Why do Camilla Raymond and Sarah Pocket visit Miss Havisham? This question arises from the intricate web of relationships and complex motivations present in Charles Dickens’ classic novel, Great Expectations. The visits of these two characters to Miss Havisham, the eccentric and tragic figure who serves as the novel’s antagonist, are laden with symbolism and serve multiple purposes within the narrative.
Camilla Raymond, Miss Havisham’s housekeeper, and Sarah Pocket, her companion and confidante, have a deep-seated loyalty to their employer. Their visits to Miss Havisham are not merely acts of devotion but are also influenced by the peculiar circumstances surrounding her life. Miss Havisham, having been jilted at the altar by her fiancé on her wedding day, has remained trapped in time, her house a museum of decay and her heart a shattered relic of her past love.
Camilla Raymond’s visits to Miss Havisham are primarily driven by her duty as the housekeeper. She is responsible for maintaining the dilapidated estate and ensuring that Miss Havisham’s needs are met, despite her employer’s eccentricities. Camilla’s visits serve as a means to fulfill her obligations while also providing her with a sense of purpose in a life that has otherwise become monotonous and routine. Her loyalty to Miss Havisham is not only professional but also deeply personal, as she has watched over her employer for many years and has come to care for her as a friend.
On the other hand, Sarah Pocket’s visits to Miss Havisham are rooted in a more complex relationship. Sarah, who is Miss Havisham’s adopted daughter, has a personal stake in the enigmatic woman’s life. Her loyalty is both to Miss Havisham and to the mysterious Estella, the girl Miss Havisham has raised to become the instrument of her revenge against the world. Sarah’s visits are an attempt to understand the woman who raised her and to unravel the mysteries surrounding her birth and the reasons behind Miss Havisham’s vendetta against men.
These visits to Miss Havisham also serve as a means for Dickens to explore themes of obsession, revenge, and the passage of time. Miss Havisham’s inability to move on from her past love and her desire to exact revenge on the world are both fascinating and terrifying. The visits of Camilla Raymond and Sarah Pocket provide a glimpse into the psychological landscape of Miss Havisham’s mind, allowing readers to understand the depth of her despair and the lengths she is willing to go to in her quest for justice.
In conclusion, the visits of Camilla Raymond and Sarah Pocket to Miss Havisham are essential to the narrative of Great Expectations. These visits are driven by loyalty, duty, and personal connections, and they serve to deepen the reader’s understanding of Miss Havisham’s character and the themes of the novel. Through these interactions, Dickens creates a haunting and unforgettable portrait of a woman trapped in time, seeking solace and revenge in a world that has left her behind.
