Introduction
Madness is one of the many themes that run throughout the novel Great Expectations. The mentally ill during the 19th century were becoming a new area of interest as to what the causes of madness were and how it could be treated. With the rise in the belief of Social Darwinism, a new code of “moral treatment” of the insane became popular. Certain individuals were allowed this kind of treatment because they were thought to be curable and could live within the mental hospital, in a healthy environment, where they could recover comfortably and with the hope of eventually leaving sane. For those who were incapable of rehabilitation placement in special prisons became necessary because of the dangerous threat to both themselves as well as the whole of society. These policies of treatment for the mentally ill were in use during the time of Dickens, even though the characters that display madness in Great Expectations do not receive any chance of rehabilitation for their lunacy.
Madness itself is a hard subject to define. The characters of Miss Havisham and Orlick, who are themselves insane, display different types of madness, one being reclusive ness and the other unpredictable violence. Because Miss Havisham decided to lock herself up from the world, she is displaying behavior that is out of the normal as compared to the other characters in the novel. In addition, Orlick also demonstrates erratic and violent actions that portrays him in a different caliber from the rest of the characters. The madness of both Miss Havisham and Orlick add intrigue to the story as well as shape important events within the novel that would not have happened if not for their mental illnesses.
Miss Havisham is the most obviously insane from the beginning of her introduction within the story. She is the eternal bride in her tattered wedding dress and who remains in a deteriorating mansion with the remnants of a reception that never came to be. It was the groom that failed to make his own wedding which drove Miss Havisham to lunacy and left her to stew in her own pain and misery, the cause of her madness. Miss Havisham’s reclusive nature and incessant plotting to revenge herself against all men, portrays her character in a light of introverted insanity. This madness allows her to focus on her own pain as well as the crusade of causing pain for others through manipulations.
The other character that is portrayed as insane is the mysterious Orlick. Orlick has long held a grudge against Pip because he feels that the young man was favored over him by the Gargerys as well as the rest of the town. In the beginning of the story, Orlick is seen as unruly and easily angered, but not crazy. It is not until the end of the novel when Orlick is revealed as the true murderer of Mrs. Joe while attempting to kill Pip. Orlick is dangerous because not only is he insane, he is also violent. This unpredictable element to Orlick’s personality keeps a constant interest in the reader that creates a feeling of suspense as to what he will do next.
Both Miss Havisham and Orlick’s madness in Great Expectations manipulate the story in ways that would be impossible without them. It is Miss Havisham’s maddened-desire to break the hearts of men that spawns Pip’s infatuation with Estella. If Miss Havisham were not driven to madness, the occasion for Estella to become an instrument of male torment would not be an issue. Pip would most likely never have met Estella, thus never feeling the desire to become a gentleman in order to impress her. It is madness that brought about this crucial turn of events in the novel, which would not have been born if not for this key element.
Orlick also creates events in the novel that are crucial to the story’s progression. His violent insanity not only provides a component of mystery and suspense, but also by killing Mrs. Joe, creates a freedom for Pip to become a gentleman. If Mrs. Joe had lived, she would not have let Pip leave without interrogation and negative criticism. Mrs. Joe’s removal silenced any objections, allowing Pip to pursue his dreams unhindered. In addition, the attempted murder of Pip formed boundaries for his success through violence. If Orlick had succeeded in killing him, the story would have concluded and a gentleman would never have been formed. It is madness that created these events and greatly influenced the story through both manipulation and murder; these two elements are demonstrated in chapters 49 and 53 of the novel.
Chapter 49 is the point in the novel where the mistakes of Miss Havisham’s actions towards Estella and Pip are realized and result in her ultimate demise. “But as she grew, and promised to be very beautiful, I gradually did worse”(298). Miss Havisham manipulated Estella in order to suit her own purposes. Her selfish actions resulted in further pain with Estella coldly leaving her forever. Due to her madness that has shaped events prior to this scene, Miss Havisham now fully displays her regret to Pip. This chapter not only shows her madness, but the sadness that became the result of her past behavior.
In Chapter 53 Orlick takes Pip hostage while preparing to kill him for crimes against his character throughout the years. This scene perfectly displays Orlick’s madness as well as his own explanation for his hatred towards Pip. “You was favoured, and he was bullied… Now you pays for it”(317). Orlick is violent and belligerent. Chapter 53 is the final climax of his madness through the action of capturing Pip and preparing to kill him. He is a dangerous figure that looms throughout the story in the shadows waiting for the right moment to strike out at the object of his hatred.
These chapters are the culminations of both Miss
Havisham’s and Orlick’s madness because it is here where their insanity
is demonstrated through their own perspectives and explanations.
Both of these individuals are in need of institutionalization for the treatment
of their mental illnesses, even though none is provided for them by family,
friends, or the government. Miss Havisham could possibly receive
“moral treatment”, but Orlick would definitely be classified as criminally
insane, qualifying him for prison. Because of their irrational behavior
that is clearly unusual when compared to the other characters in Great
Expectations, Miss Havisham and Orick are mad. Their madness is a
theme that is as prevalent as it is important within the pages of Great
Expectations and because of Miss Havisham’s isolated manipulations
and Orlick’s murderous plotting, the progression of the story continues
with the full attention of the reader.
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