Miss Havisham is a character in Great Expectations (1861) by Charles Dickens. She is a wealthy, eccentric woman who was jilted on her wedding day and has lived in self-imposed seclusion ever since — wearing her decaying wedding dress, keeping every clock stopped at the time she received the rejection letter, and leaving her wedding feast to rot on the table. She adopts Estella and raises her to be cold and heartless as revenge against men. She is one of the most iconic characters in English literature.

What Happened to Miss Havisham on Her Wedding Day?

Miss Havisham was jilted by her fiance Compeyson at twenty minutes to nine on her wedding day. She received a letter breaking off the engagement while she was dressing for the ceremony. She stopped every clock in her house at that exact time, never removed her wedding dress, drew all the curtains, and lived in darkness for the rest of her life. The wedding breakfast was left on the table to decay. Compeyson, her fiance, was a con man who had conspired with Miss Havisham's half-brother to defraud her of her fortune.

Why Does Miss Havisham Raise Estella?

Miss Havisham adopts Estella and raises her deliberately to be beautiful but emotionally cold — a weapon designed to attract and then break men's hearts. This is Miss Havisham's form of revenge against the male sex for the betrayal she suffered. She teaches Estella to be incapable of love, seeing this as protection for Estella and punishment for the men who pursue her. The relationship becomes Miss Havisham's greatest regret when she realizes she has destroyed Estella's capacity for happiness.

How Does Miss Havisham Die?

Miss Havisham dies when her wedding dress catches fire from the fireplace in her room. Pip attempts to save her by smothering the flames. She survives the immediate burning but dies from her injuries. Before her death, she repeatedly says what have I done — acknowledging the damage she has caused to Estella, to Pip, and to herself.

Can You Talk to Miss Havisham?

Miss Havisham is available as an AI companion on HoloDream. The clocks are stopped. She has been waiting for someone to ask what really happened.