Miss Havisham
Miss Havisham initially appears as an eccentric, imperious old woman. At first, it is unclear whether there is a kind heart behind this forbidding exterior, but, as the novel progresses, it is evident that Miss Havisham is actually much worse than she seems, a thoroughly embittered, cynical character motivated entirely by hatred and vanity. As a young woman she was spoiled and selfish, and the shock of being jilted at the altar unhinged her mind to the point where intense, narcissistic self-pity has become the source of an apparently inexhaustible supply of spite.
Miss Havisham begins and ends Great Expectations as a victim, but hardly the sympathetic kind. Externally, she is the wealthy, eccentric old woman who lives in a manor called Satis House near Pip's village, and who took in Estella as a toddler to raise as her own. Behind closed doors she is manic, if not insane—she wears an old tattered wedding dress, keeps a decomposing banquet on her table, and surrounds herself with clocks stopped at twenty minutes to nine.
Miss Havisham was jilted by her fiancé, Compeyson, at twenty minutes to nine many years before, and she is determined to grieve forever. Estella is the tool for her revenge on all men, a beautiful, cultured monster. She trains Estella to be as cruel and heartless as she feels Compeyson was to her, ensuring that no man will ever be happy if she has anything to say about it.
Dickens uses Miss Havisham as an example of single-minded vengeance pursued purely for destruction: both Miss Havisham and the people in her life suffer greatly from her quest for vengeance. Miss Havisham is blind to the pain her obsessions cause Pip and Estella, being so focused on her own pain.
A victim of a different sort, Miss Havisham is redeemed at the end of the novel when she realizes that she has broken Pip's heart in the same way her own was broken, just more slowly; rather than achieving any kind of revenge, she has only caused more pain. Miss Havisham immediately begs for Pip’s forgiveness, reinforcing the novel's theme that bad behavior can be redeemed by repentance and compassion.
Expert Q&A
Miss Havisham's Influence and Significance in Great Expectations
In Great Expectations, Miss Havisham is a pivotal character whose eccentricity and tragic past deeply influence Pip and Estella. She is portrayed as a decaying aristocrat, embodying wealth but living in a state of arrested decay, symbolized by her wedding dress and dilapidated home. Miss Havisham manipulates Pip and Estella, encouraging Estella's cruelty to men as revenge for her own heartbreak. Pip's love for Estella highlights Miss Havisham's realization of her failed attempts to instill empathy in Estella. Ultimately, her actions reveal the destructive nature of her bitterness and desire for revenge.
How and why does Miss Havisham die in Great Expectations?
Miss Havisham dies from burns after accidentally setting her decayed wedding dress on fire by getting too close to the fireplace in her distraught state. This occurs after she asks Pip for forgiveness and offers to help him financially. Overcome with remorse for her past actions, she collapses to her knees. Despite Pip's efforts to save her, she eventually succumbs to her injuries.
The relationship and initial encounter between Miss Havisham and Pip in Great Expectations
In Great Expectations, Pip's initial encounter with Miss Havisham is peculiar and unsettling. Miss Havisham, an eccentric recluse, invites Pip to her decaying mansion, Satis House. She is dressed in an old wedding gown and surrounded by remnants of her aborted wedding feast. This meeting marks the beginning of Pip's complex relationship with her, as she uses Estella to manipulate Pip's emotions.
In Great Expectations, how does Miss Havisham define love?
Miss Havisham defines love as "blind devotion, unquestioning self-humiliation, utter submission," characterized by complete trust and sacrifice, even to one's detriment. Her perspective is shaped by her own experience of betrayal, leading her to teach Estella to reject affection. This distorted view of love is a curse for Pip, who loves Estella despite her cruelty. Miss Havisham's definition contrasts with Joe's unconditional love for Pip, highlighting different interpretations of love in the novel.
Why does Miss Havisham instruct Estella to "break his heart" in Great Expectations?
Miss Havisham instructs Estella to "break his heart" to seek revenge on men after being abandoned at the altar. Her life is driven by this desire for retribution, using Estella as a tool to hurt men, with Pip becoming an unsuspecting victim. Interestingly, Pip is attracted to Estella despite her insults, suggesting a psychological need for emotional pain. Miss Havisham's actions highlight her quest for blind justice against the male gender.
The causes and irony of the argument between Miss Havisham and Estella in Great Expectations
The argument between Miss Havisham and Estella in Great Expectations is caused by Miss Havisham's realization that Estella does not return her affection. The irony lies in Miss Havisham's desire for love from Estella, whom she raised to be incapable of such emotions, reflecting the consequences of her own manipulative upbringing.
Miss Havisham's requests to Pip and Estella in Great Expectations
Miss Havisham requests Pip to love Estella and Estella to break Pip's heart in Great Expectations. She manipulates both characters to fulfill her desire for revenge against men, using Estella as a tool to torment Pip emotionally.
In Great Expectations, why does Miss Havisham scorn her relatives?
Miss Havisham scorns her relatives because she perceives their insincere behavior, knowing they visit her solely to secure her inheritance. She derives pleasure from manipulating them but has no plans to leave them anything valuable. Her distrust likely stems from her brother's role in her jilting by Compeyson, a pivotal event that has led her to be wary of anyone connected to her family.
What themes does Miss Havisham from Great Expectations embody and is she believable?
Miss Havisham embodies themes of isolation, alienation, and social class strife. She isolates herself after being jilted, showing Pip the dangers of loneliness and social rank. Her influence on Pip and Estella illustrates class conflicts, as seen in the unequal treatment of Compeyson and Magwitch. While she is a crucial thematic link, her character is intentionally exaggerated, serving as a caricature rather than a wholly believable figure, adding dramatic effect to the narrative.
Miss Havisham's reclusion and its impact on her relationship with Estella and Pip
Miss Havisham's reclusion profoundly affects her relationships with Estella and Pip. Isolated from society, she raises Estella to be cold and unloving, using her as a tool for revenge against men. This manipulation damages Estella's emotional development and complicates Pip's feelings, leading to a cycle of heartache and misunderstanding among the three characters.
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