Pip first encounters Herbert Pocket, a pale young gentleman, as an antagonist, whom he fights in the grounds of Satis House, Miss Havisham’s home. Poor relations and hangers-on of Miss Havisham, the Pockets are a rather unattractive, feeble family of whom Herbert is one of the better specimens. He later becomes friends with Pip and is his “tutor” in becoming a gentleman. Though rather ineffectual, Herbert is good-natured and cheerful.

Mr. Jaggers

Mr. Jaggers, a lawyer, is an overbearing figure. A leader in his profession, with a tendency to carry his forensic cross-examinations into life outside the courtroom, he inspires fear and respect among London’s criminal classes and is an exceedingly effective and ruthless man of business. In his dealings with Pip, he is fair and ethical and sometimes seems to be trying to protect him.

Mr. Wemmick

Mr. Wemmick is the clerk at Jaggers’s law office and is charged with taking care of Pip. In business, he affects a harsh demeanor, which he seems to feel is demanded by the nature of his work, but in private life, he is kindly, and particularly affectionate towards the “Aged Parent” of whom he takes care at home.

Bentley Drummle

Bentley Drummle is a minor member of the aristocracy who is acutely aware of his status and not particularly aware of anything else. He is arrogant and stupid, and his attraction to Estella, whom he marries, seems superficial. Unsurprisingly, his marriage to Estella is not a happy one.

Uncle Pumblechook

Uncle Pumblechook is a stingy, avaricious tradesman, notable mainly for his pomposity and mendacity. He pretends to great intimacy with Miss Havisham and other important people, but Pip quickly realizes that all these pretensions are false.

Orlick

Orlick is a laborer who works for Joe Gargery in his forge. Whereas Miss Havisham represents subtle malice, Orlick is a symbol of evil at its most basic and bestial, motivated by a violent nature and a love of causing harm.