Estella and Biddy are two of the main female characters in 'Great Expectations'. Charles Dickens uses both of them to emphasise many of Pip's short falls and mistakes, with both characters becoming possible love interests. For Pip, Dickens portrays Biddy as an idealized character. She has good qualities that do not come with money or class. For most of the novel she is almost as Pip's conscience, she reminds him of his roots. You could say she is portrayed in the novel as a 'real woman'. Biddy is a village girl and she also, being an orphan, was 'brought up by hand'. Pip's approach to Biddy changes very abruptly after his visits to 'Satis House'. He has formulated an idea in his head about what class and status will mean to him and Estella's relationship. He wants so much to be a gentleman, he is insulting to biddy by saying "you are envious Biddy and grudging. You are dissatisfied on account of my rise in fortune and can't help showing it".

Biddy takes this as a big insult and tells pip tha

Estella's character is always giving the reader a taster of the mistakes Pip is about to make. Dickens cleverly uses Biddy and Estella as the two sides of Pip's character, and also in the development of the plot. Estella herself is isolated for most of the novel she takes pleasure in her role as avenger. Her isolation and coldness in part become responsible for Pip's snobbery and ideals of class, and also his estrangement from his own family. Throughout Pips relationship with Estella we see how his relationship with Biddy deteriorates, he is condescending towards Biddy and shows disregard for her feelings. Pip compares biddy to Estella and overlooks her good qualities. Estella like Magwitch is always in Pip's thoughts, she always seems to be connected to the obsessive desire that Pip has to be a Gentleman. Estella does warn Pip that he should not have feelings for her "You must know," said Estella, condescending to me as a brilliant and beautiful woman might, " that I have no heart"(chapter twenty nine). Even with this warning from Estella Pip does not take any notice, as she has almost gained iconic status in pips mind. However even though Estella is outwardly cold and ha

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Approximate Word count = 794
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)