Question

How does Pip's disappointment compare with Miss Havisham's?

Answer 1

The correct answer is C. Disappointment makes Pip a better person, while it has made Miss Havisham bitter.

Miss Havisham suffered the worst disappointment of her life when she was defrauded by Compeyson and left hanging at the altar on her wedding day. She has become extremely withdrawn and bitter and now hates all men. She has indoctrinated Estella to be the instrument of her revenge on all men, emotionally and psychologically crippling her. Pip on the other hand is faced with several serious disappointments in his life but because he is an idealist he strives for his own betterment as a person every time. He is scorned and belittled by Estella yet he refuses to let go of his love for her and even when she gets married to Bentley Drummle he still loves her. Furthermore, even when Miss Havisham reveals that she is the one who manipulated Estella into marrying Bentley, Pip forgives her and saves her when her dress catches fire. He is then greatly disappointed again when he learns that his actual benefactor is the poor, ignorant ex-convict Abel Magwitch since he realizes that he owes his financial security to an outcast of the very classist society he worships. Instead of despising Abel Magwitch, he comes to question the extremely unfair and snobbish nature of his society.