Estella

At their first meeting, Estella is very cruel to Pip, and I assert that there are four key criticisms which she makes that are to affect him for the rest of his life.

Firstly, she is appalled that Miss Havisham has asked her to play with Pip as she questions -

"Why, he is a common labouring-boy!"

Estella then teases Pip for his unrefined vocabulary -

"He calls the knaves, Jacks, this boy!"

She then goes on to attack his appearance, both in terms of dress and physical attributes-

" And what coarse hands he has! And what thick boots!"

These cruel jibes provide the framework whereby Pip seeks to raise his social standing and win Estella. He strives to become a gentleman, sadly ignorant of th fact that she is no true lady.