The 1998 adaptation of Charles Dickens’ novel Great Expectations enables the audience to take a new look at the characters envisioned by the author. In particular, one should look at the personality of Estella played by Gwyneth Paltrow. In the movie, this woman is depicted as an individual who likes the idea that she can control the actions of other people, especially men. To some degree, she is the victim of poor education which was imposed on her. Nevertheless, she is more capable of displaying her feelings and recognizing the suffering of others. These are the main points that should be discussed more closely.
There are several aspects that distinguish this character from its literary original. First of all, she is better able to express her emotions. She does not always suppress them. It is possible to mention that she kisses Finn, and in this way, she demonstrates her affection for him. In contrast, Estella depicted by Charles Dickens does not want to show that she has any feelings for his emotional suffering. It seems that she is a very callous person who does not want to think about the impacts of her actions. This is one of the differences that should not be overlooked.
Additionally, the character impersonated by Gwyneth Paltrow is not very concerned about her social position and class issues. It should be noted that in the novel, Estella represents the upper classes of the society. She continuously emphasizes the idea that she is a lady who is not accessible to people like Pip. Moreover, she marries Bentley Drummle primarily because of his fortune.
These issues are not of great importance to Gwyneth Paltrow’s character. To some degree, she simply enjoys her ability to manipulate Finn. Furthermore, the viewers do not learn her reasons for marrying another man who begins to abuse her. However, at the same time, she is able to empathize with the feelings of other people.
To some degree, these differences can be explained by the fact that the action of the film takes place at the end of the twentieth century. In turn, Estella leaves in a society in which class distinctions are not as marked as they were at the time when Dickens wrote his novel. Yet, this screen version helps the audience to look at the inner world of this character.
It is possible to say that these changes make Finn’s unconditional love for this woman more convincing. One can say that in the novel, she is depicted as a symbol of high social status that the protagonist wants to achieve. In turn, in the movie, Finn loves Estella because he understands that deep in heart, she is a caring person who is able to feel love. Furthermore, their final reconciliation appears to be an expected ending of the movie. Moreover, the viewers are prompted to feel compassion for the misfortunes of this woman whose moral values were not properly shaped during childhood.
On the whole, these examples indicate that a film adaptation of the novel can throw a new light on different characters depicted by the writer. Estella, portrayed by Gwyneth Paltrow is a woman who appears to be cruel or at least callous. Nonetheless, the audience can see through this veil and feel empathy for her. These are the main arguments that can be made.