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Gargery And Pip's Relationship In 'Great Expectations'

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In the novel, Great Expectations, two of the main characters, Joe Gargery and Pip, have a very close relationship that, rather than resembling a father-son relationship, functions as more of a close friendship. Joe is constantly looking out for Pip and trying to make him feel loved and cared about through all of the hurt and abuse that Mrs. Joe inflicts on them both. One evening, when Pip and Joe are talking by the fireplace, their relationship becomes a little deeper. Pip narrates, “‘I [Joe] said to her, ‘And bring the poor little child. God bless the poor little child,’ I said to your sister, ‘there’s room for him at the forge!”’ I broke out crying...and hugged joe round the neck… ‘Ever the best of friends; an’t us, Pip?”’(7.46.2. & …show more content…

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. The similar circumstances that Joe and Pip face on a day to day bases has somewhat coaxed them into a close

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