Great Expectations: Symbolism
...it is in the clothes we
wear, the things we do, or what we buy, everything has a meaning. Symbolism is
also present in literature and it is shown in Charles Dickens Great Expectations.
The symbols of isolation, manipulation, the tragic hero, and wanting to be
someone else are seen throughout the book through the characters of Estella,
Magwitch, Miss Havisham, and Pip.
The character of Estella represents the symbols of isolation and manipulation.
By acting as an adult when she was still young, she separated herself from Pip
and others. This was due in large part to the way Miss Havisham, her stepmother,
raised her. She had no emotion, as Miss Havisham used her for revenge on men. On
his first visit to the Satis House, Pip overheard Miss Havisham tell Estella
"Well? You can break his heart." [65]. By doing what Miss Havisham tells her to,
she shows she is just as heartless as her stepmother. She also represents
manipulation in how she played with Pip's feelings, who has strong feelings for
her eventhough he also cannot stand her. She tells Pip "Come here! You may kiss
me if you like." [102]. Although the kiss may have meant a lot to Pip, it did
not mean anything to Estella as she was just playing with Pip's emotions.
The character of Magwitch represents the symbols of isolation and the tragic
hero. In this case, he was physically isolated from society because he was a
convict and was looked upon with disgust. When Magwitch confesses and apologizes
to Joe for stealing the food, Joe replies "poor miserable fellow creatur." [43].
Magwitch also illustrates the symbol of the tragic hero. Throughout most of the
book, Magwitch is looked down upon by Pip. Magwitch talks about his gratitude
for Pip when he helped him as a...
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