Great Expectations is a book about the life of a boy named Pip. It is about his early life, and about the people that influenced him as he grew up. For example Mrs. Havisham is the person who introduced Pip to Estella. She is a crazy old lady who goes off the deep end after her fiance leaves her at the alter. She suffers from major depression, antisocial personality disorder, and obsessive compulsive disorder.
There are several ways to diagnose Miss. Havisham with these disorders and to also tie them into the same disorders Charles Dickens has. This shows that Miss Havisham is really a reflection that Dickens put into his book Great Expectations.
Mrs. Havisham obviously suffers from major depression. Usually when people are depressed they are really sad, Mrs. Havisham is definitely sad all the time. People who suffer from depression suffer from feeling sad for most of the time every day for at least two weeks (Gold 24). “There was an air of utter loneliness upon her, that I could have moved me to pity though she had willfully done me a deeper injury than I could charge her with” (Dickens 309). Pip
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just said that Mrs. Havisham is very sad. Mis. Havisham obviously can't concentrate on getting dressed. This is a sign of depression. People who suffer from bipolar disorder have trouble concentrating (Gold 25). “ She had not quite finished dressing, for she had but one shoe on - the other was on the table near her head - her veil was but half arranged, her watch and chain were not on, and some lace for her bosom lay with these trinkets, and with her handkerchief, and gloves, and so many flowers, and and a prayer book, all confusedly heaped about the looking glass” (Dickens 44). Mrs. Havisham shows this by not being ready to get ready for the day without being distracte. Mrs. Havisham has apparently lost a lot of weight since the day of her wedding. People with bipolar disorder lose or gain weight for no reason (Gold 25). “I saw the bride within the dress had withered like the dress, and like the flowers, and had no brightness left but the brightness of her sunken eyes” (Dickens 44). Based on the evidence we can safely conclude that Mrs. Havisham suffers from depression. People who are like Mrs. Havisham have many symptoms showing they are antisocial, and these are some of the ones that we can say that she is. She is obviously not caring that she is in the wrong for hating the whole male sex for that one time she was left at the alter. People who suffer from antisocial personality disorder have a disregard for right or wrong (Antisocial Personality Disorder). “to hate men - wreak revenge on all the male sex” (Dickens 159). This is one reason that we can assume that she has A.S.D. Because she hates one whole gender for one things that happened to her a long time ago by a bad man. Hating someone who has done nothing to you is just wrong. She keeps telling Pip to love Estella even though she doesn't like Pip. People who suffer from A.S.D succumb to persistent lying or deceit to exploit others (Antisocial Personality Disorder). “Love her, love her, love her! If she favors you love her! If she wounds her love her! If she tears your heart to pieces - and as it gets older and stronger, it will tear deeper - love her, love her, love her!” (Dickens 85). Doing what she is doing to Estella, raising her to break hearts of men and be cruel and heartless, is an abuse of her role as an adult/parent. People who suffer from A.S.D sometimes are abusive or neglectful to children (Antisocial Personality Disorder). “That girl is hard and haughty and capricious to the last degree, and has been brought up by Mrs Havisham to wreak revenge on all the male sex” (Dickens 186). She has been mentally abusing Estella to get her to become heartless and a wreckingball to all of the emotions of men. Based on the evidence Mrs Havisham has A.S.D. Judging on how she talks about the wedding was can assume that Miss Havisham had a small form of PTSD. In all the time you read about Miss H you never see her being happy post-wedding. People who have PTSD have an inability to experience positive emotions (Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia). “I should have felt almost sure that Miss Havisham’s face could not smile” (Dickens 63). Coupled with what we have read and gather from other characters emotions towards her we can assume she cannot experience happy emotions. Miss H lives alone and doesn't have any close relationships with anyone. People who have PTSD have difficulty maintaining close relationships (Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia). “an immensely rich and grim lady who lived in a large dismal house barricaded against robbers, who led a life of seclusion” (Dickens 53). With Miss Havisham trying to shut everyone out and keeping people from coming into her home she is effectively showing us that she has a case of PTSD. Just like with major depression people who have cases of PTSD cannot concentrate on everyday tasks like getting ready for the day. People struggling with PTSD have a lot of trouble concentrating (Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia). “ She had not quite finished dressing, for she had but one shoe on - the other was on the table near her head - her veil was but half arranged, her watch and chain were not on, and some lace for her bosom lay with these trinkets, and with her handkerchief, and gloves, and so many flowers, and and a prayer book, all confusedly heaped about the looking glass” (Dickens 44). She cannot concentrate on getting ready for the day so we can assume that she has a symptom of PTSD. Looking at the symptoms of PTSD and looking at what Miss Havisham is suffering from we can conclude that she indeed has PTSD from the experience of being left at the alter. Miss Havisham may have been a nasty person and may have been really crazy and harsh to Estella and Pip, but she turned out to be a nice person in the end and we get to see a side of her that we didn't know before. She knows what she has done and takes responsibility for all of the things she has done and asks Pip to forgive her. “If you can ever write under my name ‘I forgive her’” (Dickens 311). Even though she doesn't blantly ask for it she is asking Pip to forgive her. She also makes amends by helping Herbert out. “Can I only surv you Pip, by serving your friend” (Dickens 311). She is trying to do better by helping Herbert by investing in