Great Expectations: Character Quotations (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE English Literature)
Revision Note
GCSE English Literature exam questions usually focus on a theme, a character or a relationship between two or more characters. Examiners reward responses that track the development of characters or themes through the novella.
When revising, try to consider quotes in terms of their narrative effects — how characters are presented, what attitudes or relationships are presented and why these ideas have been shown to the reader.
We’ve included the best Great Expectations quotes — with detailed analysis — to help you to revise and organised them by the following characters:
Pip
Estella
Miss Havisham
Abel Magwitch
Examiner Tip
Examiners have said that a common feature of successful Great Expectations essays is that they start with a thesis statement or argument which broadly outlines the answer to the question. It is best to consider the whole novel in this initial argument as you are discussing the development of a theme or character throughout the text.
Something that will help you to use references in a cohesive and precise analysis is to keep your focus on the most important part. Here, we have included the “key word or phrase” in longer quotations so that you can remember the most important part.
Pip
“but it’s so new here, and so strange, and so fine,—and melancholy—” - Pip, Chapter 8
Key word or phrase to memorise: “so new” and “so melancholy” | What the quotation means: Pip expresses his discomfort to Miss Havisham, explaining that he cannot play for her because the place is so unfamiliar, so odd, so beautiful, and also sad | Theme: Social class | |
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“I wish you could put me right” - Pip, Chapter 17
Key word or phrase to memorise: “put me right” | What the quotation means: Pip expresses his longing for Biddy to make him love her and forget his desire to be a gentleman | Theme: Ambition and self-improvement | |
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“There were days once, I know, that I did for a while forget; but I never shall forget these” - Pip, Chapter 57
Key word or phrase to memorise: “I did for a while forget” and “but I shall never forget these” | What the quotation means: Pip tells Joe that when he was focused on becoming a gentleman, he forgot the positive elements of a simple life with Joe, but now he has changed he will never forget his roots and the good times they have shared | Theme: Guilt and shame | |
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Estella
“It meant, when it was given, that whoever had this house could want nothing else. They must have been easily satisfied in those days, I should think” - Estella, Chapter 8
Key word or phrase to memorise: “easily satisfied” | What the quotation means: Estella tells Pip that Miss Havisham’s mansion is called “Satis House” (which means "house of the satisfied"), but that she believes that the people who named it must have had low standards if they found this house to be satisfying | Theme: Social class | |
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“I have not bestowed my tenderness anywhere. I have never had any such thing” - Estella, Chapter 29
Key word or phrase to memorise: “tenderness” and “never had any such thing” | What the quotation means: When they are reunited, Estella tells Pip that his feelings for her are futile as she has never given her kindness to anyone, and does not even know what it is | Theme: Ambition and self-improvement | |
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“Everything else has gone from me, little by little, but I have kept this. It was the subject of the only determined resistance I made in all the wretched years” - Estella, Chapter 59
Key word or phrase to memorise: “my only determined resistance” | What the quotation means: Estella tells Pip that she owns “Satis House” and that it is all she has left, suggesting that not only is it her only possession, but also the only thing that proves she has fought for something in all her pitiful years | Theme: Guilt and shame | |
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Miss Havisham
“I have a sick fancy that I want to see some play” - Miss Havisham, Chapter 8
Key word or phrase to memorise: “sick fancy” | What the quotation means: Miss Havisham gives a strange command for Pip to play in front of her and explains that it is because she has a kind of illness that makes her a little delusional or erratic | Theme: Integrity and reputation | |
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“educating for a lady; far out of reach; prettier than ever; admired by all who see her. Do you feel that you have lost her?” - Miss Havisham, Chapter 15
Key word or phrase to memorise: “a lady” and “far out of reach” | What the quotation means: Miss Havisham expresses her pleasure that her plot to break Pip’s heart by making him fall in love with Estella is working, and asks Pip if he feels he has “lost” Estella now that she is a “lady” and, thus, out of his grasp | Theme: Social class | |
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“‘You stock and stone!’ exclaimed Miss Havisham. ‘You cold, cold heart!’”- Miss Havisham, Chapter 38
Key word or phrase to memorise: “cold, cold heart” | hat the quotation means: Miss Havisham is shocked to be the subject of Estella’s insolent disdain and exclaims that Estella is made of “stone” and is cruel and cold-hearted | Theme: Ambition and self-development | |
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Abel Magwitch
“I wish I was a frog. Or an eel!” - Abel Magwitch, Chapter 1
Key word or phrase to memorise: "frog" and "eel" | What the quotation means: After Magwitch has threatened Pip in the churchyard, Pip wishes him a good night. Magwitch replies sarcastically that he would rather be a “frog” or an “eel” as the night ahead will be so wet and cold he would be better off being a small water creature | Theme: Social class | |
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“Noble, Pip! And I have never forgot it!” - Abel Magwitch, Chapter 39
Key word or phrase to memorise: “Noble” and “never forgot it” | What the quotation means: Magwitch seeks out Pip to tell him that he is his benefactor, and begins by explaining that Pip was “noble” and principled when he helped him in the marshes and he has never forgotten his kindness | Theme: Integrity and reputation | |
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“It's best as a gentleman should not be knowed to belong to me now” - Abel Magwitch, Chapter 55
Key word or phrase to memorise: “not be knowed to belong to me” | What the quotation means: When Magwitch is arrested and about to depart in a boat, he tells Pip that he is happy that he has seen Pip as a gentleman and that it is better that he leaves as his companionship would damage his reputation | Theme: Ambition and self-improvement | |
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Source
Dickens, Charles. (2008). Great Expectations. Oxford.
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