This month, I dug into my Netflix account
instead of opting to review the latest superhero or dooms-day flick. I’ve been
a bit disappointed with this summer’s Hollywood fare, so I haven’t ventured to
the theater as much as I normally do this time of year. But thankfully, the English
and their BBC productions of classic stories are always there to entertain, never
falling short of excellent. Superbly written, directed, and usually (but not
always) devoid of gratuitous sexual content and foul language, they stand the
test of time, appealing to all generations. Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations is one such story
that has been dramatized in abundance, with the most recent being a 2012
theatrical release starring Ralph Fiennes and Helena Bonham Carter (yet to screen
in the US for some reason). The version I stumbled upon is a 2011 BBC
mini-series which aired on Masterpiece Classic earlier this year. I was delighted
to find that it gives a more complete rendition of the book than the other adaptations
produced over the years.
Starring
Douglas Booth, Great Expectations
chronicles the life of Pip, a poor orphaned boy whose life abruptly changes
when unexpected fortune and opportunity come his way via an anonymous
benefactor. Booth is great in the role and brings his smoldering good looks to
the production, looking more like a Ralph Lauren model than a new,
up-and-coming British actor. Set in nineteenth century England/London, the
movie evokes a dark, Dickensian tone which includes a cast of unusual characters
with even more unusual names such as Magwitch, Havisham, and Pumblechook. Great
acting from Ray Winstone, Gillian Anderson, and Jack Roth (Tim Roth’s son) adds
to the production, as does the humor from Claire Rushbrook who plays Mrs. Joe. I
never realized how tragic and sad the story is until watching this version. I
remember reading the book years ago, but I didn’t pick up on the insidious evil
from Mrs. Havisham until Gillian Anderson put flesh on her bones. Havisham is
probably one of the literary world’s most wicked antagonists, striking an appall
to the heart with her moth-eaten wedding gown and rat-infested wedding cake. I
shudder to imagine how Dickens came up with such a character.
The themes of loyalty, love, revenge,
and forgiveness touch on Christian truths that are parabolic of the Lord’s
teachings. When we first meet Pip, he is a kind-hearted, abused little boy who
extends grace to an escaped convict, Magwitch (played by Winstone). At first, Magwitch
appears to be a vicious felon but later redeems himself as a man unfairly
condemned. He disappears quickly from the story but reappears later when the
loose ends are nicely tied up. As Pip later discovers, the mercy and
graciousness he showed Magwitch is instrumental in setting his life on a brand
new course.
At
the same time, Pip’s desire for love and a better life make him the perfect
victim for Miss Havisham.
Miss Havisham is a wealthy lady who lives in a dusty, cob-web infested mansion,
living out her days in a bizarre, insane stupor. Jilted at the altar years ago,
Miss Havisham is grief, anger, bitterness, and revenge personified. She walks
around barefoot looking as pale as a ghost and speaking in breathy half
sentences that are almost zombie-like. Her hair is stark white and hasn’t been
brushed in years and she still wears her dirty wedding gown—can’t imagine the
smell that would come from such an existence! And to make matters worse, the
dining room is covered in dust and filth, anchored by a rotting three tiered
wedding cake. I remember being terrified of this lady when I was a young girl.
In
her quest for revenge, Miss Havisham adopts the beautiful Estella (played by
Vanessa Kirby) and raises her to be a lovely, genteel lady with a heart of
stone. Havisham’s goal is to trick some well-meaning young man into falling in
love with Estella, only to purposefully break his heart in the process. This is
where Pip fits into her evil plan. She invites him to the house to spend time
with Estella, nurturing a friendship between the two. But then, at the moment
she sees that the affection has blossomed into something more, she sends
Estella off to London to find a respectable gentleman as a husband. Initially,
Pip believes Miss Havisham has his best interests at heart but soon learns he
was mistaken.
The
Havisham character is a wonderful depiction of an individual who harbors
bitterness and anger in their heart, unable to forgive. Unforgiveness is like a
poison, rotting the soul until it corrodes the body, bringing with it age,
disease, and ultimately death. Jesus taught on the dangers of unforgiveness and
the power and freedom that forgiveness brings. But sadly, like Miss Havisham,
many make a different choice, desiring to wallow in grief and pity until they
are destroyed. Pip understands this and finally confronts Havisham when he comes
of age. As he so aptly explains, if she had allowed Pip and Estella to love
each other, she could have filled her grand home with laughter and love. This cold,
hard truth is more than Havisham can bear and is the beginning of her eventual
demise. As so many have come to learn, the schemes of an evil man can never
suppress the power of true love.
Contrary
to Havisham, Magwitch chooses to forgive others for what was taken from him.
Instead of using Pip to exact revenge, he repays Pip for his kindness and
desires to enrich his life with finances and opportunity. Magwitch learns to
love and accepts his fate with peace in his heart, so unlike Miss Havisham.
Magwitch sacrifices his own interests for the greater good, whereas Havisham
embraces her doom with open arms, not caring who she takes with her. It makes
one sad to realize there are many figurative Miss Havishams in the world
hurtling toward their destruction, not knowing that death will not provide
relief—it will only be the beginning of a greater, eternal misery. If they
could only know the love of the Savior and the forgiveness that is available,
free of charge, they could be delivered like Magwitch, no longer held captive
by sin. It is a truth Pip and Estella come to realize in it fullness, enabling
them to embark on a new life of love and freedom.
I’m
sure there are many more spiritual truths a savvy moviegoer can glean from this
classic tale, but this is a good start. Enjoy this powerful story and share it
with someone you know who needs a healthy dose of the Gospel message of grace.
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