Cast of Characters
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Pip Pirrip – The novel's hero, Pip is an orphan who lives with his harsh and selfish sister Mrs. Joe and serves as the apprentice of her gentle blacksmith husband Joe. Pip is sensitive and intellectually curious, but he is also extremely ambitious and, when he unexpectedly comes into money as a teenager, Pip grows haughty and extravagant in pursuit of a lifestyle genteel enough to meet the refined standards of Estella, the woman he loves. Confusing personal integrity with public reputation, Pip is cruelly disloyal to Joe and Biddy, avoiding them because of their lower class. Still, by novel's end, Pip learns to judge people by internal rather than superficial standards and redeems himself by repenting sincerely and reforming his personal values.
Provis (a.k.a. Abel Magwitch) (a.k.a. the convict) – The escaped convict Pip helps in the novel's opening scenes, Provis' gratitude towards Pip inspires him to devote his life-savings to Pip, becoming Pip's anonymous patron. Born an orphan on the streets and cruelly swindled by Compeyson, Provis has lived a life in and out of prison. Still, his criminal record is largely the result of unfortunate circumstances, not character, for Provis is kind, good-hearted, and immensely generous.
Estella Havisham – The adopted daughter of Miss Havisham, Estella is proud, refined, beautiful, and cold, raised by Miss Havisham to wreak revenge on the male sex. Though her beauty and elegance attract countless suitors (including Pip), Miss Havisham has raised her to lack a true human heart and she is unable to love.
Joe Gargery – As Mrs. Joe's husband, Joe is a father figure for Pip throughout Pip's childhood and his tender kindness protects Pip from Mrs. Joe's harsh parenting. Joe is the village blacksmith and has no formal education but possesses a deep sense of integrity and an unfailing moral compass. Joe is loyal, generous, and kind, and acts lovingly towards Pip even when Pip's is ungrateful.
Herbert Pocket (a.k.a. the pale young gentleman) – Pip's best friend, Herbert is compassionate, honest, and unpretentious. He and Pip live together in London where he works in a counting house, then as a merchant. He cheerfully helps Pip through all of Pip's struggles. Pip secretly invests in Herbert's career to help Herbert succeed as a merchant.
Biddy – An orphan Pip meets at the village school, Biddy moves into the forge to help out after Mrs. Joe's attack and later becomes a schoolteacher. She is humble, kind, moral, and fiercely intelligent, absorbing knowledge without any formal education. She is also sharply perceptive and sees through everyone's pretensions, calling Pip out on his delusions and snobbery long before Pip can recognize them.
Miss Havisham – The wealthy daughter of a brewer, Miss Havisham was abandoned on her wedding day by her fiancée (Compeyson) and, traumatized. She preserves herself and her house in wedding regalia, shutting out the world for over twenty years. To exact her revenge on men, Miss Havisham adopts and raises Estella to be beautiful and desirable but completely heartless. Miss Havisham is capricious, manipulative, bitter, and, until novel's end, unable to recognize anyone's pain but her own.
Mr. Jaggers – A famous lawyer in London, Mr. Jaggers is Pip's guardian and the middleman between him and his patron. Mr. Jaggers also works for Miss Havisham. He is rational, sharpminded, and intimidating. He prides himself on neither expressing nor responding to human emotion.
Wemmick – As Mr. Jaggers' clerk, Wemmick models his character on Mr. Jaggers while in the office where he is rational, unemotional, and money-minded. Yet when Wemmick is at home, his personality changes dramatically and he is warm, empathetic, domestic, and nurturing towards his elderly father, the Aged. Pip and Wemmick are good friends outside of the office but maintain a strictly professional relationship in front of Mr. Jaggers.
Mrs. Joe Gargery – Pip's older sister and guardian after his parents' die, Mrs. Joe is fiery, tyrannical, and false, harping on her own victimhood even as she abuses Pip and Joe. She is obsessed with social status and reputation. Yet, after the attack by Orlick that gives her brain damage, Mrs. Joe's personality changes completely and she becomes patient, compassionate, and docile.
Mr. Pumblechook (a.k.a. Uncle Pumblechook) – A corn and seed merchant and Joe's uncle, Mr. Pumblechook is superficial, calculating, and false. He takes undue credit for parenting Pip.
Compeyson (a.k.a. the other convict) – A cruel, scheming villain, Compeyson is a forger and counterfeiter who uses his educated, upper-class appearance to trick people into thinking he is more honorable and less guilty than the lower-class criminals (like Provis) whom he manipulates. Though Compeyson may possess the trappings of gentility, he is ignoble to the core.
Orlick – Originally Joe's journeyman, Orlick is devious and violently vengeful. He resents Pip, whom he blames for all of his problems.
Bentley Drummle – Bentley Drummle studies with Pip. He is a wealthy heir to a baronetcy, upper class according to the old system of inherited rank. Described as "idle, proud…and suspicious," Drummle is Pip's nemesis. He pursues Estella.
Startop – Startop studies with Pip. Though spoiled by an overprotective mother, Startop is a good-natured and helpful friend.
Matthew Pocket – Miss Havisham's cousin, Herbert's father, and Pip's tutor, Matthew Pocket is honorable, upstanding, and kind.
Mrs. Pocket – Mr. Pocket's helpless, title-obsessed wife and a disastrous mother. Mr. Wopsle's great-aunt – The incompetent teacher at the village evening school.
Mr. Wopsle – The village church clerk who moves to London to be an actor.
Mr. Trabb – The toady village tailor.
Trabb's Boy – Mr. Trabb's mischievous assistant.
Millers, Flopson and Sophia – Mr. and Mrs. Pockets' harried maids who run the Pockets' household to their own advantage.
Jane Pocket – Mr. and Mrs. Pockets' daughter.
Molly – Mr. Jaggers' maid whom Wemmick describes as "a wild beast tamed."
Arthur Havisham – Miss Havisham's resentful half-brother and Compeyson's partner.
Sarah Pocket, Camilla, Georgiana, and Raymond – Miss Havisham's selfish relatives.
The Aged – Wemmick's jolly, nearly deaf father.
Miss Skiffins – The handsome, good-natured woman Wemmick courts and eventually marries.
The Avenger – Pip's servant.
Clara – Herbert's fiancé.
Bill Barley – Clara's ogre-like father.
Pip (II) – Joe and Biddy's son.
Mr. and Mrs. Hubble – The village wheelwright and wife.
Mrs. Coiler – Mr. and Mrs. Pockets' neighbor.
Mrs. Whimple – Clara's landlady.