Essay on Miss Havisham in Great Expectations - 2451 Words

In Great Expectations, Dickens depicts an eccentric character in Miss Havisham. The unmarried Miss Havisham seems to both conform to and deny the societal standards of unmarried women in the Victorian Age. Spinsters and old maids display particular attitudes and hold certain functions in the society. Miss Havishams character shows how one woman can both defy and strengthen these characteristics. She, along with several other female characters in the novel, supports the fact that unmarried women were growing in number. In addition, her extravagant appearance aligns her with the common misconceptions of a spinsters appearance as common and unattractive, as well as makes her outcast from society like many unmarried women were.†¦show more content†¦17). Miss Skiffins, Wemmicks friend, presents herself not only as a single woman but one who takes care of her own finances, which was uncommon in this day. And then there is Miss Havisham, who has risen to the status of o ld maid through the mere passage of time. All of these women provide examples from the text of single women, which supports the contention of the time that single women were growing in number. Although Biddy and Miss Skiffins do marry, it is important to note not only the length of their spinsterhood, but the circumstances under which it comes to an end. Biddy can only become Joes wife after Mrs. Joe dies. Wemmick waits until precisely the right time in his affairs to propose to Miss Skiffins so as not to disturb the natural order of his very structured life. While these single women offer a distinct presence in the novel, none plays a large role in society. Spinsters were often viewed as outcasts from society; there was no respect for a woman who could not marry. Miss Havisham definitely fits the mold of an outcast. After being abandoned at the altar, she decides to stop time in her home in an effort to block out the memory. She removes all natural light from her surroundings and becomes a recluse. She stops the clocks at twenty minutes to nine, the time of her abandonment. She monitors her visitors; only people she has requested or desires to see are admitted to Satis House. ForShow MoreRelated The Vengeful Miss Havisham - Great Expectations Essay867 Words   |  4 PagesThe Vengeful Miss Havisham - Great Expectations. In Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens, Miss Havisham is a complex character whose past remains a mystery. We know about her broken engagement, an event that changes her life forever. Miss Havisham desperately wants revenge, and Estella, her adopted daughter, is the perfect tool to carry out her motives. 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