ThestoryisdividedintothreephasesofPip'slifeexpectations.Thefirst"expectation"isallotted19chapters,andtheothertwo20chapterseachinthe59-chapterwork.Insomeeditions,thechapternumberingrevertstoChapterOneineachexpectation,buttheoriginalpublicationandmostmoderneditionsnumberthechaptersconsecutivelyfromoneto59.Attheendofchapters19and39,readersareformallynotifiedthattheyhavereachedtheconclusionofaphaseofPip'sexpectations.

　　Inthefirstexpectation,Piplivesahumbleexistencewithhisill-temperedoldersisterandherstrongbutgentlehusband,JoeGargery.Pipissatisfiedwiththislifeandhiswarmfriendsuntilheishiredbyanembitteredwealthywoman,MissHavisham,asanoccasionalcompaniontoherandherbeautifulbuthaughtyadopteddaughter,Estella.Fromthattimeon,Pipaspirestoleavebehindhissimplelifeandbeagentleman.AfteryearsascompaniontoMissHavishamandEstella,hespendsmoreyearsasanapprenticetoJoe,sothathemaygrowuptohavealivelihoodworkingasablacksmith.ThislifeissuddenlyturnedupsidedownwhenheisvisitedbyaLondonattorney,Mr.Jaggers,whoinformsPipthatheistocomeintothe"GreatExpectation"ofahandsomepropertyandbetrainedtobeagentlemanatthebehestofananonymousbenefactor.

　　ThesecondstageofPip'sexpectationshasPipinLondon,learningthedetailsofbeingagentlemen,havingtutors,fineclothing,andjoiningculturedsociety.Whereashealwaysengagedinhonestlabourwhenhewasyounger,henowissupportedbyagenerousallowance,whichhefrequentlylivesbeyond.Helearnstofitinthisnewmilieu,andexperiencesnotonlyfriendshipbutrivalryashefindshimselfinthesamecirclesasEstella,whoisalsopursuedbymanyothermen,especiallyBentleyDrummle,whomshefavours.Asheadoptsthephysicalandculturalnormsofhisnewstatus,healsoadoptstheclassattitudesthatgowithit,andwhenJoecomestovisitPipandhisfriendandroommateHerberttodeliveranimportantmessage,PipisembarrassedtothepointofhostilitybyJoe'sunlearnedways,despitehisprotestationsofloveandfriendshipforJoe.Attheendofthisstage,Pipisintroducedtohisbenefactor,againchanginghisworld.

　　ThethirdandlaststageofPip'sexpectationsaltersPip'slifefromtheartificiallysupportedworldofhisupperclassstrivingsandintroduceshimtorealitiesthatherealizeshemustdealwith,facingmoral,physicalandfinancialchallenges.Helearnsstartlingtruthsthatcastintodoubtthevaluesthatheonceembracedsoeagerly,andfindsthathecannotregainmanyoftheimportantthingsthathehadcastasidesocarelessly.ThecurrentendingofthestoryisdifferentfromDickens'soriginalintent,inwhichtheendingmatchedthegloomyreversestoPip'sfortunesthattypifythelastexpectation.Dickenswasprevailedupontochangetheendingtoonemoreacceptabletohisreaders'tastesinthatera,andthis"new"endingwasthepublishedoneandcurrentlyacceptedasdefinitive.

　　DickenshasPipasthewriterandfirstpersonnarratorofthisaccountofhislife'sexperiences,andtheentirestoryisunderstoodtohavebeenwrittenasaretrospective,ratherthanasapresenttensenarrativeoradiaryorjournal.Still,thoughPip"knows"howalltheeventsinthestorywillturnout,heusesonlyverysubtleforeshadowingsothatwelearnofeventsonlywhenthePipinthestorydoes.Pipdoes,however,usetheper