The Story of Miss Havisham

Miss Havisham is a very important character in Great Expectations, and upon arriving in London, Pip is told the story of her life by Herbert Pocket, his new friend and living partner. Up until this point, Miss Havisham was the elderly old lady that acted as a mother to Estella and constantly tells Estella to break mens' hearts. Now we learn the reason why this is. As a young woman, Miss Havisham fell in love with a young man and trusted her entire life to him. The young man, who was of a lower social class than she was, convinced her to buy his brother's brewery, which he intended to run. They were set to get married on Havisham's birthday and Havisham was already at the already waiting for him to come. But the young man never showed up and instead sent a note which Havisham saying that he did not intend to come. Havisham was devestated and could never get over the heart break and the sorrow of being left at the alter on her wedding day. So she locked herself up in her huge mansion, the Satis House, and never did go out since that day. Sometime later, she adopted Estella, and since she could not get revenge on the single young man that broke her heart, she resolved to get revenge on the entire male sex and encourages Estella to just that. She also intends to do this to Pip, who thinks that they are still set up to be married. Now, Pip is in the perfect position to have his heart broken, just like Miss Havisham all those years ago.