his career. Even though she is making amends with Pip Miss Havisham's depression hits an all time high and she tries to kill herself. “In the same moment I saw her running at me, shrieking, with a whirl of fire blazing all about her,” (Dickens 314). Even with her doing all the good things to make up all the guilt of the bad things caught up to her and she tried to kill herself. To conclude Even though she tries to make up for doing everything she still has major major depression. Dickens had several symptoms of the same problems that Miss Havisham had. According to books on Dickens life, he had problems with depression. “He had strange fits of depression from time to time” (Wagenknecht). Here we have evidence of Dickens having fits of depression just like Miss Havisham. Towards the end of his life Dickens became more private. “Dickens sunk into personal unhappiness after leading a very private life” (mentalfools.com). This is telling us that Dickens lived a very reclusive life towards the end of his life. Dickens had a rough childhood, and a very traumatic event happen to him. “The engine and the first part of the train sped across the gap in the tracks, but the coaches in the centre and the rear of the train fell into the river bed below. Dickens' coach dangled from the bridge” (priory.com). Surviving a train crash and helping many injured passengers get out would be enough to make anyone have have a bit of post-traumatic stress disorder. Charles Dickens, based on this evidence here, had all if not more than the same problems as Miss Havisham. People might say that Miss Havisham is not the conjuration of Dickens in a book character.
Some people might try to argue that Miss Havisham isn't even the same gender as Dickens. When trying to relate a character to that author you don't have to be looking for the same gender as the author. All the symptoms that Dickens and Miss Havisham share relate them together and they aren't the same gender. Some people might argue that the train crash is not enough to give Dickens PTSD. If you were on a train and it crashed and then you were in the car that was hanging off the rails wouldn't you have a little PTSD after that. Some people may think Dickens did not have antisocial disorder. Based on the fact that he was depressed and that many of his friends recalled that he was very reclusive during his writing points to the face that he did indeed have antisocial
disorder. With Charles Dickens having major depression he can not really do much outside of his house without hurting himself and other perole. To fix said depression he could seek mental help. He could take some medicine or talk to people about how he feels. Because of his antisocial personality disorder all he can be is a hollow shell of his former self. Based on how his friends and family made him seem, he was a really outgoing, energetic person. To cure his ASPD he needs to first cure his depression. Without that he will not have the gumption to do anything. Having PTSD is a tough thing to live with. Not many people truly get over it. To cure it or at least cope with it he could talk to people who have suffered through the same or similar thing. That or her could go talk to a counselor.
The character of Esther is widely criticized for her perfection as a character, both receiving positive acclaims and negative feedback. Esther’s reserved, quiet character illustrates the role of women during the Victorian period and what little impact on society women played. Critics of Bleak House generally praise the narration and Dickens’s use of Esther’s character, which gives direction to the novel.
Acceptance and self-growth is necessary to reach closure in times of despair. However, if one were to stay in denial, the consequences of their actions could easily escalate to greater problems. In the novel, Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, Miss Havisham is a victim of such retributions. As an only child, Miss Havisham was a spoiled girl born into a wealthy household raised by a single father. When she came of age, Miss Havisham inherited all the money from his father’s fortune and fell in love with a man named Compeyson. Despite warnings of his swindling history, Miss Havisham proceeds to marry him. On the wedding day, he leaves her at the altar and takes all of her money with him. Miss Havisham suffers a mental breakdown
Great Expectations is one of Dickens’ greatest accomplishments, properly concentrated and related in its parts at every level of reading. Dickens skillfully catches the reader's attention and sympathy in the first few pages, introduces several major themes, creates a mood of mystery in a lonely setting, and gets the plot moving immediately.
‘Havisham’ is a poem about a woman (based on the character from Charles Dickens’ ‘Great Expectations’ of the same name) who lives alone, often confining herself to one room and wallowing in self-pity because she was apparently jilted at the alter by her scheming fiancé. ‘Havisham’ has been unable to move on from this trauma and is trapped in the past. Her isolation has caused her to become slightly mad.
Miss Havisham passes along this jadedness to her adopted daughter, Estella, by teaching her to hurt boys and not become emotionally attached to them. Miss Havisham stays this was nearly until the end of her life when she realizes what she has done to Estella as well as Pip, whose heart was broken by Estella.... ... middle of paper ... ... In conclusion, in the novel Great Expectations, Charles Dickens points out that there are many people who are imprisoned within themselves.
...ot for each of them and each person's struggle with expectations. Pip struggles the most, because he cannot meet each person's standards and aspirations for him, resulting in his destruction of his old morals. Every character has goals for Pip and he begins to believe he must attain these goals to win Estella's heart. However, Pip also sets standards for friends and family and is confused when they do not live up to his expectations. The pressure from the people in his new social class to become a gentleman Pip begins to define himself by how others see him. This happens to many people in life, they begin to define themselves by other's values, from the pressure to look or be a certain way in today's society. Overall, "Great Expectations" demonstrates that everyone is challenged by expectations in society and define themselves according to other people's standards..
