Charles Dickens' novel <em>Great Expectations</em> tells the story of an orphan boy named Pip. Despite his childhood of poverty, through a secret benefactor, he became a respectable gentleman and came back for Estella.
Miss Havisham is the guardian of Estella. Pip had visited them when he was a young boy. In Chapter XXII, Mr. Herbert told Pip about Miss Havisham who had been engaged to be married to a man named Compeyson. But on the day of their wedding, the groom sent a note telling her that he will not be present for the wedding. This event would have embarrassed her, more like left her mortified so much that she did not even move out of the house or seen the sun. She even set the time of her clocks to the exact time she was jilted- <em>"twenty minutes to nine"</em>. This experienced would have publicly humiliated her, for a woman during the Victorian era.
From Charles Dickens <em>Great Expectations, </em>Miss Havisham faced public humiliation and scorn after her step brother hated her and decided to connive with a conman named Compeyson to swindle her of her wealth and leave her at the altar on the day of her wedding.
After this experience, Miss Havisham is heartbroken and devastated and decides to take her revenge on all men. After she was defrauded and jilted, she did not leave her room or many weeks.
In the 19th Century Victorian era, young single women had their options limited as marriage was the most viable option or them. It was unthinkable for a single lady, rich or poor to go out and work.
