Great Expectations. The Character of Estella

A detailed Summary of Great Expectations. The Character of Estella

Great Expectations. The Character of Estella

One of our first thoughts, like readers, when we finish the novel is to establish two lists; one of good characters and other of bad characters. Since this paper is devoted to the character of Estella the question would be: is she a good character or a bad character? But, before beginning the analysis of Estella in the novel which will try to give an answer to this question, we are going to deal with the symbology of the name of Estella.

As we already know, the name of the characters in Dickens is very important. In the case of Estella indicates her personality, her relation with other characters and even the way in which she moves along the novel.

It is obvious Estella makes a reference to stars. Stars are cold but beautiful to see. The same happens with Estella: she has a cold personality but she is very pretty. Remember she was given to Miss Havisham at night which is when stars appear.

Stella (without the first 'e') is the name of Sydney's beloved. Probably he gave his beloved this name because she was married in the real life and so, he could not reach her. Stars are far and they can not be reached by us. In GE Estella is presented as an impossible dream for Pip. In the sam

The first time which Estella appears in the novel is in chapter 8, in the first visit of Pip to Miss Havisham's house. The first impression Pip has about Estella is also characterized by ambiguity: he thinks she is pretty but she is proud. Miss Havisham obliges Estella to play cards with Pip. The first time which appears the card game in GE is in relation to the battle of sexes since, after her frustrated marriage, Miss Havisham educates Estella to scorn men and in the card game Miss Havisham wants to see a victory of a woman over a man. Estella wins but the most important thing here is that Estella does not want to play with Pip because she thinks he is common. This shows the pride and the superiority in which Estella is presented in her relation to Pip, and it's also important because, from this moment, Pip wants to be educated to be at the same level that Estella.

An important chapter is chapter 38. At this moment of the narration we have the discussion between Miss Havisham and Estella. Miss Havisham says to Estella she has forgotten her and Estella, who gives Miss Havisham the treatment of 'mother in adoption', think that's not true. The old lady asks for Estella's love and she answers she has not been educated to love, emotion is something she can not feel. In spite of this new proof of Estella's coldness, Pip is jealous when he sees Estella is flirting with Drummle and Estella says to Pip she will not deceive him, she has been educated to make suffer men but she is incapable to do any harm to Pip. There are two points of reflection here, The first one is that Pip is so blinded by his love for Estella that he's incapable of seeing that Estella can not feel any emotion. The second one is Estella's honesty. We'll mention this question in the conclusion.

But it's in the last chapter of the novel when we see the consequence of Estella's decision. Eleven years later Pip meets Estella in Satis House. Pip thinks Estella has lost part of her beauty. Both of them talk and Estella recognizes she has thought about Pip. Due to Drummle's bad treatment, Estella has learnt to value what she had. All this takes place in a very peculiar setting: at night, with the stars shining and in a ruined house. it's a very clear pathetic fallacy which comes to represent what they have become with the passing of time. They have not fulfiled their own expectations.

In the following chapter (chapter 12) we have a new visit of Pip. In a moment in which Estella is not present Pip agrees

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Approximate Word count = 1677
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Novels