Pip, in Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, is an idealist. Whenever he envisions something greater than what he already has, he passionately desires to obtain the improvement and better himself. In the Victorian Era, as an underprivileged orphan though, dreams are often easier dreamt than accomplished. Pip however, has an instinctive ambitious drive. His unstoppable willpower, plus the benefit of a benefactor, elevates him from the bottom, to the top of the social, educational, and moral food chain in the Victorian Era.
Dickens portrays Miss Havisham in a very unique way. There is a dramatic irony between Miss Havisham and Pip. It is ironic how she wanted to watch him become miserable, just because he is of the male gender, and ironically she grew to like him. She even paid for part of Pip's expenses for the partnership. Yet what is more ironic is that Miss Havisham does not praise herself for the good deed. In the beginning of the novel, Miss Havisham displayed a harsh, cold attitude toward Pip. This is displayed in her deceptive act on page 69, where she says, "Well, you can break his heart?" As the novel ends Miss Havisham's attitude completely changes. She realizes the pain she has caused Pip and apologizes to him. Because of her positive change, she becomes more likeable to the audience.
Josh Billings once said "to bring up a child in the way he should go, travel that way yourself once in a while". There are few things as important in the development of youth as the influence of the adults that surround them. The example of influential adults will almost always dictate, in some way, the behaviour of children. Young people look for role models and examples in the adults they meet. In Charles Dickens' novel Great Expectations (1860), vivid adult characters such as the eccentric Miss Havisham, the enigmatic lawyer Jaggers, the simple but kind blacksmith Joe and the mysterious convict Magwitch have fundamental influences over the development of the story's protagonist, Pip. They do this in two ways. In a novel about a young man's moral education, the major secondary adult characters in the story contribute to Pip's growth either as instigators of his expectations or as paternal figures or sometimes as both.
In the novel ‘Great Expectations’ there are three women who Dickens portrays differently to his contemporary’s, writers such as Austen and Bronté, and to the typical 19th century woman. These three women go by the name of Mrs Joe (Pips sister), Miss Havisham, and Estella. Mrs Joe who is Pips sister and Mr Joe’s wife is very controlling and aggressive towards Pip and Mr Joe. ‘In knowing her to have a hard and heavy hand’. This shows Dickens has given Mrs Joe very masculine qualities, which is very unusual for a 19th century woman. Mr Joe has a very contrasting appearance and personality to Mrs Joe. ‘Joe was a fair man, with curls of flaxen hair on each side of his smooth face, and with eyes of such a very undecided blue that they seemed to have somehow got mixed with their own whites.’ In many ways Dickens has swapped the stereo type appearances and personalities of 19th century men and women. Dickens portrays Miss Havisham to be rich but lonely women. ‘I should acquit myself under that lady’s roof’. This shows Miss Havisham owns her own property which is Satis House. This woul...
Charles Dickens is well known for his distinctive writing style. Few authors before or since are as adept at bringing a character to life for the reader as he was. His novels are populated with characters who seem real to his readers, perhaps even reminding them of someone they know. What readers may not know, however, is that Dickens often based some of his most famous characters, those both beloved or reviled, on people in his own life. It is possible to see the important people, places, and events of Dickens' life thinly disguised in his fiction. Stylistically, evidence of this can be seen in Great Expectations. For instance, semblances of his mother, father, past loves, and even Dickens himself are visible in the novel. However, Dickens' past influenced not only character and plot devices in Great Expectations, but also the very syntax he used to create his fiction. Parallels can be seen between his musings on his personal life and his portrayal of people and places in Great Expectations.
On the surface, Great Expectations appears to be simply the story of Pip from his early childhood to his early adulthood, and a recollection of the events and people that Pip encounters throughout his life. In other words, it is a well written story of a young man's life growing up in England in the early nineteenth century. At first glance, it may appear this way, an interesting narrative of youth, love, success and failure, all of which are the makings of an entertaining novel. However, Great Expectations is much more. Pip's story is not simply a recollection of the events of his past. The recollection of his past is important in that it is essential in his development throughout the novel, until the very end. The experiences that Pip has as a young boy are important in his maturation into young adulthood.
Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens is a fascinating tale of love and fortune. The main character, Pip, is a dynamic character who undergoes many changes through the course of the book. Throughout this analysis the character, Pip will be identified and his gradual change through the story will be surveyed.
The title of Great Expectations captures the main character comprehensively yet simply. Pips ambitions and expectations for himself are actual tangible things he believes he will achieve, and this belief is both his downfall and his success. His ambitions cause great discord, and stand to cause many more, and yet they are the reason Pip moves so greatly through life.
Great Expectations is essentially a novel of the education of a young man in the lesson of life. Pip is analyzing himself through his memories and from the point of view of maturity (“Charles Dickens” 1).