MISS HAVISHAM 

"Gathered around my corpse waiting to feed on me"

To start my initial research into Miss Havisham I have started by analyzing different visual interpretations of her character.The BBC series in particular stands out to me. This clip above demonstrates Miss Havisham as a character  You can clearly see her desperation and depression. Many people assume Miss Havisham to be just an old lady that has hidden herself away for many years. This version truly captures her insanity that is over looked in some of the other versions, although I feel her insanity is the key feature in the whole of the story. The way she is depicted contrasts strongly against Estella. You can really see the sadness and devastation in her eyes. 

This image, off of Pintrest particular caught my eye. Although it is useful to see the way other designers have interpreted the character of Estella for film and television I feel looking at other art based representation are a good way to look at her visually from a different angle. This image is graphically produced and really depicts Miss Havisham as a lost bride, she almost looks like a puppet. Her limps and stiff and her surroundings are lifeless and decayed, much like her as a character. I feel this styling of this image works well, her dress is tatty and withered, although in my opinion her hair is to perfect considering she has meant to have slept in it year on year. 

This sketch is a visual impression of Miss Havisham. Her dress displays the extravagance of upper class fashion during the era. It is important to remember that Miss Havisham has never moved from her wedding dress. Years later it would be incredibly dirty and deteriorated. Her large stiff vale really stands out behind her hair. I feel this gives the audience a sense of her insanity. 

MOOD BOARD

- Withered exterior appearance 

- Decaying flowers (mirror her as a person) 

- Life focused around her wedding day 

- Heartbroken and lost 

- Unkempt 

- Dirty (no care for her appearance or living environment) 

- Nothing to live for but her adopted daughter Estella 

- Solomon and depressed


WITHERED ROSES

Miss Havisham was once an incredibly beautiful wealthy young girl. Since the day of her wedding, when she was jolted at the alter her beauty has deteriorated and all that is left is the 'ghost' of a bride. Roses are extremely beautiful and delicate flowers. Over time they wilt and die. Their once flawless appearance is no longer there and they appear withered and old. I feel the death of a rose is much like Miss Havisham's personality. The rose also represents part of her wedding day, there is nothing left but a dry, dead, shell. Rose's are also very fragile and easily destroyed. The way Miss Havisham has never got over her heartbreak suggests that she was a very weak young woman, unable to come back from being broken, much like a delicate rose.