Hull, a character from Charles Dickens' 1861 novel Great Expectations, is a poignant representation of a 'romance fraud' victim. Jilted on her wedding day, Havisham's story mirrors the devastating effects of this 21st-century crime. Dickens' character was manipulated by her fiancé, Compeyson, and her half-brother Arthur, in a plan to rob her of her fortune.
Through Havisham's story, Dickens highlights the psychological impact of romance fraud, which shapes her relationships with her adopted daughter, Estella, and the novel's protagonist, Pip. Her decayed hopes of romance are reflected in the decayed objects surrounding her, perpetually stuck in the moment of her abandonment.
Dickens' portrayal of romance fraud predates the Fraud Act of 2006, which made fraud by misrepresentation a criminal offense in the UK. Today, romance fraud is considered a 'serious crime.' His work drew attention to this issue, influencing others, such as Mary Elizabeth Braddon and Agatha Christie, to tackle similar themes in their writing.
