The inability to feel for the three main characters: Miss Havisham, Estella and Pip, is an ongoing theme throughout the novel Great Expectations. All of these people , at some point, have their hearts opened up to love after living their lives without showing any feelings towards the people they care for.
First off, Miss Havisham's inability to feel, mainly towards men, dates back to when she had been betrayed by her lover. Miss Havisham's father disinherited her brother from the families fortune because he was a bad and undutiful son. This in turn, deemed Miss Havisham her father's heir. Her brother became extremely jealous and swore to take revenge on his sister to get back what was rightfully his.
He made a business agreement with a gentleman who said he would pretend to fall in love with Miss Havisham, and along the way swindle money from her. Their plan was successful, and on their wedding day the gentleman left Miss Havisham at the alter, took her money and ran. Miss Havisham's heart had been shattered and she promised herself to never let a man take advantage of her like that again. This resolution also contributed to her never having any loving feelings towards any man for the rest of her life.
Secondly, Many examples throughout the novel show Miss Havisham's hatred towards men. Mr. Pumblechook, Pip's uncle, took him to Miss Havisham's the first day Pip was to start working for her. He brought Pip up to the door and a young woman answered, she invited Pip in but would not allow Pumblechook to enter; ". . . Did you wish to see Miss Havisham? If Miss Havisham wished to see me," returned Mr. Pumblechook . . . "Ah!" said the girl; "but you see she don't."(Dickens 50). This shows that even though Miss Havisham has never met this man, she does not trust him or want him in her house; this ultimately shows her extreme dislike for men.
Finally, Miss Havisham plays a major role in Estella's inability to feel.
