“Miss Havisham gives you to him, as the greatest slight and injury that could be done to the many far better men who admire you, and to the few who truly love you. Among those few there may be one who loves you even as dearly, though he has not loved you as long, as I. Take him, and I can bear it better, for your sake!”
– Charles Dickens
Great Expectations, Chapter 44. When Pip hears from Estella that she is engaged to Bentley Drummle, he passionately pleads with her not to marry him. While expressing his own deep love for her, he accepts that he will not be the one to marry her. He points out that there are other worthy men who truly care for her. In an act of selflessness and generosity, he begs her to marry one of them instead. This is an indicator that Pip is improving as a character and reforming his selfish ways. Miss Havisham’s own cruel actions as a parent in raising Estella to be heartless and unfeeling are criticized by Pip.