Great Expectations
Great Expectations
by Charles Dickens

Great Expectations Theme of Dreams, Hopes, and Plans

Those characters in Great Expectations who dream the most, hope the most, and plan the most are ultimately wounded by their dreams, hopes, and plans. Likewise, when characters realize their dreams, they do not find the happiness that they expected. Characters use their dreams, hopes, and plans to erase or undo the past.

Questions About Dreams, Hopes, and Plans

  1. Who has dreams, hopes, and plans in this novel and what are these dreams, hopes, and plans?
  2. Do Pip’s dreams change?
  3. Do any characters not have any dreams, hopes, and plans?
  4. What do the marshes have to do with Pip’s dreams and hopes?

Chew on This

Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.

Pip’s dreams both destroy and restore him.

The marshes represent a dream world.

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