Great Expectations Paper

The inside of the house is darker than a moonless night. Bars cover the windows to prevent sunlight and anything else from entering or leaving. Roaches and other critters crawl through the many decade old food, laid out for what was supposed to be a happy event. The clocks are all frozen at nine twenty, the very time my heart was cruelly broken. I will never forgive him, that man who ruined everything for me. Everyone deserves to be hurt as I was. In Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, this was Miss Havisham’s dark view of the world. It was before she learned the importance of forgiveness, and how to forgive. Forgiveness was, is, and always will be one of the most important traits found in a person.

Havisham plays a very important role in Dickens’ masterpiece. She is a representation of those who have been burned or scorned by the people they love. Holding onto the anger and pain like a steel trap for decades, Havisham aims to hurt everyone as she once was. Although she wasn’t the main character, that was her tragic flaw. It took her too long to realize that you cannot hold onto that pain. All it did was hurt her and those around her.

Eventually Havisham learns how to forgive everyone who hurt her. The fire that engulfs her is a symbol of cleansing. It cleansed her soul of all the hatred and anger, turning her into a new person. She forgives Estella for not returning her “love”. “That girl’s hard and haughty and capricious to the last degree, and has been brought up by Miss Havisham to wreak revenge on all the male sex.” (p. 175) Havisham pretty much created another monster just like herself. Estella becomes just like her, because that’s all she ever knew. No one ever showed her how to be different.

Of all the forgiving characters in the novel, Joe and Biddy were the ones that stood out. Joe is a symbol of true love. He never tried to control or hurt Pip and didn’t even get angry when Pip was being difficult and rude. Always forgiving, Joe was a role model for Pip, though Pip wasn’t bright enough to follow his lead. Joe was never good enough for Pip. Biddy was also very forgiving. Pip said some very rude and mean spirited things to Biddy, and she forgave. “I observed to myself one evening that she had curiously thoughtful and attentive eyes; eyes that were very pretty and very good.” (p. 125) Eyes are a symbol of the soul which means Biddy has a good soul. If Pip would of paid attention to the things right in front of him instead of wishing for Estella, he might of ended up happily married with Biddy. Of course, he made the wrong decision and decided to chase after Estella.

Flames jumped onto me. I do not know how it started or what happened, but next thing I knew I was drenched in fire. As the flames burned away at me, everything became clear. I hurt others. I hurt them the way I was hurt so long ago. It was wrong, so very wrong. Remorse swallowed me whole. It was clear to me that to forgive was the right thing to do. I forgive Estella for not loving me back, because I have loved her all these years. Screaming in pain and excitement for my epiphany I ran from the house into the daylight. Pip looked at me crazily. I knew I was going to die. What a good way to end my life. Finally, after so long, I felt good. Whole. Before I blacked out, I realized that forgiveness was, is, and always will be the most important thing found in a person.