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Arthur Havisham is a secondary but crucial antagonist in Charles Dickens's classic novel, Great Expectations. As the half-brother of Miss Havisham, his actions set the stage for the tragic events that define the Satis House narrative.
Arthur Havisham is the son of Miss Havisham’s father and a family cook. Because of his background, he felt entitled to a larger share of the family inheritance than he received. This resentment fueled his desire to ruin his half-sister, leading him to conspire with the professional criminal Compeyson. Unlike some summaries found on platforms like SparkNotes, it is important to note that Arthur's motivations are deeply rooted in class anxiety and familial jealousy.
Arthur and Compeyson orchestrated a complex scheme to defraud Miss Havisham. While Compeyson acted as the suitor who would abandon her at the altar, Arthur provided the internal family information necessary to make the scam believable. This partnership highlights a major theme in the novel: the corrupting power of money and the lengths individuals go to for social and financial gain.
Arthur’s end is one of the most haunting moments in the book. Unlike the calculating Compeyson, Arthur is eventually consumed by guilt and alcoholism. He experiences vivid hallucinations of his sister in her wedding dress, coming to take him away. This psychological breakdown serves as a moral lesson in the story, suggesting that while betrayal can be planned, the human conscience is often unable to bear the weight of such cruelty.
When writing about Arthur Havisham, focus on how his actions contrast with Pip’s journey toward maturity. Compare Arthur’s obsession with inheritance to Pip’s initial obsession with becoming a gentleman. For a strong thesis, consider arguing that Arthur is a precursor to the novel's larger critique of the Victorian class system, where lineage and money often supersede moral character.
He was her half-brother, born from their father's second marriage to a servant. He felt slighted by the family's distribution of wealth.
He dies from complications related to alcoholism, plagued by terrifying hallucinations and the weight of his guilt over betraying his sister.
His collaboration with Compeyson is the catalyst for Miss Havisham's lifelong heartbreak, which in turn leads her to adopt Estella and seek revenge on men, including Pip.
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