Wolfson 1 Rachel Wolfson Mrs.

Gardner Honors English Period 0 7 March 2014 Influence of Women Charles Dickenss Great Expectations represents a lively variety of female characters in its portrayal of life in the ninteeth century of England. As the main protagonist, Pip, journeys through a series of thought-contemplating experiences, these women accompany him at every turn and deeply affect his progression through the story. With or without the initiative intention, these women transform Pip into a defined personality. Because the following females persuade Pip in achievement of their personal gain, his identity is transformed and distorted to fit their desires of revenge, malice, and excessive obedience. Miss Havisham displays a primary example of authority which drastically affects the courses of both Pip and Estellas life, using an excess of wealth to lead the pair into various decisions based entirely on emotion. Through her adoptive daughter Estellas upbringing, Pip observes that Miss Havisham raised Estella to wreak [her] revenge on men (237). This purpose for Estella becomes an entirely manipulative purpose for her upbringing through which Pip is dragged along as a victim. Upon learning that Miss Havisham is not the benefactor of his wealth, Pip discovers that her cause for suggesting that she was the donor was intended for self-seeking relations (281). Pip and Estella played pawns in Miss Havishams fantasy tale of broken hearts of men, and neither of them under her oppression take initiative for themselves because despite her harmful intentions, Miss Havisham continues to impel the two to present their roles to one

Wolfson 2 another. Ive adopted her to be loved (188), she states blatantly, urging both Pip and Estella to sustain their broken romance and satisfy her own empty heart. Pip and Estella would have under no other circumstancecontinued this will of Miss Havishams had she not pressed her desires so deeply against them. Her influence single-handedly destroyed their emotional mentality, and Estella, as easily well as Pip, have been stripped of that barrier by Miss Havishams insistence. Estella is oppressed along with Pip as much as she is empowered over him and other men: as Pip ventures into adulthood, Estella deliberately directs Pip to the upper class to develop into one of her most significant targets of futile heartbreak. Ceasing denial, Pip specifically tells his friend Biddy that he want to become a gentleman on [Estellas] account (100). This occurs through many instances in Dickenss tale as his obsession, compelling him instinctively in expectations for Estella to return his love. Pip exhibits a conscious acknowledgement of Estellas refutal toward his affections, accepting such a truth by confessing, I know. I have no hope that I shall ever call you mine, Estella (283), but Estellas impulsive determination to break the hearts of men inclined Pip to ignore her faults and blissfully follow. Estellas subtle persuasions primarily led Pip to his social class of preference from the moment she detestably commented on his coarse hands, enticing Pip to suddenly consider them a very indifferent pair (46). Although Pip clearly recognizes his unlikelyhood in gaining Estellas love, his emotions alone become enough to repeatedly lure him into Estellas contagious cycle of rejection. In this cycle, Estella fully accomplishes her main incentive for Pip: his broken heart.

Wolfson 3 Along with the women at the Satis House, Pips sister, Mrs. Joes influence to Pip progressively looms over his frame of mind throughout the events of the story. Her presence in Pips life constantly abuses his sense of morality and inescapably forces him to undergo guilt wherever she may appear. In Pips adolescence, Mrs. Joe plants a premature sense of guilt within his conscience when she speaks to him in such a matter that even escalates Pips child-like curiosity into early signs criminal injustice. She claims, for example, that murderers and robbers always begin by asking questions (10). Because of Mrs. Joes drastic warnings, Pips sense of morality tumbles into an imbalanced confliction of what could or couldnt be considered acceptable behavior. Every derogatory word uttered by Pips sister, such as trouble, emphasizes a fearful catalogue of all the illness [he] had been guilty of (20). Mrs. Joes intimidating demean diminishes and minimizes Pips perpetual image of his moral goodness. Mrs. Joes reign over Pips psyche proceeds through the death, and a mental disturbance is caused once Pip possesses that knowledge. Her entity to Pip amplifies as she provides a reminder of Pips past life which he has now abandoned, and she haunts [him] day and night (219). Mrs. Joe overbearingly invades Pips every thoughts and returns him to the onset of his internal struggles. Mrs. Joes intimidating demean diminished and minimized Pips perpetual image of his moral goodness. Because of her capability to criticize Pip for his every intention, her denunciation echoes through every choice he decides, even in absence of her presence, and he remains victim, mentally traumatized by her verbal abuse. Intimidation, appearance, and deceit are tactical advantages which assist these females in attaining their goals as well as prompting Pip to his current state of being in every instance of the story. Each matron overall introduced an element to his existence which accommodated in his

Wolfson 4 character. Although Pip becomes aware of the ill-mannered result of their influence, their persistence in empowerment over him effectively terminates an escape to cognitive free will.