How Does Dickens Respond To The Original Ending Of Great Expectations

Charles Dickens attempts to show that not all stories have a happy ending, especially in his novel Great Expectations. His two endings convey very different tones. The original ending gives Pip what he deserves. He ends up living alone and is unmarried. Dickens’ rewrite seems far fetched in that Estella, and Pip marry. The alternate ending gives good imagery and details, but misconstrue Dickens’ intended tone. The original ending is better and more congruent to the storyline because Pip is undeserving of a happy ending, while in the second ending does not correspond with the rest of the book, and furthermore Estella’s change is uncharacteristic and too “Hollywood” for the novel.
Pip is unable to woo Estella despite repeated attempts over multiple
The original ending makes sense because it too is unhappy. By making the ending happy, which is done in the rewritten version, it throws off the entire mood of the story. Estella said, “‘I have often thought of you,’” (Dickens 489). Throughout the whole book, Estella has shown no interest in Pip. Now all of a sudden, she is thinking about him. The quote completely changes the mood of the story and stays away from Dickens’ tone. Estella and Pip are now romantic together, even though Estella has said she has no heart and Estella does not love. Somehow all of this has changed, and she is willing to love Pip as he has loved her for his entire life. Pip explains, “‘...She gave me assurance that something had been stronger than Miss Havisham's teaching, and had given her heart to understand what my heart used to be.’” (Dickens 490). After all the mistakes that Estella has made, she now realizes that being emotionally available will bring her better success than breaking men's hearts. The original ending conveys a more congruent theme throughout the story but shows the reader that with mistakes comes a better understanding of how to do the right thing. Here Estella realizes how it feels to be treated poorly (like she has to Pip) and feels sorry for it.
Estella mentions, “‘And (we) will continue friends apart.’” (Dickens 489). During the second ending, Pip and Estella talk about their lives and how they have not been to the Satis in a long time. In this quote, Estella is admitting that they will be friends forever. Coming after Estella left Pip for Drummle and decided to move away from everyone she knew including Miss Havisham and Pip. The original ending follows the theme that Dickens was attempting to portray. Estella explains her newfound feelings saying, “‘...now, when suffering has been stronger than all other teachings and has taught me to understand what your heart used to be.’” (Dickens 489). Estella is showing an uncharacteristic change that is not seen in the original ending. Estella understands the hurt that was put on Pip when she was breaking his heart. Now that Drummle has left Estella; she knows how heartbreak feels. Estella ends the conversation by saying, “‘Be as considerate and good to me as you were, and tell me we are good friends’” (Dickens 489). Based on the events that occur in the story this quote makes no sense to what Estella’s real character is. In the second ending, everything is better, and the story ends with a happy ending. What Estella says is almost unbelievable considering her past actions throughout the