Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Blog Entry 2
Estella is the beautiful young girl who lives with Miss Havisham. Pip views Estella as an angel from above, because she is so beautiful. Charles Dickens chose to name the beautiful girl "Estella" for the reason that her looks and name match up to that of an angel. In the book, Estella is repeatedly described as "the prettiest girl" Pip has ever seen, and is noted for her "pretty brown hair" (pg. 60, 64). Pip seems to see her as something so pretty, that she isn't from our world, and this might be because she is from a different world. Not literally, but in the sense that their lives are so vastly different. The word "stella" means "star" and in Latin, "e" means "from, or out of". The word "Estella" could then be easily translated into "from the stars". In this way of thinking, Dickens had Estella, Pip's angel, have her name as from the stars. Angels are often referred to as from the stars or the heavens, so Dickens was setting Estella up to be as pretty as an angel when he named her.
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I agree with the meaning of Estella’s name and how you compared her to an angel out of the stars. Pip constantly talks about how pretty she is, as if she has a higher power over everyone. Or as you stated above; that she comes from a different world. That is entirely true, both Pip and Estella come from completely different backgrounds. To begin with Estella is growing up in a big house with a wealthy family (Miss Havisham). Also she is brought up with different beliefs than most girls. "I meant Estella. That girl's hard and haughty and capricious to the last degree, and has been brought up by Miss Havisham to wreak revenge on all the male sex” (pg.177). She is told to do this and therefore is mean to every male she comes across. The whole time Miss Havisham encourages her by saying things like “break their hearts my pride and joy”. Overall, Estella is different than most in many ways. On the other hand, Pips upbringing is extremely different than Estella’s. Pip is poor and doesn’t have many opportunities at his fingertips (other than being a blacksmith). Also, he is bored of his life and wants to learn and have better manners. “It is a most miserable thing to feel ashamed of home. Home had never been a very pleasant place to me, because of my sister's temper. But, Joe had sanctified it, and I had believed in it" (pg. 106). Pip isn’t content with his life and wants more. His sister is always angry and abusive towards him and Joe doesn’t do anything about it. His way of life really varies from that of Estella’s and therefore he looks up to her as if she is from another world. They are different and it really shows.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with your definition and meaning of Estella's name. In the book, Estella is descibed by Dickens and Pip as very pretty girl. I agree with you and also think that Dickens named Estella her name specifically for it to mean star. "Her light came along the long dark passage like a star." (p.59)Pip think this to himself When Estella enters the room. Estella was definately named her name because of her beauty and star like qualities.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with your claim. I think your view on how Estella's name means star which could translate Pip and Estella being from two different worlds was a great idea! See Estella has been brough up with money from Miss Havisham. On page 51 Mr. Pumblechook says, "Everybody for miles round, has heard of Miss Havisham up town- as an immensely rich and grim lady." Estella not only was brought up with wealth, but also very secluded therefore I'd think sad because Miss Havisham, "Led a life of seclusion." (pg. 51) On the other hand Pip was brought up by a blacksmith and his sister. They were poor, but he grew up happier because he had Joe. Pip says, "For no better reason in those early days than because the dear fellow let me love him."(pg.41) Pip might not have been rich, but he had Joe's love. They do live in different worlds, Estella with wealth, but loneliness, while Pip with close to nothing, but loved.
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