Philip Pirrip is the narrator and main character of the novel. He is known by his nickname, Pip, and is interesting in that he is one of the few Dickens character whose physical appearance is not extensively described. The novel begins with Pip as a young orphan and charts his journey toward achieving his great expectations of wealth and power.
One of the most famous characters in the entire Dickens canon is Miss Haversham. She is a selfish, old woman who began life as a spoiled child and is ending it as a wild-eyed miser who looks more like a corpse than a living human being. An early jilting by a fiancé led her to spend her life seeking revenge upon all men.
A key contrast to Pip is the honest and hard working Joe Gargery. His generosity and faithfulness ironically present him as the genuine article when it comes to the concept of the gentlemen Pip exerts so much time seeking to become through acquisition of wealth.
Estella is the offspring of a convict named Magwich and the murderess named Molly. Estella learned from Miss Haversham how to act arrogantly and injure men. Although she is cold at heart, she exhibits some moments of honesty. Her greatest failure is that she does whatever Miss Haversham instructs her to do.
Abel Magwich is better known as Provis. He is also a true gentlemen despite being a societal outcast. Provis is instrumental in helping Pip meet his great expectations by providing him money. Provis' greatest accomplishment lies in guiding Pip to understand that he should love and respect people regardless of their social station or financial situation.
Pip has a sister who is 20 years older than him. She is Mrs. Gargery and unlike Joe she is resentful of the necessity placed upon her for raising Pip. She shares Pip's desire for greater things in life and rejects the idea of spending the remainder of her life as nothing more than the wife of a simple tradesman.
One of the most important figures in the novel is Mr. Jaggers. It is through this lawyer that most of the other characters come into contact with each other. Although he must ultimately be considered a man of honor, he is very calculating and cynical.