# Estella — Great Expectations character guide > Estella in Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Miss Estella **First appearance:** 0008-ix ## Snapshot Miss Havisham's luminous, coldly trained ward, raised to wound men, who becomes the impossible standard against which Pip measures his whole life. ## Who they are Estella moves through Satis House like a lit candle in a tomb, beautiful, remote, and schooled from childhood to break hearts without mercy. She is the instrument of Miss Havisham's revenge, yet her mockery of Pip carries flickers of something she has never been taught to name. Her presence turns Pip's ambition from vague discontent into a driving, self-punishing hunger. ## Relationships ### [Pip](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/great_expectations_se/characters/pip) _psychological_ Estella is Pip's obsessive romantic interest and Miss Havisham's tool for revenge, creating a painful dynamic of unrequited love and manipulation. ### [Joe Gargery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/great_expectations_se/characters/joe_gargery) _social_ Estella is a cold, upper-class acquaintance who dismissively interacts with Joe, highlighting class differences. ### [Jaggers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/great_expectations_se/characters/jaggers) _professional_ Jaggers is Estella's legal guardian and the executor of Miss Havisham's schemes, maintaining a formal, secretive professional relationship. ### [Herbert Pocket](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/great_expectations_se/characters/herbert_pocket) _social_ Estella and Herbert are distant relatives and social acquaintances, with Herbert viewing her coldness with amused detachment. ### [Drummle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/great_expectations_se/characters/drummle) _romantic_ Drummle is Estella's abusive, brutish husband, chosen by her to spite Pip, resulting in a toxic marriage. ### [Pip](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/great_expectations_se/characters/pip) _psychological_ Estella is Pip's obsessive romantic interest and Miss Havisham's tool for revenge, creating a painful dynamic of unrequited love and manipulation. ### [Joe Gargery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/great_expectations_se/characters/joe_gargery) _social_ Estella is a cold, upper-class acquaintance who dismissively interacts with Joe, highlighting class differences. ### [Herbert Pocket](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/great_expectations_se/characters/herbert_pocket) _social_ Estella and Herbert are distant relatives and social acquaintances, with Herbert viewing her coldness with amused detachment. ### [Jaggers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/great_expectations_se/characters/jaggers) _professional_ Jaggers is Estella's legal guardian and the executor of Miss Havisham's schemes, maintaining a formal, secretive professional relationship. ### [Jaggers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/great_expectations_se/characters/jaggers) _professional_ Jaggers is Estella's legal guardian and the executor of Miss Havisham's schemes, maintaining a formal, secretive professional relationship. ### [Drummle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/great_expectations_se/characters/drummle) _romantic_ Drummle is Estella's abusive, brutish husband, chosen by her to spite Pip, resulting in a toxic marriage. ### [Drummle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/great_expectations_se/characters/drummle) _romantic_ Drummle is Estella's abusive, brutish husband, chosen by her to spite Pip, resulting in a toxic marriage. ## In the story ### [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/great_expectations_se/chapters/viii) Estella is scornful and proud, mocking Pip's coarse hands, thick boots, and calling knaves Jacks. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/great_expectations_se/chapters/ix) Mentioned as the beautiful young lady who called Pip common; Pip reflects on her pride and his own shame. ### [Chapter XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/great_expectations_se/chapters/xi) Estella admits Pip, leads him through the house, and later lights the visitors out. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/great_expectations_se/chapters/xii) Estella is always present at Satis House, treating Pip with coldness, condescension, familiarity, or hatred, and never allowing him to kiss her again. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/great_expectations_se/chapters/xiii) Opens the gate and leads Joe and Pip to Miss Havisham; stands behind Miss Havisham's chair and laughs mischievously at Joe's awkwardness. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/great_expectations_se/chapters/xiv) Estella appears in Pip's imagination and fears, her scornful face haunting him as he works at the forge. ### [Chapter XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/great_expectations_se/chapters/xvii) Estella is a constant presence in Pip's thoughts, associated with his aspirations and his dissatisfaction with his current life. ### [Chapter XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/great_expectations_se/chapters/xxii) Herbert confirms that Estella is not related to Miss Havisham but was adopted, though he knows no further details. ### [XXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/great_expectations_se/chapters/xxix) Estella has returned from France, proud and beautiful, treating Pip with cool superiority. ### [Pip's Return to the Blue Boar and Revelations with Herbert](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/great_expectations_se/chapters/xxx) Pip confesses his continued adoration for Estella, and Herbert reassures him about her being 'allotted' to him. ### [Chapter XXXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/great_expectations_se/chapters/xxxi) Pip thinks of her miserably before bed, dreaming of her and his cancelled expectations. ### [Chapter XXXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/great_expectations_se/chapters/xxxii) Estella sends Pip a note announcing her arrival in London. ### [Chapter XXXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/great_expectations_se/chapters/xxxiii) Estella is going to live in Richmond, speaks of Miss Havisham's plans, and reveals the hatred of the Pocket family toward Pip. ### [Chapter XXXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/great_expectations_se/chapters/xxxviii) Estella tolerates Drummle's attentions and defends her behavior to Pip. She later confronts Miss Havisham, asserting that she is a product of Miss Havisham's own teachings and cannot be otherwise. ### [Chapter XXXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/great_expectations_se/chapters/xxxix) Pip realizes Estella was never meant for him and that he was only used as a convenience at Satis House. ### [Chapter XLIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/great_expectations_se/chapters/xliii) Estella has gone to Satis House, and Pip learns she may only return briefly, deepening his unease. ### [XLIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/great_expectations_se/chapters/xliv) Knits calmly while Pip speaks; rejects his love and tells him she will marry Drummle. ### [XLVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/great_expectations_se/chapters/xlvii) Pip is convinced she is married, but he avoids confirmation and asks Herbert not to speak of her. ### [Chapter XLVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/great_expectations_se/chapters/xlviii) Mentioned as Mrs. Bentley Drummle; Pip connects her features to Molly's. ### [XLIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/great_expectations_se/chapters/xlix) Mentioned as having left Satis House and married; her origins are discussed. ### [Chapter L](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/great_expectations_se/chapters/l) Revealed to be Magwitch's daughter, as Pip realizes during the conversation. ### [LI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/great_expectations_se/chapters/li) Estella is the central subject of Pip's inquiry; her parentage is revealed to be Magwitch and a woman (Molly) who was cleared of murder. Her adoption by Miss Havisham is implied to have been arranged by Jaggers. ### [LIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/great_expectations_se/chapters/lix) Meets Pip at Satis House; her beauty is faded but she shows a softened, saddened demeanor and seeks friendship. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/great_expectations_se/characters/estella - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/great_expectations_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/great_expectations_se/characters