Salient Features of the Women Characters in Charles Dickens's "Great Expectation"

 “It is the real unconquerable rush and energy in a character which was the supreme and quite indescribable greatness of Dickens.” … G. K. Chesterton 

Unveiling the Complexity: Salient Features of Women Characters in Charles Dickens's Great Expectations
An Insight into the Multidimensional Portrayal of Female Characters in Dickens's Classic Novel

Introduction

The world of Charles John Huffam Dickens’ women in Great Expectation   is mostly drawn from lower middle class life. Their Circumstances are comfortable. They are treated with kindness by their men folk and are provided with all possible comforts and nothing is expected from them but a quite discharge of their household duties. Yet they are quarrel some and ill -tempered and make all about them as uncomfortable as possible. Invariably, they are unintelligent and untaught, even imbecile. Education has done little to improve their intellect or their temper. In such presentation, Dickens is realistic, for in his days, among the poor of London, countless such specimens could easily be found. Even the language which they use is the very language which Dickens must have heard them using in the lodging -houses and slums of London. 

 Female Characters in Dickens's Classic Novel

Now before we go into details , let's sum-up the key female characters in the novel. 

Estella: The Enigmatic Beauty - Estella embodies the allure of physical beauty, but her cold and distant nature reflects the tragic consequences of Miss Havisham's manipulations. Her character delves into the complexities of societal expectations and the impact of upbringing.

Miss Havisham: The Broken Bride - Miss Havisham, the jilted bride frozen in time, represents a haunting figure of heartbreak and bitterness. Her decaying mansion and the lingering echoes of her past serve as a poignant reminder of the destructive power of love gone wrong.

Biddy: The Empathetic Soul - Biddy's selflessness, compassion, and intelligence shine through her modest appearance. She offers a stark contrast to the superficial standards of beauty and becomes a source of inspiration and support for Pip, embodying the resilience of the common people.

Mrs. Joe Gargery: The Unyielding Matriarch - Mrs. Joe's fierce nature and relentless pursuit of discipline reflect the struggles of a working-class woman in a male-dominated society. Her character explores themes of societal expectations, gender roles, and the consequences of suppressing individuality.

Molly: The Silent Mystery - Molly's enigmatic presence and her hidden connection to various characters add an air of intrigue to the narrative. Her story unravels the dark secrets of the past and sheds light on the complexities of identity and social class.

Humorously they Joyous

  "Women who might wrecked homes, are shown as laughable foils for the infinite goodness and patience of the men about them” -- Gissing . Dickens treats these women humorously and makes them the source of joyous laughter. These women cause untold miseries to their men folk, but this aspect of the matter is not exhibited by Dickens. Dickens abounds in - women who are a curse to their husbands' lives. There is Mrs. Joe Gargery, the wife of the blacksmith in Great Expectations. She is shrewd of the most highly developed order. She tyrannizes over her husband and also over her little brother any harshness to the boy causes pain to her husband. "It is peculiarity of these women that no one can conjecture why they behave so ill. The nature of the animals, nothing more can be said"-Gissing . She brings about a quarrel between Joe and or lick by a malicious lie. She is not converted but made quite by a half -murderous blow at the back of her head .Further Mrs. Crupp, who does for David in his chambers, is the representative of a very large social class. She stands for the baser kind of London's landlady, a type frequently recurring in Dickens. Her name stands for all dishonesty and uncleanlines. "The monstrosity of her pretensions touches the highest point of the ludicrous".  – Gissing

So, here we can make these points:

Miss Havisham's Eccentricity: Despite her tragic past, Miss Havisham's character brings a touch of dark humor to the story. Her eccentric behavior, such as wearing her wedding dress and stopping the clocks, adds a peculiar and amusing element to the narrative.

Mrs. Joe's Sharp Tongue: Pip's sister, Mrs. Joe, is known for her acerbic wit and sharp tongue. Her comical verbal exchanges and exaggerated mannerisms often inject humor into the story, providing a contrast to the otherwise serious tone.

Wemmick's Aged Parent: Wemmick's aged and deaf father, known as the Aged Parent, brings lightheartedness to the novel. His misadventures and amusing conversations with Wemmick, complete with his whimsical fascination with the "Newgate Calendar," offer moments of joy and laughter.

