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In his feelings for Estella, how does Pip come to follow Miss Havisham’s teachings?

Question

In his feelings for Estella, how does Pip come to follow Miss Havisham’s teachings?

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Solution

In Charles Dickens' "Great Expectations", Pip's feelings for Estella are heavily influenced by Miss Havisham's teachings. Here's a step-by-step breakdown of how this happens:

  1. Introduction to Estella: Pip first meets Estella at Satis House, the home of Miss Havisham. Estella is presented as a beautiful, refined, and cold-hearted young woman. Miss Havisham has raised her to break men's hearts as a form of revenge against the man who jilted her on her wedding day.

  2. Pip's Infatuation: Pip becomes infatuated with Estella despite her cruel and disdainful treatment of him. This is in line with Miss Havisham's teachings, as she has conditioned Estella to be unattainable and desirable, thus ensuring that men fall for her only to have their hearts broken.

  3. Social Aspiration: Influenced by his love for Estella, Pip aspires to become a gentleman. He believes that by improving his social status, he can win Estella's love. This is another aspect of Miss Havisham's teachings, as she has instilled in Estella a sense of superiority and a disdain for those of lower social status.

  4. Realization and Heartbreak: Eventually, Pip realizes that Estella is incapable of love, and his heart is broken. This is the ultimate realization of Miss Havisham's teachings. She has successfully used Estella to break Pip's heart, just as her own heart was broken.

In conclusion, Pip's feelings for Estella and his subsequent actions are a direct result of Miss Havisham's teachings. She uses Estella as a tool to enact her revenge on men, and Pip, in his love for Estella, becomes a victim of this revenge.

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