Also in chapter eight, Dickens shows Miss Havisham to be lonely and isolated. He does this through the use of imagery. An example of this is shown in the thirty-seventh paragraph, “No glimpse of daylight was to be seen”. This shows to the reader that Miss Havisham is maybe a recluse from society. Also, it creates atmosphere and suspicion because it makes the reader wonder why there was not a glimpse of daylight and it makes the reader want to carry on reading to find out.
In chapter eight, there are lots of examples that compare and parallel Miss Havisham with the living-dead. Dickens uses different techniques to show this. An example of this is when Dickens describes her figure. He does this through the use of imagery. He describes her figure as, “shrunk to skin and bone”.
This shows the reader that Pip is intimidated and disturbed by her. It also creates a negative image in the reader’s head about Miss Havisham.
Another example of the theme of the living-dead is when Dickens describes her appearance. He does this through the use of a metaphor. He describes Miss Havisham as, “waxwork and skeleton”. This again shows to the reader that Pip feels intimidated by her and her presence and it also creates atmosphere and tension.
Powerful adjectives are also used to parallel Miss Havisham with the living-dead. For example, when Dickens is describing her, he describes her as a “ghastly waxwork”. This creates atmosphere and tension and makes the literature more interesting and appealing. It also shows to the reader Pips apprehensive thoughts and emotions about her.
Also in chapter eight there is lots of evidence that Miss Havisham is stuck in time. Dickens uses detailed description of the surroundings and settings to show this. A particular example of this is when Dickens describes the clocks in the room. He describes, “her watch had stopped at twenty to nine, and that a clock in the room had stopped at twenty to nine”. This shows to the reader that Miss Havisham is a mysterious character and also it created suspense; it makes the reader wonder why the clocks are stopped at twenty to nine, thus making the reader want to carry on reading to find out why twenty to nine is so significant.
Another example is when Dickens describes the different objects across the room. For example, he describes Miss Havisham; that she has “one shoe on” and also that the room is cluttered with, “half-packed trunks”. This shows the reader that she is linked with her settings and that she is stuck in time. Also, it indicates that she could have unfinished business.
Also, in chapter eight there are many examples that Miss Havisham has faded wealth. Dickens uses description of settings and of various objects around the room to show this. One example of this is when Dickens describes what Miss Havisham was wearing, “dressed in rich materials”. This shows to the reader that she must have been wealthy in the past to be able to afford to buy these rich materials.
Another example of her faded wealth is shown when Dickens is describing her sparkling jewellery, “bright jewels sparkled on her neck and hands”. This shows to the reader again that Miss Havisham was a wealthy lady for her to be able to afford to buy jewels. Also, when she placed a jewel on Estella’s neck to manipulate her, “took up a jewel from the table, and tried its effect upon her fair young bosom”. This shows to the reader that Miss Havisham is just utilizing Estella.
Another indication of Miss Havisham’s faded wealth is that she owns and lives in her own house; this in itself was extremely rare in that time period unless you were very wealthy. Also, her house had a courtyard and a brewery, “across the courtyard. It was paved and clean”. This shows to the reader that she was very rich and wealthy because only big houses with wealthy inhabitants contained court-yards.
In chapter eleven, Dickens shows Miss Havisham to be wallowing in self-pity. He does this through the use of dialogue. For example, Miss Havisham pities herself when she tells Pip about her cake, “A bride-cake. Mine!” This shows to the reader that she is stuck in time and that she feels sorry for herself.
Dickens also shows Miss Havisham’s emotions in chapter eleven. He does this through the use of pathetic fallacy. He describes the smoke, “reluctant smoke which hung in the room”. This makes the reader think that maybe the smoke is lingering in the room reluctant to pass, just like Miss Havisham is lingering in the past reluctant to move on.
Also, Dickens uses description of setting to link with Miss Havisham. He describes the room as, “covered with dust and mould, and dropping to pieces”. This suggests to the reader that maybe Miss Havisham’s mind is decaying and rotting, and falling to pieces like the room is. It also suggests that she is embracing the rot and decay.
In chapter eleven, Dickens encourages the reader to think that Miss Havisham is evil and bitter. He does this through the use of powerful adjectives. For example, he describes her as, “the Witch of the place”. This shows to the reader that Dickens wants to create a negative impression of her and also shows to the reader that Pip is frightened of her.
Dickens also adds humor to chapter eleven. He does this through the use of anthropomorphism. An example of this is shown through the spiders, “speckle-legged spiders with blotchy bodies running home to it, and running out from it, as if some circumstances of the greatest importance had just transpired in the spider community”. This breaks up the text for the reader, so that it doesn’t get too heavy. It also makes the text more interesting and appealing to read.
Also in chapter eleven, Dickens shows Miss Havisham to be brooding and dwelling on the past. He does this through the use of description. An example of this is when she tells Pip about her cake, “A bride-cake. Mine!” This shows to the reader that she is not willing to let go and that she is reluctant to leave the past behind her and move on. It also suggests that she wants to share her past with Pip.