Sarah Pocket's Absurdity: Sarah Pocket, one of Miss Havisham's relatives, adds a humorous element through her perpetual self-absorption and absurd behavior. Her continuous claims of being slighted and her exaggerated sense of entitlement create comedic situations throughout the story.

Clara Barley's Optimism: Clara Barley, Herbert Pocket's love interest, exhibits a cheerful and optimistic nature despite her difficult circumstances. Her positive outlook and unwavering faith in a better future bring a sense of joy and hope to the narrative.

Sympathetic Towards Women of the Working Classes: Illuminating Their Plight and Strength

With women of the working classes, Dickens is more sympathetic .His sympathy prevents him from criticizing the very poor. He shows the women of the poor at their very best. Generally speaking, these women are blessed with a good temper, the source of everything enjoyable in life. However poor and ignorant, they shed about them the light of joy and comfort. Themselves genial and cheerful, they do much to lighten the sorrow and suffering of poverty. We can highlight the key points here:

The Resilience of Biddy: Biddy, a young working-class girl, embodies resilience and fortitude in the face of hardship. Despite her modest background, she displays intelligence, compassion, and unwavering support for Pip, highlighting the strength of working-class women.

The Suffering of Mrs. Joe Gargery: Mrs. Joe, Pip's sister and a blacksmith's wife, represents the struggles faced by working-class women. Through her constant labor and sacrifices, Dickens emphasizes their often overlooked contributions to society.

The Compassion of Clara Barley: Clara, a factory worker, exhibits compassion and love in her relationship with Herbert Pocket. Dickens portrays her as a source of tenderness and emotional support, showcasing the depth of working-class women's capacity for love.

The Devotion of Molly: Molly, a mysterious character, represents the plight of women trapped in oppressive circumstances. Despite her challenging situation, she exhibits a mother's unwavering love and dedication to her child, shedding light on the strength and sacrifices of working-class mothers.

The Transformation of Estella: Estella, though born into wealth, is ultimately shaped by her experiences and the influence of working-class women like Biddy. Dickens highlights the impact of their empathy and kindness in shaping Estella's character, challenging societal stereotypes.

Eccentrics: Unconventional Women Who Challenge Victorian Norms

 Another group of female characters in Dickens consisted of eccentrics of all classes and tempers; they are a source of great mirth for the readers. Miss Havisham in Great Expectations is one of such women. She is an old and withered lady. In spite of her faded look she is always dressed in rich material -satins, laces, silks - all white in colour. Even her shoes are white and she wears a white bridal dress and the bridal flowers in hair are also white. Despite being very rich and grim, she is a broken heart as Compeyson, her lover in tongues her which she gets so humiliated that she shuts out the daylight and starts living like a recluse. To overcome her frustration Miss Havisham decides to take revenge upon the male sex. Her desire to torment everybody through the agony of love which she has expatriated so long makes her an insulting, intriguing, haughty and cold-hearten lady. Let's list the characters and their accentricities-

Miss Havisham: The jilted bride who lives in a decaying mansion, Miss Havisham embodies eccentricity through her perpetually frozen wedding attire and her manipulative, vengeful nature.

Mrs. Joe Gargery: Pip's hot-tempered and domineering sister, Mrs. Joe stands out for her peculiar language, strict discipline, and exaggerated persona, adding a touch of eccentricity to the story.

Miss Skiffins: As Wemmick's peculiar romantic interest, Miss Skiffins's unconventional fashion sense and her preference for quiet solitude make her an eccentric presence in the narrative.

Molly: Jaggers's mysterious housekeeper, Molly, with her scarred face and enigmatic past, exudes an otherworldly aura, challenging societal expectations of beauty and behavior.

Sarah Pocket: Sarah, one of Miss Havisham's distant relatives, is known for her odd habits, such as always carrying around a nutmeg grater, further emphasizing the eccentricity prevalent among the female characters in the novel.

Melodramatic and No Sexual Dimension: As George Sampson points out, "the pamphleteer and moralist in Dickens often push out, the artist." Thus he sometime fails over his characters. His serious women characters are often time the conventional virtuous and vicious figure of melodrama. The good are perfectly good and the bad without any pathetic at all. Farther the view of life expressed through the women character tend to be one sided and partial as the novelist shrunk from sex even in its respectable in manifestation . There is no sex his novel. Sex is an important part of life, but it is completely missing from the novels of Dickens. There is no psychological analysis of sexual problems and there are no sexual abnormalities. His novels are 'clean' not likely to bring a blush to most innocent cheeks. But to that extent they suffer as works of art. The picture of life they present is avoiding everything which his age regarded as coarse and vulgar. Dickens' women are missing sexual dimension.

