Great Expectations follows the childhood and young adult years of Pip a blacksmith’s apprentice in a country village.
Pip is apprenticed to the dirty work of the forge but dares to dream of becoming a gentleman. He suddenly comes into a large fortune (his great expectations) from a mysterious benefactor and moves to London where he enters high society.
The moral theme of Great Expectations is affection, loyalty, and conscience are more important than social advancement, wealth, and class.