Great Expectations

Briefly describe Camilla. Why is she so attentive to Miss Havisham? What aspects of upper-class society might Dickens be satirizing in his portrayal of Camilla?

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

Book 1 Chapters 11-19

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Camilla pretends to be the proper woman. She satirizes the mannerisms of the "virtuous" Victorian woman. In reality she is merely superficial and selfish. She exploits the "rules" of Victorian society to benefit her personally.

“You know I was obliged,” said Camilla, “I was obliged to be firm. I said, ‘It WILL NOT DO, for the credit of the family.’ I told him that, without deep trimmings, the family was disgraced. I cried about it from breakfast till dinner. (p. 57)