Essay About Love, Redemption and Isolation in Great Expectations

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Themes of Love, Redemption and Isolation in Great Expectations

Of the major themes from Charles Dickens novel "Great Expectations" to be

discussed as to their importance concerning its structure, I have selected

"Love" in the context of human relationships, "Isolation" and finally

"Redemption". The loneliness isolation brings can only be redeemed by the loving

associate of our fellow man, this is a two way thing.

"Had grown diseased, as all minds do and must and will that reverse the

appointed order of their maker."

In isolation the greatest sin we commit against ourselves and others, is

to shun human companionship as Miss Haversham did. After her betrayal in love

she hardened her heart towards her fellow man. By hardening her heart and

suppressing her naturally affectionate nature, she committed a crime against

herself. Miss Havershams love for Compeyson is of a compassionate kind, this

blinded her to his true nature, as Herbert remarked, "too haughty and too much

in love to be advised by anyone." At Compeysons desertion her anger and sorrow

became extreme and she threw herself and Satis House into perpetual mourning and

a monument to her broken heart, shutting the world out and herself from the

world. Her only concession is in her adoption of Estella.

Miss Haversham has ulterior motives in adopting Estella, this is not a

loving action on her part, but a calculated manoeuvre to turn the child into a

haughty, heartless instrument of revenge against men. Estella is encouraged to

practice her disdain on Pip and to break his heart. Paradoxically, Miss

Havershams greatest sin, is against herself. By hardening her heart she loses

her generous, affectionate nature and becomes withered inside emotionally. Her

punishment is that the heartless young woman she has made, uses her lack of

feelings against Miss Haversham.

Estella herself is isolated, as for most of the novel she takes pleasure

in her role of avenger. Her isolation is in part responsible for Pips snobbery

and his estrangement from Joe and Biddy. Like Miss Haversham she becomes a

victim of her own machinations. She enters into a loveless marriage to Drummle,

who is cruel to her. This shows that no matter how heartless one tries to be,

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