Great Expectations 13

• "Not another word had I heard to enlighten me on the subject of my expectations, and my twenty-third birthday was a week gone." (p. 314)
  

In a few cases, Pip references his 'great expectations' and what he feels needs to be accomplished or maintained in order to be successful. Readers are able to understand the title of the story as we learn more about Pip's personality and other characters. Charles Dickens intends for the title to indicate Pip's ultimate desire for an improved status and romantic advancement with Estella. Another interpretation of the title may be Pip's expectation of wealth once he becomes a gentleman or all the things that is assumed to accompany life of high importance. Not only do other characters put pressure on Pip to thrive, but ultimately he has even higher expectations for himself, and dreams he wishes to conquer. Though this title, Dickens is able to express the major issue in the novel: Pip's high expectation to find happiness through becoming a gentleman ... yet, he counts too much on what he doesn't have/wants to have in the future and values too little, which he does already have.

Photo Credit:
Great Expectations. Photograph. Blondie Rocket. Web. 3 Jan. 2010. http://blondierocket.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/great-expectations1.jpg.