Character Analysis Of Joe's Character In Great Expectations By Charles Dickens

Pip expresses that he "...loved Joe perhaps for no better reason than because the dear fellow let me love him" implying that Pip may have a problem expressing the way he feels about those in his life (Dickens 41). This lack of expression remains present in Pip’s character throughout the novel, especially with frustration for the way he feels about Estella. Pip earning his expectations put a strain on the already limited relationship that he had with Joe, once Pip began to realize that Joe’s occupation was meager and unfit for someone with Pip’s means.

When Pip was a small boy, he felt close to Joe, as Joe was like a

By seeing Joe’s character and how he was in the novel with Pip, not only helps the reader understand how Pip grew up, but it also helps us understand why Pip needed Joe and his unconditional love. Without Joe, Pip would never have grown up to be the person he grew up to be. Because of the love, and kindness that Joe showed to Pip helped Pip become a better person and encourages Pip to help others and be compassionate towards the people

Joe’s personality is the opposite of his wife’s, including the presence of a moral code which is in turn passed on to Pip. When Joe learned Pip had told everyone lies about what he saw at Miss Havisham’s home, instead of yelling at him he told him that he’d never get to be a gentleman by “going crooked” and simply advised him to never do so again. Pip was also influenced by listening to Joe talk about the good in people, including how he was married to Mrs. Joe because he saw the good in Pip as a baby, and this makes Pip “look up to Joe in his heart.” Even though Joe was Pip’s brother-in-law he was more like a father figure/friend who taught Pip almost all of his admirable

3. Why has Joe not learned to read as a child? What makes him marry Pip’s sister?

Joe armed with wrath and “Tickler” (Dickens 7). Joe wishes that Pip would not have to bear the brunt of “Tickler”; he wishes that he could “‘take it all’” himself (Dickens 51). Joe takes a kindly, brotherly interest in Pip; he and Pip share a “good-natured companionship” (Dickens 9). When Pip refrains from eating his bread and butter, which he intends to save for the convict, Joe believes that Pip has lost his appetite. Joe becomes “uncomfortable” and does not “enjoy” his food (Dickens 9). Joe often encourages and motivates Pip. When Pip presents Joe with his first specimen of writing, Joe declares that Pip is a “‘scholar’” (Dickens 73). When Pip complains about his commonness, Joe says that Pip is “‘oncommon’”. He wisely observes that “‘you must be a common scholar afore you can be a oncommon one’” (Dickens 73). Joe’s kindness and generosity also extends beyond his family. When the convict confesses that he stole some food from the blacksmith, Joe says that he is “‘welcome to it’”; he would not want even a convict to be “‘starved to death’” (Dickens 40).

Pip is informed that he is going to London to begin his gentlemanly education and this only serves to feed into his new obsession. The first to see this is wholesome and virtuous Joe. Joe was a caring and compassionate man and stays true to his character throughout the novel. It is

Just as we sometimes turn away from God, Pip turns away from Joe. When Pip meets Estella and the "glittering alternative to life at the forge that she and Satis House represent, he can't ever again enjoy the idea of working with Joe at the forge."4 When he acquires his fortune, Pip totally pushes Joe out of his life. Because Great Expectations is written in first person (and Pip is a very honest storyteller), we can observe that "while Pip the narrator recognizes Joe's goodness..."5 and great love for him, "...Pip the character goes on

Pip does not tell Joe because he fears he will lose his companionship. In the future, Pip will struggle with telling the truth because of the fear that society will think less of him. Later that same day, the police are engaged in a search party to find the criminal. Joe and Pip accompany them; although, they do not believe that he must be apprehended. Once Magwitch is taken into custody, Joe and Pip both shed a tear. Pip's life at the forge is difficult due to Mrs. Joe's harsh nature, but he is also surrounded by the goodness and love of Joe. He has been taught that humans of all societal levels are important.

