Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Great Expectations Assignment 2
Estella's personality can be revealed by a close examination of the roots of her name. The name Estella is of Latin origin and translated means a star. Like a star, she is very graceful, beautiful, and elegant in the eyes of Pip. However, a star can also be cold, distant, and unobtainable. Estella is these things as well. Estella is Pip's star that he tries to grasp and emulate at the same time. She is his driving force to succeed in becoming a gentleman. Although Estella is very pretty and well educated, she lacks compassion and shows no kindness. She makes Pip feel small, worthless, ugly, and ignorant by making fun of his appearance, and the way in which he speaks. Estella, in judging and poking fun at his imperfections, causes Pip to realize his shortcomings and reach ever higher for his ultimate goal. Estella, in the end becomes his guiding star and sets him on a path towards finding out what becoming a gentleman means.
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I have to agree that Estella is the shining distant image of what Pip aspires to be. He wants to be with Estella and he knows that the only way to do that is to rise to her level. "Which was, I suppose, as false a declaration as ever was made; for I was inwardly crying for her then..." (82). As cruel and heartless Estella is, Pip can't resist her beauty and elegant grace. Since she insults him for being a simple commoner, he knows that he must be a gentleman in order to reach her. The name "Estella" is an accurate foreshadowing tool to give an insight on the characters personality and purpose in the novel.
ReplyDeleteIn agreement with your statement, i think Estella is Pip's guiding star and she ultimately guides Pip on his path to finding out what being a gentleman means. She makes Pip feel unworthy of her, but Pip continues to admire her. "'How could I, a poor village lad, avoid that wonderful inconsistency into which the best and wisest of men fall every day?...i admire her dreadfully,'" (129). Pip's obvious desire to be with Estella is seen as he talks about her to Biddy. The only way for him to be liked by her is to be respected by her as a gentleman.
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