Hamlet vs Laetres

The theme of love exists in both books: in Great Expectations, Pip suffers an unrequited love for Estella, in David Copperfield, David loves his wife, Dora, but, soon after her death, realizes that he has always loved Agnes. Pip’s relationship

… there are sentiments, fancies,—I don’t know how to call them,—which I am not able to comprehend. When you say you love me, I know what you mean, as a form of words; but nothing more. You address nothing in my breast, you touch nothing there. I don’t care for what you say at all. I have tried to warn you of this; now, have I not? (G.E.323)

He is immediately infatuated with her to a point where is becomes a distraction. His distraction is so great that he is not surprised to find that Miss Murdstone is Dora's friend. She calls for a truce between David and herself, which he accepts, though he tells her what he thinks of her. After the visit, the thoughts of Dora take over David’s mind and life. David describes his love for Dora, he claims that he has never stopped thinking about her. Though David had some doubts about Dora being a good housewife, he still loved her. When Dora becomes very ill, David was with Dora the whole time and did not want to leave her. Before Dora dies, she tells David that he has been a great husband who she has always loved and she also makes a request to talk to Agnes since she had been at their home when Dora was ill. When Agnes comes downstairs, David knew that Dora had died. After Dora’s death, David gradually begins to realize that he has always loved Agnes. But his grief has changed him which makes him think pessimistically that he has lost his chance with Agnes. After a period of time, David decides to find Agnes and tells her that he loves her. When he meets Agnes, he tries to explain to her that his love has never been complete.

with Estella is a very much one-sided. Pip loves Estella but in return Estella does not want anything to do with Pip at all and from Estella’s mean and unloving acts, he becomes depressed. Pip finally tells Estella that he loves her.

...the dark flat wilderness beyond the churchyard, intersected with dykes and mounds and gates, with scattered cattle feeding on it, was the marshes; and the low leaden line beyond, was the river; and the distant savage lair from which the wind was rushing, was the sea; and the small bundle of shivers growing afraid of it all and beginning to cry, was Pip. (G.E.4)

She was very kind to me. She kept me there all day, and left me alone sometimes; and I cried, and wore myself to sleep, and awoke and cried again. When I could cry no more, I began to think; and then the oppression on my breast was heaviest, and my grief a dull pain that there was no ease for. (D.C.123)

Some topics in this essay:
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