How society viewed you at the time the novel was set, was very important as typically everyone in a village would know each other in some way and she did not want the reputation she had built up to be ruined. While Pip is asking questions, she tells him how she “didn't bring you up by hand to badger people's lives out. It would be blame to me, and not praise, if I had”. You can argue that she is more concerned about this reputation and how people perceive her than she is about Pip’s happiness. This raises the question of whether Mrs Joe really does love Pip or whether she loves how Pip can provide her with a good reputation. Pip does not turn out like her or act in such a cruel way but you could say that due to being treated in this way growing up, it had made him want to avoid treating others in the same way as he knows first-hand what it is like. However, it can also be argued that Pip, much like Mrs Joe, is concerned with how others perceive him. He wants to appear to be higher in class and also as though he treats others

As Joe shares bits and pieces of his past with Pip, it becomes apparent the extent to which Joe contributed in regard to the bringing up of Pip and the life that he has. As Joe states in the last sentence of that quote, rather than a fatherly-figure, joe serves more as Pip’s “Best friend.” Another, more discrete example of Joe’s love and fondness towards Pip was at the Christmas meal and Pip narrates that “He [Joe] always aided and comforted me when he could in some way of his own, and he always did so at dinner-time by giving me gravy”(4.22.2). Pip and Joe are mutually affected by the abuse inflicted by Mrs. Joe, so when the company arrives for Christmas dinner, they both understand the vitality of being on their best behavior. Although Joe cannot directly chastise the guests and Mrs. Joe for the way they are speaking about Pip, he offers his comfort and affection to Pip by giving him gravy.

Pip finds consolation from Joe after Pip angers Mrs.Joe. On page 36, “But I wish it was only me that had to take it Pip. I wish there was no Tickler for you, old chap. I wish I could take it all on myself.” It explains how Joe cares about Pip and feels sorrow when Pip gets hurt by Mrs.Joe. Joe advices Pip in some of the chapters, on page 49, Joe tells Pip “There’s one thing you may be sure of, Pip, namely that lies is lies. Don’t you tell no more of them. That ain’t the way to get over being common, Old chap. As Pip; if you can’t get there by going straight, you’ll never get there by going crooked. So don’t lie any more, Pip, and you’ll live well and die

effect on Pip through his love. Pip loves Joe for what he is and in

The theme of family is shown mainly through Pip’s relationship with his brother-in-law, Joe Gargery. In the beginning of the novel, Pip makes it obvious that he dislikes his sister, and takes more of a liking to her husband Joe because Pip is able to sympathize with him (Dickens 40). Joe becomes his confidant, a fact that becomes apparent when Pip comes home to face a harsh interrogation by Mrs. Joe and Uncle Pumblechook after his first visit to Miss Havisham’s. Pip lies to the both of them about his experience, but feels guilty about doing the same to Joe and confesses his wrongdoing. Joe shows understanding towards Pip, and instead of sternly rebuking him for lying, he simply but seriously Pip about the dangers of lying, saying “if you can’t get to be oncommon (uncommon) through going straight, you’ll never get to do it through going crooked” (Dickens 100). While Pip’s relationship with Joe is being tested by his desire to gain a higher social standing, Pip shows significant guilt over his mistreatment of Joe ( Dickens 296), proving that deep down, Pip never loses his deep love for Joe. It can be safely assumed that the point that Dickens wants to make through Pip and Joe’s relationship is that family is not necessarily determined by biological connections, but by who a person is closest to and feels most comfortable sharing their life with through the best and worst times.

Joe who has the greater part in dedicating her life to the care of infant Pip. This matter is manifest, as stated earlier in this section, in one of reproachful remarks the sister directs at Pip upon the young boy's belated return from the churchyard: "If it warn’t for me you’d have been to the churchyard long ago, and stayed there"(9). Such great right of saving from grave we can consider for no one else, in respect of the fact that evidently from the beginning Pip's parents and five other siblings were all eternal inhabitant of that "bleak place" (3). To all likelihood, in the probable non-existence of this 20-year-older sister, no better place of residence than the churchyard would have been the lot of young man.