Here are some key locations in the novel:
* Kent: The majority of the story takes place in Kent, a county in southeastern England. This includes:
* The marshes: Pip's early life is spent near the marshes, a desolate and mysterious landscape that reflects his own loneliness and sense of isolation.
* The village of "the" village: Though unnamed, this is where Pip lives with his sister and her husband, Joe.
* The town of "the" town: This is where Pip later goes to live and work as an apprentice to Joe, and where he encounters the wealthy Miss Havisham and her adopted daughter, Estella.
* London: Pip moves to London to become a gentleman, where he experiences a stark contrast to his rural upbringing. He navigates the complexities of London society, its wealth and poverty, its social hierarchy, and its moral dilemmas.
Dickens uses these locations to showcase the social realities of Victorian England, including:
* Class divisions: The novel explores the stark difference between the lives of the wealthy and the poor, highlighting the class divide that was a significant feature of Victorian society.
* Industrialization: Dickens portrays the impact of industrialization on rural communities, including the increasing poverty and desperation that it brought.
* Moral ambiguity: The novel questions the meaning of wealth and status, showing how they can be corrupting forces and how they can lead to moral compromises.
Overall, Great Expectations is a coming-of-age story set firmly within the context of Victorian England, using the locations and social realities of the time to explore universal themes of social mobility, identity, and the complexities of human relationships.