Othello and Estella

Compare how Estella and Othello are presented as victims of circumstance

Great Expectations is a novel written by Charles Dickens in London in the early 1860’s. The novel is set in the mid-nineteenth century in early Victorian England, a time when great social changes were sweeping the nation. Estella is one of Dickens’ most quoted female characters and is portrayed as cold, cynical, and manipulative. However, despite her cold behavior and the damaging influences in her life, Dickens nonetheless ensures that Estella is still a sympathetic character and gives the reader a sense of her inner struggle to discover and act on her own feelings rather than on the imposed motives of her upbringing.
Othello’s speeches in Act 1 Scenes 2 and 3, shows that his characteristic idiom is dignified, measured blank verse which helps establish his heroism and nobility. He is viewed as the ‘Noble Moor.’ Shakespeare stresses his nobility and makes us aware that Othello is an impressive and powerful character who contradicts the stereotype of a destructive and irrational black man and in doing so, encourages audiences to view the Moor’s race positively. In Act 1 Scene 1, Iago calls Othello an ‘old black ram.’ He plays on Elizabethan notions that black men have an animal-like, hyper-sexuality. He later goes on to call him ‘the devil,’ and in doing so Iago is referring to the sixteenth century idea that black men were evil.
Estella is first described as the girl who ‘was very pretty and very proud.’ The alliteration of ‘pretty’ and ‘proud’ conveys Estella’s coldness towards Pip which she extends to the point of treating him ‘as insolently as if he were a dog in disgrace.’ Throughout her strict childhood, Estella is manipulated by her guardian, and from a young age, instructed to reject love and break the hearts of men. In chapter seven, when young Estella doesn’t want to play with Pip, Miss Havisham responds, “You can break his heart.” Pip is nothing more than practice for Estella; she has no choice but to obey her guardian and wouldn’t know any differently as her perceptions of life have been distorted by Miss Havisham. The use of imperative commands in Miss Havisham’s speech shows the reader how manipulative she is. ‘ Hung upon Estella’s beauty, hung upon her words, hung upon her gestures and sat mumbling her own trembling fingers while she looked at her, as though she were devouring the beautiful creature she reared.’ The lack of physical description in the text constructs Estella as though she has no individuality and is instead represented by gestures and phrases, saying she is a creature created by Miss Havisham.
Othello’s chance in social class impacts Iago’s ability to corrupt his mind and make him believe that he isn’t good enough for Desdemona. Social class was very separated in Venice in the 16TH Century. When his mind is poisoned by Iago, Othello quickly begins to doubt his attractions. Othello himself makes reference to his race, his unsophisticated manners and his advanced age in a soliloquy which suggests his self-confidence as a husband is diminishing. Othello is a middle aged black man who doesn’t fit into Venetian society. The military provided him with a means of acceptance but his situation would have been awkward and like other non-white people, racial prejudice would have been common. People would also have suggested, like Iago, why as young white woman of high class would be happily wedded to as lower class man of another race. This particular situation would have been linked to witchcraft; Shakespeare conveys these ideas earlier in the Tragedy. In Act 3 Scene 3, Othello’s soliloquy provides evidence that Iago has been successful in troubling his mind. Iago’s lies and manipulation are causing a change to occur in Othello’s tone and language. Shakespeare’s choice of imagery in this scene reflects Iago’s growing influence over Othello as words such as abused. Loathe, plague and death have negative connotations and directly juxtaposed Othello’s earlier language. Shakespeare portrays Othello as confused and desperate which is a side of the protagonist that isn’t previously known to the audience. He refers to his situation as ‘destiny unshunnable.’ Othello believes his circumstances are unescapable which shows that his mental state has shifted.
Estella and Othello are both presented by Dickens and Shakespeare as victims of their own societies as a result of their pasts. Estella was born to criminals, Magwitch and Molly. She was adopted at the age of three by the rich and eccentric Miss Havisham and in doing so jumps up from the working class to live the privileged life of a Lady.