Think of the plot as three acts, each tied to a place:

• Act 1 – The Marshes (Volume I, Ch. 1–19): Young Pip lives with his harsh sister Mrs Joe and her kind husband Joe, a blacksmith. He helps an escaped convict (Magwitch) out of fear, then meets rich, eccentric Miss Havisham and her beautiful, cold adopted daughter Estella. Falling for Estella makes Pip ashamed of his "common" life. Out of nowhere, a lawyer (Jaggers) tells Pip he has "great expectations" — a secret benefactor is making him rich so he can become a gentleman. Pip assumes it's Miss Havisham and leaves for London.
• Act 2 – London (Volume II, Ch. 20–39): Pip lives it up as a gentleman with his friend Herbert Pocket, gets into debt, and grows snobbish — even embarrassed by visits from loyal Joe. On his 23rd birthday, the truth drops like a bomb: his benefactor is actually Magwitch, the convict, not Miss Havisham. Pip is horrified.
• Act 3 – Redemption (Volume III, Ch. 40–59): Pip learns Magwitch is a wanted man in England and helps him try to escape by boat. Along the way, Pip learns Magwitch's tragic backstory and starts to genuinely love him. The escape fails; Magwitch is captured and dies in prison, but dies knowing Pip cares for him. Pip falls ill, is nursed by Joe, reconciles with Joe and Biddy (who have married each other), and eventually works abroad for 11 years. He returns, finds Satis House destroyed, and reunites with a humbled, widowed Estella in the garden — the two leave together, hand in hand.