Great Expectations was the first Dicken’s I’ve read, and therefore my opinion of it isn’t swathed by the common criticism of Dickens that all his plots following orphaned boys are but the same narrative frame. This such orphan is Pip Pirrip, whom finds his life changed by a large expectation (or a great expectation I should say) that allows him to escape poverty, abandoning his sister and effective brother in law Joe, to pursue a future as a gentleman. I can credit Dickens on Pip’s character arc, though the two endings of the book create a controversial closure for what’d be fitting for him, the edited ending arguably being more to please readers than suiting to the character. Though the plot and character arc of the main protagonist are good, and the plot twists were surprising (one resulting in a physical jaw-drop), I do admit with hindsight that they were in fact quite predictable. I also criticise that all but one of the character deaths that occurred in the book felt rushed with little effect on the greater story. Characters such as Orlick also seemed unnecessary, his inclusion for example seeming to only create unrequited dramatic tension. Though all in all Great Expectations was very readable and the arc of Pip is highly commendable.