Indeed, the evolution of Great Expectations’ ending is one of the most fascinating aspects of literary history. Charles Dickens initially penned a much less rosy conclusion for his protagonists, Pip and Estella, but eventually revised it due to the encouragement of his friend and fellow novelist, Edward Bulwer-Lytton.
In the original ending, Dickens had Pip and Estella cross paths years later, in the garden of Satis House. Estella, remarried after her abusive first husband Drummle’s death, walks away into the twilight with her new husband, leaving Pip alone. This ending underscores the book’s themes of regret, unfulfilled dreams, and the permanence of emotional damage.
However, Dickens’ revised ending is slightly more optimistic. Pip encounters Estella in London, where she has been living a modest life after Drummle’s death and her subsequent loss of wealth. They part on much friendlier terms, with the implication that they may eventually marry.
Contrary to popular belief, there are not four separate endings, but the alternations Dickens made in his revision has led to myriad interpretations and discussions about the possible futures of Pip and Estella. Whether readers prefer the harsh realism of the original ending or the hopefulness of the revised ending is a testament to the power of Dickens’ storytelling and the emotional investment readers place in these enduring characters.
