The novel is set in early 19th century England, namely the capital London and the southeastern county of Kent. Pip, a young orphan living with his older sister and her husband Joe, sits in a cemetery and gazes at his parents' headstones. Suddenly, an escaped convict from the Hulks (prison ships) snatches Pip and asks him to get him some food/drinks and a file to remove the iron covering his leg. Pip obeys. He later witnesses the convict's reconquest. One day, Pip is taken by Uncle Pumblechook (who is actually Joe's uncle) to the house of the rich but eccentric Miss Havisham. During his visit, he meets a beautiful girl named Estella, who treats him harshly and condescendingly. However, he falls in love with her and wishes to win her favor by proving his worth and becoming a gentleman. He expects Miss Havisham to plan to make him a gentleman and marry him to Estella, but instead she decides to have him apprentice to Joe, a blacksmith. Pip is unhappy with his job at the forge and struggles to be educated. properly with the help of his longtime friend Biddy and having hostile confrontations with Joe's assistant Orlick. One night, while alone in the house, Pip's sister is violently attacked and left mute and disabled. The police are unable to find the attacker, but Pip suspects it is Orlick. One day, a lawyer named Jaggers appears and informs Pip that an anonymous benefactor has granted him a huge fortune and that he must come to London to begin his studies. as a gentleman. Pip happily accepts and immediately assumes that Miss Havisham is his benefactress and that she intends to make him marry Estella. In London, Pip befriends Herbert Pocket, a gentleman ...... middle of paper ...... the river, but the police catch them with the help of Compeyson. Magwitch accidentally drowns in the river. Magwitch is sentenced to death and Pip loses his fortune. Magwitch dies peacefully before his sentence can be carried out. Pip becomes very ill and Joe takes care of him in London, reestablishing their relationship. Joe informs him that Orlick is in prison, that Miss Havisham is dead, and that Biddy taught Joe to read and write. After Joe leaves, Pip decides to return home and marry Biddy, but when he arrives he discovers that she has already married Joe. Pip decides to work abroad in commerce with Herbert. Returning several years later, he meets Estella in the abandoned garden of Miss Havisham's house. Drummle mistreated her as a husband, but he died. Estella is now kind instead of cruel, and the two leave together, with Pip believing they will never part again..