Internal Conflict In Great Expectations

In Charles Dickens’ novel Great Expectations, Estella is a complex character. She clearly appears to constantly create internal conflict for Pip; however, Estella creates internal conflict for herself even though it is less obvious. Estella has been greatly influenced by Miss Havisham, despite the fact she is not her biological mother. Miss Havisham uses her own corrupt experiences to plant her ideologies into Estella’s head, hoping she can be the key to her revenge on men. Miss Havisham’s life experiences influence her daughter greatly, similar to “The Box”, where the protagonist discovers the deep and dark secrets of her father’s past and how they influence her (“The Box (A coming of age story)”). Because of this act, Estella transforms into …show more content…
Unfortunately, the only way to do so is to become a wife. Back during the time of the Industrial Revolution –where the novel takes place- women are rarely independent without the company of a husband. In order for Estella to move out of Satis House, she has to get married, but she cannot marry just anyone. Estella needs someone who is financially stable and will support her so she can live her life as leisurely as she wishes. Sadly, because of the way she was raised, Estella is almost incapable of love; therefore this means her husband must not want Estella as a lover, but as a trophy. Consequently, Estella marries Bentley Drummle who beats her severely. This is the danger of Estella acting upon her desire, she craves for freedom and independence, unluckily the man she chooses physically abuses her. Along with many men during the era, he believes “that it is every man’s ‘right’ to beat his life so long as it was to ‘correct her’ if she did anything to annoy or upset him or refused to obey his orders.” (Wojtczak, 3-4). Fortunately, Estella does find redemption and gains wisdom from her horrific …show more content…
This is after all of the excruciating pain she has gone through with her first marriage. Pip loved Estella, yet she felt nothing for him. Now, Estella understands how Pip once felt, after Drummle passed away, a doctor helped rehabilitate her from her experiences and they fell in love. She slowly heals, but the mark of fear is not easily removed. Pip sees this in Estella’s eyes and face, which is “a teller of tales of hard deeds and mayhem” (Proulx, 73-74). She was once in pain and once heartless, but now is kindhearted and content As Estella aged, she gained wisdom and is no longer the stubborn prissy girl she once was. After her childhood where Miss Havisham had a negative influence on her, Estella found someone who she feels compassion towards and returns the emotion. Now she uses her past experiences to make decisions and finally reaches her lifelong dream of becoming independent and she has someone at her side that cares for