Deconstructing Concealed Identities: Literary Analysis Paper True feelings and intentions are often hidden by masks and disguises worn by humanity. Whether it is to hide genuine feelings or to protect oneself from judgement, people disguise themselves from the rest of the world. This is made very apparent throughout literature. In many instances, characters are seen masking sensibilities such as rebellion, anguish, and jealousy. Such occurrences include Julia from George Orwell’s 1984, Estella from Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, and Ethan from Edith Wharton’s Ethan Frome. One case to be considered is that of Julia’s hidden rebellion in George Orwell’s 1984. Winston’s love interest, Julia, is first introduced to the readers as a good …show more content…
Estella is initially made out to be an ignorant and ruthless girl. She has despicable tendencies towards Pip and is instant to point out his “thick boots” and “coarse hands” (Dickens 105). She denounces him for a “stupid, clumsy, laboring-boy” (106). However, underneath this emotionless and rigid surface, lies a hurting character. Estella was never taught to love, and she has never known what it feels like to be loved. Therefore, she cannot reciprocate Pip’s feelings towards her. Estella is quick to tell him that she has “no softness [in her heart], no—sympathy—sentiment—nonsense” (421). This is a direct result of Miss Havisham’s emotional abuse towards Estella throughout her childhood and when Estella comes to this realization, she it makes it her goal to hurt her mother. For this reason, Estella makes the self-destructive decision to marry Bentley Drummle. Although she has been trained to break hearts, Estella chooses a man that would hurt her rather than continue to be controlled by Miss Havisham and go on hurting those around her. She has been “bent and broken” and is “tired of the life [she] has led” (645). The desperation in her tone is the ultimate evidence of dismal thoughts. Estella uses rancor and cruelty to hide the hurt that came about her because of the emotional fury that her mother bestowed upon