Estella and pip character

Estella

The book "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens (1861) describes Estella as beautiful and rich however those are the only good qualities she has. We also see that she is shallow and cruel as we read on. Estella is Miss Havisham's adopted daughter, she is moulded by Miss Havisham to break men's hearts and to avenge her.

It's very easy to dislike Estella as a reader, however I look at her as a victim of Miss Havisham's rage and vengeance. All she has known throughout her life is bitterness, she has been moulded by Miss Havisham to be the person she is ( cruel and shallow).

The story behind Miss Havisham's effect on Estella is very sad. Having been surrounded by Miss Havisham, the only example Estella sees is of bitterness and hatred towards men. Estella is an emotionally abused child. She takes her orders from Miss Havisham; this is seen when she tells Pip, "We have no choice, you and I, but to obey our instructions" (p. 366). She becomes an accomplished flirt, heartlessly leading men on. One can say that Estella has been robbed of the ability to love.

Pip

Just like Estella, Pip is manipulated by Miss Havisham. It is very clear to us, the reader that Pip is there just as way of training Estella to break men's hearts. This is made clear to us when Miss Havisham tells Estella that she can break Pip's heart easily. 

In the book miss Havisham begs Pip to love Estella;

"Love her, love her, love her! If she favours you, love her. If she wounds you, love her. If she tears your heart to pieces–and as it gets older and stronger–it will tear deeper–love her, love her, love her!"...

        "Hear me, Pip! I adopted her to be loved. I bred her and educated her to be loved. I developed her into what she is, that she might be loved. Love her!"...
       "I'll tell you," said she, in the same hurried passionate whisper, "what real love it. It is blind devotion, unquestioning self-humiliation, utter submission, trust and belief against yourself and against the whole world, giving up your whole heart and soul to the smiter–as I did!" (p. 240)

Though Pip is aware that the love referred to is more a curse than a blessing, he still allows himself to love Estella. His attraction affects the decisions he later makes to becoming a gentleman . it is very clear to the reader that his longing to be a gentleman has everything to do with his attraction to Estella and that he wants to be worthy of her however thing do not go has planed and the one thing that he longed for so long (Estella) get taken away by someone else .  

ref
great expectations by Charles Dickens
My Favourite Charles Dickens character: Estella from Great Expectations (1861) By Serena Davies, TV & Radio Editor
http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/english/melani/novel_19c/dickens/love.html