Pip's home situation is quite tough from the point of view of a modern day person as his sister, Mrs. Joe Gargery, was very strict and physical if he did not do exactly what he was told. But one hundred and fifty years ago in Dickens" time that would have been perfectly normal and no child could really expect any better. Pip's brother in law Joe Gargery also had to put up with his sister's rough attitude and strictness so Pip and Joe came to form a sort of alliance over time and soon became very good friends. So Pip feels he has a reasonable life and never questions it. He is grateful for the fact that his sister has brought him up "by hand" herself as his parents are dead. When at his family grave he encounters a violent convict (Magwitch) Pip feels very frightened as the convict threatens to cut his throat and tells him that he has another far more violent convict with him and that no boy is safe from him. Naturally Pip takes the food and file from his home and his honesty is proven by the immense guilt he feels after taking the food and file.
When Uncle Pumblechook arranges for Pip to go to Miss. Havisham's house Pip does not realise what a devastating effect it will have on him and how his attitude to life will change. He is let in at the big iron gates at the sizeable and expensive house by a very pretty girl of around his age. Her name is Estella and even though they are roughly the same age she looks down upon him as if she was much older and wiser. She is well dressed and Pip is immediately attracted to her even though she is so un-necessarily icy. From the start Estella sets out to humiliate Pip. When Pip meets Miss. Havisham he is startled by the way she dresses, in wedding clothes and how all the clocks have stopped at exactly the same time. He feels very timid in this unusual environment and when he overhears Miss. Havisham telling Estella she can "break his heart" he is yet more uncomfortable.