The background of Great Expectations is1England in the early 1980s. The author tells the story with the hero Pip. After losing his parents, Pip lived with his sister and her husband, Joe. Pip's sister often abuses him, but Joe is a kind and simple man. He would rather die than see Pip get any harm.

By the end of the novel, Pip had changed a lot. He realized that wealth can't buy happiness and friends are more important than expensive education.