When the novel begins in the early
1800s, Philip is a seven-year-old orphan raised by his uncaring sister, "Mrs. Joe", who beats him regularly, and her husband Joe Gargery, a blacksmith and Pip's best friend. He lives in the marsh area of
Kent,
England, from the sea. Pip has no recollection of either of his parents; he is more than twenty years younger than his sister. Five brothers died in infancy between them: Alexander, Bartholomew, Abraham, Tobias, and Roger. He is known to himself and the world as Pip because his "infant tongue could make of both names nothing longer or more explicit than Pip". understands that good clothes, genteel speech and a generous allowance do not make one a gentleman. At one point he was on the verge of being sent to
debtor's prison, but the law granted him a reprieve due to his succumbing to an illness. Joe learns of this and comes to London to look after Pip until Pip can walk on his own. While recuperating, he finds a receipt stating that Joe and Biddy amortized his outstanding debt. A few days after Joe leaves, Pip goes home to find that Biddy has married Joe that very day (Pip's sister had died from being hurt in a burglary, then succumbing to her injuries years later). Without income or training for any profession, he is at loose ends. Herbert Pocket suggests Pip join the firm where he works, in an office in Cairo. Pip starts as a clerk. Herbert marries his fiancee Clara Pocket, and Pip lives with them. There is irony in this, as Pip used his gift at age 21 of 500 pounds to engage Herbert with the new firm, despite the fact he was being dogged by creditors. Working for a merchant named Clarriker, Pip finally learns discipline and financial responsibility and is now more careful. Eleven years later, Pip returns to England to see Joe, Biddy, and their children, a daughter and a son named after him, or a "little Pip". He walks to the land where Miss Havisham's house, the Satis house, once stood and meets Estella there. Both have changed much from their experience of life. After they reconcile, they hold hands, and Pip sees no shadow to part them again. ==Role in adaptations==