The reasons can be poited out as:

Idealized Femininity: Dickens presents women characters in Great Expectations as idealized figures, often displaying exaggerated emotions and melodramatic tendencies. Their portrayals lean towards sentimentality and dramatic expressions rather than nuanced and realistic depictions.

Selflessness and Sacrifice: The women in the novel, such as Miss Havisham and Biddy, exhibit selflessness and a willingness to sacrifice their own happiness for the sake of others. Their actions emphasize traditional feminine virtues of nurturing and caretaking.

Lack of Sexual Dimension: Unlike some other literary works of the time, Great Expectations largely avoids explicit discussions or portrayals of sexuality in relation to its women characters. Their identities are primarily defined by their roles as nurturing figures or objects of adoration.

Limited Agency and Independence: While the women in the novel possess strength and resilience, their agency is often constrained by societal expectations and the male-dominated Victorian era. Their opportunities for personal growth and independence are limited, reinforcing traditional gender roles.

Moral Beacons: Women characters in Great Expectations, like Estella's adoptive mother, Miss Havisham, and the virtuous Biddy, serve as moral beacons, guiding the male protagonists towards self-reflection and personal development.

Beloved Maidens: Unveiling the Endearing Traits of Female Characters in Dickens' Masterpiece

But such a short coming is intended by another group of female characters consist of marriageable maidens. They are kittenish. They tell little fibs, and smile treacherous little smile, and sometimes shed a tear. But they are lovable all the same. These girls are among Dickens' masterpieces. In their portraits, there is no exaggeration at all; they are entirely true to life. They are realistic portraits of the Victorian maiden; not a word, not gesture goes beyond the very truth. Here Dickens is the realist exemplar. They are so representative, yet so finely individualized.

The Enigmatic Estella: Estella, a captivating beauty, embodies complexity and intrigue. Raised to be aloof and unattainable, her inner turmoil and vulnerability add depth to her character, leaving readers enthralled.

The Gentle Strength of Biddy: Biddy, a humble village girl, possesses a nurturing spirit and unwavering resilience. Her kind heart, intelligence, and moral integrity make her a beacon of hope in Pip's journey.

The Unforgettable Miss Havisham: Miss Havisham's tragic figure, frozen in time, evokes both sympathy and fear. Her vengeful nature and shattered dreams serve as a cautionary tale, highlighting the destructive power of heartbreak.

The Motherly Affection of Mrs. Joe: Despite her harsh exterior, Mrs. Joe's fierce love for Pip and her desire for his success reveal a tender maternal instinct. Her character explores the complexities of motherhood.

The Unrequited Love of Clara: Clara, Herbert's fiancée, exemplifies unwavering devotion and selflessness. Despite her own unfulfilled desires, she supports and encourages Pip, showcasing the depth of her love.

Conclusion

 Charles Dickens's Great Expectations presents a diverse array of women characters who exhibit a range of qualities and experiences. From the captivating Estella to the compassionate Biddy, these women challenge societal norms, highlight the complexities of femininity, and play integral roles in shaping the narrative. Dickens's portrayal of these women is nuanced, showcasing their strengths, vulnerabilities, and resilience. Through the female characters, Dickens explores themes of love, class, and social expectations, while also addressing the limitations imposed on women in Victorian society. The women in Great Expectations defy stereotypes and provide a rich tapestry of personalities and motivations. Their stories serve as a reminder that women in the 19th century, despite their societal constraints, possessed agency, intelligence, and the capacity for personal growth. Through their trials and triumphs, these women leave a lasting impression, making them integral and memorable figures in the literary landscape of Great Expectations. Taken on the whole, then, we must pronounce Dickens' women characters as effective, except where they are either eccentric or disagreeable. With an acceptance of these attributes, Charles Dickens has undoubtedly introduced numerous genuinely pathetic and remarkably humorous characters into the realm of novel writing.

 

   Ardhendu De   

Ref:

1. Great expectations : Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive. (n.d.). Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/greatexpectation1890dick