“I think she is very proud,” I replied, in a whisper.
“Anything else?”
“I think she is very pretty.”
“Anything else?”
“I think she is very insulting.”
– Charles Dickens
Great Expectations, Chapter 8. Pip’s first visit to Satis House marks an important moment and crucial turning point in his life. Here Miss Havisham asks what he thinks of her adopted daughter Estella, who has shown contempt for Pip’s common appearance and manners. We see in his answers the first signs of his love for the girl. Despite her insulting comments, he finds himself attracted to the refined Estella. Her beauty and disdain fuel his desire to become more acceptable to her by escaping his working class background.