Different Kinds of Love in Great Expectations

In Great Expectations, there are many odd points of view of love and what love should mean. Pip's love toward Estella is a yearning craze, and he is blinded by her fascinating beauty. On the other hand, Uncle Joe has a very respected love for Mrs. Joe, considering how harshly she treats him, Mrs. Joe doesn't seem to love Joe at all. Biddy's love for Pip seems true, until Pip leaves his home to become a gentleman. Estella also gets married to a man that loves her, Bently Drummle, but does not return his love, and chooses to marry for profits only. Love plays a large part in this story, binding some of the characters together, and ruining other's relationships.

When Pip was very young, he was confused at what love should really be. It is no surprise that Pip has a very odd point of view about women at this point in the story. He's met so many harsh women, he must think at his young age, that most women are like that. Estella, Pip's first love, looks down on him, and Miss Havisham, confuses him and even tells Estella to break his heart. It is a mystery to know how Pip actually learns what love is with all the confusion from when he was young. Estella does not return Pip's love when they are young, but when they grow older, she learns to love him dearly as a friend. When Pip traveled to London to become a gentleman, he becomes very close friends with the convict Magwitch. Later, Pip finds out that Magwitch is Estella's real father, and on his deathbed, Pip, by his side, admits his love for Estella. "You had a child once, whom you loved and lost. She lived and found powerful friends. She is living now. She is a lady and very beautiful. And I love her!"

Estella also gets married to a man whom she never really loves, Bently Drummle. Pip is not satisfied in the least bit with her marriage because he knows she only married for profits, and because he loves her himself. After a while of marriage, Drummle abuses Estella, resulting in a divorce. The divorce also helps Pip realize that he and Estella's relationship is a friends only covenant, and realizes that it is a very strong friendship, and will bloom into a life long companionship. Next, there is Pip's sister, Mrs. Joe, who 'raised him by hand' and constantly reminds him of it, and who treats him and Joe in a very unpleasant way. No matter how poorly Joe is treated by Mrs. Joe, he always says that he loves her and that she