Charles Dickens is renown as one of the most outstanding writers of the 20th century. He was especially known for his exploration and inquiry into gender roles in society. In Great Expectations, Dickens tackles gender issues head on, often by portraying violence and disorder as a result of confusion in gender roles (Farrell 3). As a result, Dickens forces the reader to see that women who do not abide by the rules of Victorian woman are ultimately punished or tamed in one way or another.
It can be easy to tell what Dickens will do to women like Mrs. Joe, who are perceived to have no “womanly feelings” of compassion or empathy (Ciugureanu 4). Dickens writes that Mrs. Joe is “…dictatorial, abusive and constantly complaining…” and that she strives to be the center of attention (Ciugureanu 3). These behavioral descriptions of Mrs. Joe clearly display how she does not fit the role of a Victorian woman. Violent taming is a common method Dickens adopts when women do not act in accordance with Victorian gender. For example, “Mrs. Joe is beaten into submission by Orlick, Molly is tamed by Mr. Jaggers, and Estella is …show more content…
However, no matter how gorgeous Estella is, she is still a cold hearted, unloving woman. “’Oh! I have a heart to be stabbed in or shot in, I have no doubt,’ said Estella, ‘and of course, if it ceased to beat I should cease to be. But you know what I mean. I have no softness there, no – sympathy – sentiment – nonsense’” (Dickens 186).“’I have not bestowed my tenderness anywhere. I have never had any such thing’” (Dickens 186). Estella depicts a feeling of sado-masochism, or a need that involves getting pleasure form causing or feeling pain. This is what motivates Estella to taunt Pip and then punish herself self by allowing Bentley Drummle to rightfully abuse her (Christiansen 3). Because Miss Havisham raised Estella improperly, she grew up to be a heartless cruel woman and was therefore punished by dickens by having her brute husband abuse
It can be easy to tell what Dickens will do to women like Mrs. Joe, who are perceived to have no “womanly feelings” of compassion or empathy (Ciugureanu 4). Dickens writes that Mrs. Joe is “…dictatorial, abusive and constantly complaining…” and that she strives to be the center of attention (Ciugureanu 3). These behavioral descriptions of Mrs. Joe clearly display how she does not fit the role of a Victorian woman. Violent taming is a common method Dickens adopts when women do not act in accordance with Victorian gender. For example, “Mrs. Joe is beaten into submission by Orlick, Molly is tamed by Mr. Jaggers, and Estella is …show more content…
However, no matter how gorgeous Estella is, she is still a cold hearted, unloving woman. “’Oh! I have a heart to be stabbed in or shot in, I have no doubt,’ said Estella, ‘and of course, if it ceased to beat I should cease to be. But you know what I mean. I have no softness there, no – sympathy – sentiment – nonsense’” (Dickens 186).“’I have not bestowed my tenderness anywhere. I have never had any such thing’” (Dickens 186). Estella depicts a feeling of sado-masochism, or a need that involves getting pleasure form causing or feeling pain. This is what motivates Estella to taunt Pip and then punish herself self by allowing Bentley Drummle to rightfully abuse her (Christiansen 3). Because Miss Havisham raised Estella improperly, she grew up to be a heartless cruel woman and was therefore punished by dickens by having her brute husband abuse