Estella In Great Expectations Essay Research Paper

Estella, stars are beautiful to behold but are very far and can?t be reached by the human hand. Stars are far and can’t be reached by the human hand. Likewise, in Great Expectations, Estella was presented as an impossible dream for Pip (Pickrel 440). Estella was the star for Pip’s bark, the inspirer of his desire to rise (Partlow 201). Pip was hopelessly smitten by Estella’s beauty, but he soon realized the cruel reality that he couldn’t have her. Pip was blinded by his love for her but terribly broken hearted knowing, like a very beautiful star, unattainable (Pickrel 160). Estella’s name symbolizes the distant and unreachable star that also signifies her character in the novel.

By the end of the novel, Estella changed as a result of her loveless marriage with Bentley Drummle. She endured some suffering that taught her valuable life lessons which led to the transformation of her heart and character. She didn’t marry Bentley out of love but rather to break Pip’s heart as Miss Havisham cruelly taught her (Dyson 239). Through this experience, she becomes warmer and more compassionate. Pip remarks on the stark reversal of the once hard Estella, “… what I had never seen before, was the once saddened softened light of the once proud eyes, what I had never felt before, was the friendly touch of the once insensible hand” (Brazilai 221). The great lesson that Estella learned was that goodness doesn’t come from high social rank; it comes from the feelings of the heart or inner nature (Partlow 202).

Estella’s cold nature and indifferent nature eventually transformed, despite the horrible education she received when she was young. Her effect on Pip’s life also affected his thoughts and decisions while growing up. Estella’s personality throughout the novel is symbolized to that of a star (Pickrel 165). Pip?s love couldn?t reach her heart because she didn?t know any other way than to reciprocate with cold feelings. However, through life experiences and suffering, the once hard Estella soon realized that she had goodness within her.