Perhaps the most memorable setting in "Great Expectations" is that of Satis [Enough] House and its occupants, particularly Miss Havisham. As stated above, the setting does, indeed, help describe the character in it. Pip describes his visit:
...the first thing I noticed was that the passages were all dark....
In an armchair...sat the strangest I have ever seen, or shall ever see. She was dressed in rich materials...all in white (as a bride), but her hair was white....She had not quite finished dressing, for she had but one sho on....
But I saw that everything within my view which ought to be white had lost its luster, and was faded and yellow. I saw that the bride within the bridal dress had withered like the dress....the clock in the room had stopped at twenty minutes to nine.
'So new to him,' she muttered, 'so old to me; so strange to him, so familiar to me; so melancholy to both of us!'
This dismal setting of a wasted life is lightened by the entrance of Estella, the star as her name means, and Pip's life is changed from thenceforth. Later, in the setting of the city of London, Pip alters his values, feeling it to be degrading to be associated with the country people, such as Joe, whom he has loved as a father and friend. Ashamed of Joe's provincial speech and manners, and uncomfortable with Joe around Herbert, his roommate, Pip pushes Joe away from himself. During his stay in London, Pip assumes airs and loses his sense of true values in his efforts to be a gentleman, a perception of one who has money, education, and speaks in a particular way.
After many life-changing experiences that lead him to realize true values, Pip finally returns to his village and the warmth and love of Joe and Biddy who have married. In this warmth of Joe's cottage, Joe forgives Pip "if I have anythink to forgive!" Again the setting of the forge provides valuable love and decency for Pip.
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