In the following essay I will compare the characters of Biddy and Estella and will discuss what Dickens was trying to illustrate by using these two characters.
             Estella and Biddy are two of the main female characters in 'Great Expectations'. Charles Dickens uses both of them to emphasise many of Pip's short falls and mistakes, with both characters becoming possible love interests. For Pip, Dickens portrays Biddy as an idealized character. She has good qualities that do not come with money or class. For most of the novel she is almost as Pip's conscience, she reminds him of his roots. You could say she is portrayed in the novel as a 'real woman'. Biddy is a village girl and she also, being an orphan, was 'brought up by hand'. Pip's approach to Biddy changes very abruptly after his visits to 'Satis House'. He has formulated an idea in his head about what class and status will mean to him and Estella's relationship. He wants so much to be a gentleman, he is insulting to biddy by saying "you are envious Biddy and grudging. You are dissatisfied on account of my rise in fortune and can't help showing it".
             Biddy takes this as a big insult and tells pip that "whatever opinion you take away with you shall make no difference in my remembrance of you." This is a clear example of how Biddy is always trying to appeal to Pips better side, she makes use of opportunity to do well for herself she rises from a ragged orphan to a village schoolmistress. She never becomes disheartened by Pip's behaviour even when Biddy writes the letter to see if it would be ok for Mr Joe to visit "I hope and do not doubt it will be agreeable to see him even though a gentleman for you had ever a good heart" (chapter twenty-seven)
             Biddy shows in the letter to pip how she has become fearful. She has already seen changes in Pip and Biddy again appea
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