Great Expectations by Charles Dickens belongs to a mature period of writer's creativity. The author's criticism is pointed at the empty and very often dishonest life of gentlemen which is opposed to a plain existence of ordinary workers. The autobiographic motives can be seen in the story of the main character. Dickens put a lot of his own hesitations and his grief to this novel. At first, he had in mind a tragic ending and led the story to it. However, he knew what his readers preferred, so he didn't choose to finish Great Expectations with their complete destruction.