Oh Estella why do you taunt young Pip so? Estella is a hard character not only has her upbringing been that of little fun having been adopted by Miss Havisham but Estella is also a man hater much like Miss Havisham. The plan all along when realised was to create almost a younger self of Miss Havisham in the way Estella declares she doesn't love Pip and is a hard person to talk to. Miss Havisham had always planned Pip to fall in love with Estella, for Estella to break his heart; after years and years of Pips torment as a child being Estella's play mate, Pip has his chance though a benefactor to become a gentleman. We all know though Pip's benefactor turns out to be not only Estella's real father but escaped convict Abel Magwitch.
Estella in Great Expectations is described as a 'beautiful and self possessed child' and as a adult she is 'proud and refined', she's a love/hate character due to the fact she's so rude to Pip yet you can't but feel sorry for her; she's had the most deprived childhood having a adoptive mother who has clearly lost herself, she always refuses her attraction towards Pip yet she shows a numerous amount of times to hold Pip in a higher regard then any other man. In a massive way Miss Havishams project of making Estella into this man hating heart break doesn't work, even though Estella holds a lot of presence and desires for gentle-men, Estella doesn't want to break Pip's heart.... thats why she would always refuse him even when he begs her not to marry Bentley Drummie. Estella doesn't know what love is.
Pip to Estella -
“Out of my thoughts! You are part of my existence, part of myself. You have been in every line I have ever read, since I first came here, the rough common boy whose poor heart you wounded even then. You have been in every prospect I have ever seen since – on the river, on the sails of the ships, on the marshes, in the clouds, in the light, in the darkness, in the wind, in the woods, in the sea, in the streets. You have been the embodiment of every graceful fancy that my mind has ever become acquainted with. The stones of which the strongest London buildings are made, are not more real, or more impossible to displace with your hands, than your presence and influence have been to me, there and everywhere, and will be. Estella, to the last hour of my life, you cannot choose but remain part of my character, part of the little good in me, part of the evil. But, in this separation I associate you only with the good, and I will faithfully hold you to that always, for you must have done me far more good than harm, let me feel now what sharp distress I may. O God bless you, God forgive you!”
― Charles Dickens, Great Expectations
Estella and Pip have a lot in common. Estella wasn't born into a wealthy family just is a convicts daughter and the lawyer Jaggers maid Molly. Estella's mother herself was saved from the gallows after murdering a woman in a fit of rage. Pip himself lived with his horrible sister and her gentle husband Joe after his own parents died, his life was to become a blacksmith like Joe, but upon meeting Estella and falling for her he decided he wanted to become a gentleman.
Pips growth into a gentleman is long through his search into the gentleman he had always aimed to be he learns many life lessons, not only are many of the actual 'gentleman' rude and snobbish (no sense of money) In fact Pips only friend is Herbert whom he lives with in London for a time. Pip along his way not only learns all the tricks of becoming a gentleman he actually finds himself; he is unique in the fact he has come from nothing. At first Pip almost becomes one of those arses of a gentleman he meets down the club; he never writes back home to Joe or even his friend Biddy. He forgets who he is. It isn't until Joe visits Pip in London and is deeply upset with who the man he cares for deeply has become selfish and exactly like the men he had despised upon coming to London. Pip also strikes up a friendship with John Wemmich, Mr.Jaggers clark and his father "The Aged P" - (aged parent) he visits his house in Walworth named "Castle" - note the clear romantic influences of Dickens with this inclusion, the fact the character has a replica of a small castle in a central part of london. Pip realises his mistakes and goes to Biddy to propose after he finds out Estella is to many Drummie though he finds she's now engaged to Joe! Its clear at the start of the book Pip could of easily married Biddy but he chose Estella and London instead (A adventure much like the Victorians loved)
Magwitch (Estella's father) in fact brings the story to a whole near the end being Pips secret benefactor and also being Estella's father whom thought she was dead, its on his death bed in jail that Pip decides to tell Magwitch in fact his daughter is alive (Pip figured out a while ago). Magwitch and Miss Havisham are linked in the fact that Magwitch was also wronged but her "love" Compeyson who basically caused Magwitch to get a twice as long prison sentence then himself (CON MAN)
Miss Havisham had planned for Estella and Pip to never be together she failed, the death of Estella's horrible husband (its implied Drummie was abusive during their relationship) and Miss Havisham herself finally brought Pip back to her. I'm glad Charles Dickens created his ending but the original one he wrote. In a way Dickens does leave it open but with the quote from Pip below we can hope that finally Estella & Pip get their happy ending together.
"no shadow of another parting from her"
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