Analyzing the Influences on Women’s Upbringing and Their Educational Significance Using the Case of Estella, the Heroine of Great Expectations

Abstract

This paper explores the influences on women’s upbringing and their educational significance by using the character Estella from Great Expectations as a case study. Through analyzing the impact of social environment, family education, and self-awakening, this article aims to promote gender equality and the construction of a feminist cognitive community. It delves into the class divisions of 19th-century England, the manipulative family education imposed on Estella by Miss Havisham, and Estella’s journey towards self-consciousness after her foster mother’s death. The study highlights the challenges faced by women in societal constraints, family expectations, and the importance of self-discovery in overcoming these limitations.