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What Does Miss Havisham Symbolize In Great Expectations

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There seem to be many themes and symbols in Charles Dickens novel Great Expectations. The fire which occurred in Miss Havisham's house is an interesting theme. Obviously by the novel's title we get the idea that it will be about what is to come in the life of one of the main characters, Pip. From the time Pip goes to Miss Havisham's home for the first time he want success and wealth that is shown there. Her wealth impressed him. He set higher goals. At Miss Havisham's house Pip starts on the idea of self improvement and education for success. Pip grows on Miss Havisham and falls in love with Estella, whom she is raising. Miss Havisham taunts Pip with Estella's coldness to him.

This story is a case of " what goes around, comes around." Miss Havisham spent a lot of time allowing Estella to treat Pip badly despite the fact that she knew he liked her. Estella ends up marrying someone else. In time Miss Havisham apologizes to Pip. After she asks him to forgive her dress catches on fire and she is badly injured. …show more content…

Miss Havisham's house was filled with expensive and excessive things. She was wealthy because she got lucky in the business of industry. Maybe Dickens included the fire in her house to show that wealth. Her desire was to find love and when the day of her wedding came she was " stood up" at the altar. This made her a little crazy. She wore her wedding dress all the time and her dining table remained set up for years with the food for the wedding " feast". Maybe the fire suggests that fire was a symbol of wealth and how a person can be easily lost in that lifestyle, especially by the decision a person

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