Character Analysis

Pip
Pip is the main character for the most part in Great Expectations. Pip has had a different childhood than most kids; his parents died when he was a young boy and had to be raised by his sister and her husband. Pip’s relationship with his sister was abusive and he was blamed for little things, like talking out of line. Because of his abusive relationship with his sister Pip has been shaped to be ashamed of his background and his poverty, he doesn’t like to revisit his past. Even though Pip and Joe (his brother-in law) are close and have a loving relationship, Pip drops his sister and his brother-in law. He does this because an unknown person wants Pip to become a gentleman. He learns how to act wealthy, and he tries to forget where he comes from and who has raised him. An unexpected thing happens, that makes Pip revisit his past and makes him feel horrible for forgetting who he was before his new life. He is put into multiple uncomfortable situations when this happens, but he tries to make the best of it. Miss Havisham is a women he has helped before he leaves for London and has brought up Estella; Pip’s love. Estella is raised to intrigue men and then break their hearts. Pip falls in love with her and must expect the consequences that follow with this love.

from right to left is Estella and Pip

Estella

Pip and Estella are very similar in that they are both orphans and victims. They both have had been raised by people other than their biological parents. Both are used by the people who have raised them— Estella was raised by Miss Havisham and has been a victim of love being lost and Pip was raised by his sister who was abusive to him. Both share a somewhat passive approach to life that hints to when she says they are both unable to follow their own free path but must do the bidding of another. She is an honest character, not harmful, and is what she was trained to be. She cannot love Pip or Miss Havisham because she was not taught love, and she says so quite honestly. There is no manipulation, only openness. She also shows a sort of loyalty to Pip when she tells him she will toy with all men, but him. There is an acknowledgement that she knows Pip loves her, she cannot love him, and therefore she will not be with a man who will realize she has nothing to give him. She has told Pip that she has been taught to intrigue men and break their hearts, because Miss. Havisham was left at the alter and wants all men to feel how she felt that day.