Editing Great Expectations (section)

===First stage===
Philip "Pip" Pirrip is a seven-year-old orphan who lives with his hot-tempered older sister and her kindly blacksmith husband Joe Gargery on the coastal marshes of [[Kent]]. On Christmas Eve 1812,<ref>{{harvnb|Jerome Meckier|1992|pp=157–197}}.</ref> Pip visits the graves of his parents and siblings. There, he unexpectedly encounters an escaped convict who threatens to kill him if he does not bring back food and tools. Pip steals a file from among Joe's tools and a pie and brandy meant for Christmas dinner, which he delivers to the convict.

That evening, Pip's sister is about to look for the missing pie when soldiers arrive and ask Joe to mend some shackles. Joe and Pip accompany them into the marshes to recapture the convict, who is fighting with another escaped convict. The first convict confesses to stealing food, clearing Pip.<ref>{{harvnb|Paul Davis|2007|page=127}}, Chapters 1–5</ref>

[[File:"Well, Pip, you know, . . . . you yourself see me put 'em in my 'at" (ch. 13).jpeg|thumb|Pip is ashamed of Joe at Satis House, by [[Fraser family of artists|Francis Arthur Fraser]]]]
A few years later, [[Miss Havisham]], a wealthy and reclusive spinster who lives in dilapidated Satis House wearing her old wedding dress after having been jilted at the altar, asks Mr Pumblechook, a relative of the Gargerys, to find a boy to visit her. Pip visits Miss Havisham and falls in love with Estella, her adopted daughter. Estella is aloof and hostile to Pip, which Miss Havisham encourages. During one visit, another boy picks a fist fight with Pip, where Pip easily gains the upper hand. Estella watches and allows Pip to kiss her afterwards. Pip visits Miss Havisham regularly until he is old enough to learn a trade.<ref>{{harvnb|Paul Davis|2007|pages=127–128}}, Chapters 6–12</ref>

Joe accompanies Pip during the last visit to Miss Havisham, and she gives Pip money to become an apprentice blacksmith. Joe's surly assistant, Dolge Orlick, is envious of Pip and dislikes Mrs. Joe. Orlick also complains when Joe says he needs to take Pip somewhere midday, thinking this is another sign of favoritism, of which Joe assures him he can quit work for the day. When Pip and Joe are away from the house, Joe's wife is brutally attacked, leaving her unable to speak or do her work. When Pip sees a leg iron, the weapon used in the attack, he becomes worried, believing it was the same leg iron he helped liberate the convict from. Now bedridden, Mrs. Joe cannot be as "rampaging" towards Pip as before the attack. Pip's former schoolmate Biddy joins the household to help with her care.<ref>{{harvnb|Paul Davis|2007|page=128}}, Chapters 13–17</ref>
[[Image:Breakhisheart.jpg|thumb|left|Miss Havisham with Estella and Pip. Art by [[H. M. Brock]]]]

Four years into Pip's apprenticeship, Mr Jaggers, a lawyer, informs him that he has been provided money from an anonymous patron, allowing him to become a gentleman. Presuming Miss Havisham is his benefactress, Pip visits her before leaving for London.<ref>{{harvnb|Paul Davis|2007|page=128–129}}, Chapters 18–19</ref>