GUILT AND REDEMPTION IN CHARLES DICKENS’ GREAT EXPECTATIONS

Abstract

Abstract: This article examines the interplay of guilt and redemption in Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations, focusing on how these themes influence the moral and psychological development of the novel’s central characters, particularly Pip and Magwitch. Through qualitative textual analysis and reference to critical scholarship, it is shown that guilt operates as a catalyst for self-reflection and ethical awareness, while redemption provides closure and reconciliation within the narrative. The study reveals that Dickens intertwines personal morality with social critique, demonstrating that ethical development is as essential as social mobility for character growth.