Biddy vs Estella

Biddy vs. Estella
The main character of this novel is very obviously Pip. He is both the narrator and protagonist of the novel. When delving into the characteristics of Pip, it is easy to see that for every action Pip does, he is thinking of how someone else will view it, whether that someone be Estella, Miss Havisham, Biddy, Joe or any other character in this novel. It is easy to say that Pip’s main goals in life were most affected and determined by Estella’s relationship with Pip and also Biddy’s relationship with Pip. His relationship with Estella greatly determined his personality and his relationship with Biddy was an antagonist to Pip’s desire to be a gentlemen. Each relationship greatly affected Pip but each relationship is significantly different.
Estella’s and Pip’s relationship can be best described as “unwanted love.” All Pip wanted out of his life was for Estella to love him and respect him and to not look down on him. Before he met Estella he had no concept of a class system. He was content in his lifestyle and had no wants for a rich and more respected lifestyle. Estella is essentially the one who turns Pip’s world upside down. She makes Pip become a completely different person. It’s possible to say that Estella herself had no idea of the affect she had on Pip’s life and the lives of those who loved him. After meeting Estella, Pip becomes obsessed with the idea of becoming a gentleman. All he wants out of life is to become rich so that Estella will no longer find him lowly and he would marry her and provide for her. Little does Pip know that this is an impossible task. Estella has been raised to break the hearts of men and to never love. She breaks Pip’s Heart and plays with his emotions like a cat playing with a mouse.
Throughout the novel, Estella’s behaviour sets the tone for Pip’s actions and emotions. When she remarks on his boots and rough hands, it greatly affects Pip and he suddenly becomes embarrassed from himself. He is disturbed when she rebuffs him, mournfully telling is that “I was inwardly crying for her then, knowing what I know of the pain she cost me afterwards.” She also causes Pip to be in great despair over the news that she marries Drummle. “I dropped my face into my hands… what agony it gave me to hear her say those words.” In a way Estella almost becomes a part of Pip, for every action he does, she is a conscience in the back of his mind. Pip cannot escape the love he has for Estella even though he knows; he may never get it back in return. His love for Estella completely changes who he is, and most importantly changes his morals.
The one character who I believe is worthy of comparison with Estella is Biddy. She is the only woman whom Pip may have loved, like he loved Estella. Biddy exudes a constant innate goodness and warmth that is also represented by Joe. She truly cares for Pip and wants what’s best for him. Biddy is kind and compassionate, which is evident when she is the one who steps up to take care of Mrs. Joe after she is attacked. She is very wise and aware of the world. She clearly sees the reasoning of Pip’s desire to be a gentlemen and how Estella really will never love Pip like he hopes. “Do you want to be gentlemen to spite her or gain her over…if it’s for gaining her over, I should think – but you know best, she was not worth gaining over.”
If it weren’t for Estella, Pip and Biddy could have had a relationship, but Pip’s desire for Estella completely blinded Pip into noticing Biddy for her amazing qualities. Pip realizes that if he would’ve released himself from the grasp of Estella, he could have been happier with Biddy. In the end, Pip is greatly affected by his relationship with Biddy. She reminds him of the mistakes he made in his life and it hurts him that he neglected her and Joe too. In conclusion, the relationship between Pip and these two women could not be more conflicting. Estella represents what’s wrong with the world and Biddy represents what’s right. It’s sad to think that if only Pip would have opened his eyes and loved Biddy the way Biddy may have loved him, all his troubles may never have affected him. His desire for Estella ruined his life, and only brought him pain and suffering. He truly loses out and realizes his mistake when the two people who really loved him the most get married. He lost both of them based on the decision he made to become a gentlemen to gain Estella’s affections.