Havisham Essay - 935 Words

Havisham essay. ‘Miss Havisham’ is a bitter and twisted character from the novel ‘Great Expectations’ by Charles Dickens. Carol Ann Duffy takes this character and explores her tragic life in the poem ‘Havisham’. Duffy uses Dark themes, structure, symbolism and other poetic techniques to express Havisham’s hatred for men after her tragic wedding when she was rejected by her fiancà ©. Duffy’s use of these poetic techniques create a sinister character and makes Havisham feel real to the reader. To begin the poem Duffy uses a shocking short sentence, which contains contrasting word choice to convey an ironic tone from Havisham. The contradictory oxymoron also startles the reader and grasps our attention as we do not expect this beginning.†¦show more content†¦She even begins to make animalistic screams which are symbolic of darkness and death. ‘cawing nooooo’ this neologism of ‘no’ suggests an animalistic persona where her sense of language has broken down to a series of noises which highlight her extreme mental decay. This also suggests her self-pity but makes the reader feel sympathy for the narrator as she desperately screams at the wall showing how lost and pathetic she has become over time. The ‘cawing’ is also symbolic of death and darkness as it is resembling a crow which the reader links with death, darkness and the devil. This combination of neologism and symbolism creates a sinister mood. Duffy’s use of neologi sm to emphasis Havisham’s mental decay makes her feel real to the reader and her animalistic person adds to her sinister character. Duffy goes on to show Havisham’s layers of feelings as she expresses her exterior feelings of hatred, anger and revenge which contrast with her true feelings of love for her past lover. It is the rejection from her lover which sends her into this downward spiral which eventually results in her feelings of hatred for all men and desperate want for revenge. ‘love’s hate behind a white veil’ This oxymoron places love and hate side by side and conceals both emotions behind a symbolic white bridal veil, which is ironically white and contrasts with herShow MoreRelatedComparison of Miss Havisham and Lady Macbeth Essay1347 Words   |  6 Pagessurroundings are not only physical, but also psychological; found in their relationships and trauma from past events. Although both women are presented in different forms Lady Macbeth is also strongly influenced by her physical surroundings. Like Miss Havisham, her home is metaphorical of her characteristics. She lives in a great castle from which we never see her leave. Like the castle she first comes across as strong, powerful and intimidating with strong walls, yet we later see these crumble and leaveRead More 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. With her plan of revenge in mind, Miss Havisham deliberately raises Estella to avoid emotional attachment and treat those who love herRead MoreMiss Havisham and Magwitch from Great Expectations Essay1035 Words   |  5 Pagesrelationship between character and location in the case of Magwitch and the marshes; Miss Havisham and Satis House (chapters 1-19) Both the characters Miss Havisham and Magwitch are linked closely with their respective surroundings, as Dickens employs imagery and pathetic fallacy to illustrate this. Although many characters in Great Expectations reflect their environments, the relationship of Miss Havisham and Magwitch offer a particular contrast. The novel echoes many of Dickens’s own lifeRead MoreEssay about In Great Expectations, Is Miss Havisham crazy and/or evil?1327 Words   |  6 PagesIn Great Expectations, Is Miss Havisham crazy and/or evil? The mad,eccentric and incredibly peculiar Miss Havisham,a wealthy dowager who lives in an old, rotting mansion secluded from the outside world is certainly one of the most memorable creations in the book Great Expectations written by Charles Dickens. From the first introductory scene on encountering Miss Havisham’s character it is immediately clear that she is supposed to leave a lasting impression on the reader. Dickens usesRead MoreHavisham by Carol Ann Duffy Essay1257 Words   |  6 PagesIn Havisham, Carol Ann Duffy creates an interesting character. Write about the way the character is created, and compare this with the way other characters are created in three other poems. You should compare it with one poem by Simon Armitage and two poems from the pre-1912 poetry bank. In Havisham, Carol Ann Duffy explores the character of Mrs Havisham and develops her by using vivid imagery and metaphors. She starts the poem with ‘Beloved sweetheart bastard’ which is an oxymoron, used to displayRead MoreEssay on Miss Havisham in Great Expectations2451 Words   |  10 Pages   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 unmarriedRead MoreCreating Tension Through the Presentation of Magwitch and Miss Havisham in Great Expectations1182 Words   |  5 PagesHow does Dickens create tension through his presentation of Magwitch and Miss Havisham in Great Expectations? Introduction ============ Great Expectations is about a young boy, Pip, who lives in a deprived town with his sister (Mrs Joe) and her husband (Mr Joe). Pip meets a fugitive, Magwitch and after meeting with this runaway he fears from his life. Pip is then summoned to go and play at Miss Havisham’s house. He then falls in love with Estella who chooses to ignore Pip, which makesRead MoreCharles Dickens Great Expectations964 Words   |  4 PagesMoynahan’s next main point in the essay, regarding Pip’s psychology causing Miss Havisham’s death, is arguable. Moynahan points out that Pip experiences nothing but unhappiness when he visits Satis House and Miss Havisham. Moynahan continues that Pip’s visions of Miss Havisham dying, from both his childhood and adulthood, indicate that he causes Miss Havisham’s accident, â€Å"Pip’s†¦recurrent hallucination, suggests an analogy between that part of Pip which wants Miss Havisham at least punished, at most removedRead MoreEssay about Love and Hate in the Poems Havisham and The Laboratory676 Words   |  3 PagesThe poems Havisham and The Laboratory teach us that love and hatred are two of the most powerful yet contrasting emotions in this world. In both the poems they are loving to hate and hating to love. This means that when love is given it leaves us vuln erable , and if the love is not returned then it can turn to hate as quick as boiling water to steam. For both women in the poem have been rejected from their men mentally and physically, leaving them nothing but pain and the overwhelming desireRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book Great Expectations 1438 Words   |  6 PagesLetter Essay, Great Expectations By Leona Markose One of the books I have recently read is Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. It introduces the reader a rather unique approach into the subject of social class. Throughout the book, Pip, the main character is faced with many challenges that shape him into who he is. We first meet Pip on Christmas eve around the 1800s. While out