| Pip | |
|---|---|
 Pip and Joe Gargery, his brother-in-law | |
|
Real Name |
Philip Pirrip |
|
First Appearance |
Great Expectations (1861) |
|
Original Publisher |
Chapman & Hall |
|
Created by |
|
Origin[]
Philip “Pip” Pirrip is the protagonist and narrator of Charles Dickens’s Great Expectations. Orphaned as a child, he is raised by his harsh sister, Mrs. Joe, and her kind husband, Joe Gargery, a blacksmith and Pip’s closest friend. Pip grows up in the marshes of Kent, England, and initially aspires to follow Joe into blacksmithing.
As a boy, Pip meets the wealthy and proud Estella, sparking feelings of love and social shame that drive his desire to rise above his humble beginnings. With the aid of a mysterious benefactor, he moves to London to become a gentleman, mistakenly believing Miss Havisham intends him for Estella. Though he gains wealth and status, he initially loses sight of his moral values, accumulating debt and struggling with pride.
Pip’s benefactor is later revealed to be Abel Magwitch, a convict he helped as a child. Despite his disgust, Pip feels a moral obligation to help Magwitch, demonstrating his inherent goodness. Through hardships—including illness, financial troubles, and the realization that social status does not make a gentleman—Pip matures, gaining humility, discipline, and a sense of true friendship and loyalty.
In adulthood, Pip works with his friend Herbert Pocket in a merchant firm, learns financial responsibility, and eventually reconciles with his past. Years later, he reunites with Estella, both changed by life, and finds a sense of peace and reconciliation.
Public Domain Appearances[]
All published appearances of Pip from before January 1, 1931 are public domain in the US.
Some notable appearances are listed below:
Public Domain Literary Appearances[]
- Great Expectations (1861)
Public Domain Film Appearances[]
- Great Expectations (1917)
- Great Expectations (1922)
Public Domain Stage Appearances[]
- Great Expectations (1871)