What Is Miss Havisham's Mental Illness

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens is about a boy named Pip who travels to London to become a gentleman. Pip is in his sister’s custody because both of their parents died. Pip grows up abused by his sister and confides in Joe Gargery, his sister’s husband. He often visits the graveyard where his parents are buried, when he is forced to help a convict. Pip is later invited to Miss Havisham’s house and meets Estella and falls in love with her. After knowing Miss Havisham for a while Pip receives an anonymous inheritance to go to London with Mr. Jaggers as his guardian to become a gentleman. Pip stays in London, then he is invited back to the Satis House where Miss Havisham lives. Magwitch, the convict from the beginning, shows up in Pip’s
Miss Havisham is being consumed by her depressed state. One symptom of depression and/or MDD is when the mood takes over their life(Martin 12). Things have been the same in the dressing room since the day Miss Havisham was supposed to be married(Dickens 43-44). Since Miss Havisham was so distraught from the experience she never went on with her life and let the sadness take over her life. She could not get the courage to think that anything would ever get better. The shock of being left followed by sadness consumed Miss Havisham more than anyone thought, to the point where she froze herself in time. She is consumed by the fact that she was left she feels trapped and is unable to move on or attempt to make her life better. Miss Havisham has been in such a state for years. Another symptom of depression and/or MDD is that weeks, months, or even years pass before the person begins to feel better(Martin 12). “You are not afraid of a woman who has never seen the sun since you were born?” (Dickens 44). Miss Havisham was in such shock and she was unable to pursue the rest of her life. She was unaware of how she has isolated herself, and how she froze herself in time. Pip is about nine years old when she asks him this question and it does not throw him off as much as expected. She stays isolated and does not open any windows or curtains to receive any sunlight because it symbolizes happiness that she is not ready to see or feel. She is also an older woman and it can be assumed that it has been more than 9 years since this incident has happened. She also struggles with everyday tasks. According to Martin, difficulty with everyday function is a symptom of depression(44). “I made out from this, that the work i had to do was to walk Miss Havisham round and round the room”(Dickens 66). Miss Havisham had stayed seated for so many years her legs were unable