There were several themes associated with the novel Great Expectations. One of the most fascinating themes dealt with "infatuation and how it compares to and relates to love" ("Infatuation").
Infatuation is basically an obsession, or extravagant affection towards a person (Webster, 667). There is really no definite reason behind their passion, therefore this feeling is often short in duration and indicative of faulty judgement (Webster, 667). The person doesn't know what these feelings mean, this is normally why they mistake it for love.Love, on the other hand, is an intense affectionate concern for another person (Webster, 772).
It is a more selfless and settled feeling. You can compare the difference between love and infatuation with the cliche "All that glitters is not gold", the glitter illusion being infatuation and the gold being love, the real thing. As a person grows and experiences their feelings with many other people, the distinction between love and infatuation becomes more clear. This is because the person can compare feelings they have experienced in the past, with their present feelings.
In Great Expectations we see how Pip's infatuation for Estella is "short in duration" (Webster, 667), as most infatua These experiences have given her the heart to understand what Pip's heart used to be. html"Webster's New World Dictionary. In fact the humiliation Estella puts Pip through, causes Pip to feel very lowly of himself and the way he has been brought up. She has always had a tremendous crush on Pip, but she doesn't really know why she feels this way about him. Yet in his search to find her, he finds something else.
Meanwhile, with Pip gone, Biddy and Joe find that they have more time to spend with one another.For the first time, he saw the saddened, softened light of once proud eyes, and felt the friendly touch of then once insensible hand (Dickens 935). "Infatuation" Great Expectations - Themes. This shows that Pip has grown, and is ready to start a new, happier beginning with the people from his past.
Another good example of a character's experience distinguishing love and infatuation is with Dickens' character, Biddy. She will always hold a place in his heart. The reason being that he's not only not interested in Biddy, but also because he is continually trying to be the kind of gentlemen that will make Estella notice him.
