Great Expectations

If you’ve never paused in front of a deserted, looming house thinking of Miss Havisham spying on the world from behind closed curtains, it must be because you’ve never read Great Expectations, one of Dickens’s best novels, a maturity work written in the first person and the coming of age story of the orphan Pip, whose life has been irrevocably marked by the most important event of his childhood: meeting the love of his life. That is Estella, a young girl raised by a vengeful and bitter woman, Miss Havisham, who was abandoned on her wedding day by her husband-to-be. Her hate against men thus born, the old lady has sworn to herself to have her revenge by tormenting men’s souls through the perfect instrument in her hands: the beauty of her adopted daughter, whom she raises as a cold, heartless, but in fact fearful and vulnerable, creature.


Disguised as a love story set against the backdrop of a turmoil world filled with strong characters to populate a violent yet deeply touching humane world, Great Expectations is one of those novels that completely raise up to any expectations even the most picky reader would have from a classical book. It is a cruel story about hope and the way it can conquer fear in order for those who have been raised to shy away from light to be able to finally shed off their demons and embrace love. Love and cruelty? What better combination would one expect of a literary masterpiece that reads like a thriller of the heart and, at the same time, like a beautiful meditation on life and what one can expect out of it? 


“Pause you who read this, and think for a moment of the long chain of iron or gold, of thorns or flowers, that would never have bound you, but for the formation of the first link on one memorable day.” 


Some of the most memorable characters in the English literature can be found in this masterpiece in which Dickens combined the autobiographical detail with all the verve of a mature pen which gained him praise and accolades from his literary peers. 


When love is unattainable, love is enduring. And yet, what is it like not to feel anything?


“I loved her against reason, against promise, against peace, against hope, against happiness, against all discouragement that could be.”


“We need never be ashamed of our tears.” 


If nothing of the above convinced you to dare face your fears, embrace your hopes and read this fine example of English literature, we bring forth one last argument: think of Anne Bancroft singing Besame mucho in Alfonso Cuaron’s movie adaptation of the novel, the one starring the likes of Ethan Hawke, Gwyneth Paltrow and Robert de Niro—once you’ve heard that most commending and impressive of Miss Havisham’s voices, you’ll definitely want to hear the original voice on page. The author’s, the best. Because what else but the best could one expect of a Dickens’ novel? 


One last detail: if reading with music on is your cup of tea, then the movie’s soundtrack is a great suggestion to complete the wonderful experience of getting immerged into the bitter-sweet world of Great Expectations, which teaches us a lesson or two on writing, love, suffering and that greatest of all expectations in every longing heart of our mortal selves: dear old Love.  


“Suffering has been stronger than all other teaching, and has taught me to understand what your heart used to be. I have been bent and broken, but - I hope - into a better shape.” 


Enjoy!