Money Is Not The Answer

    In Great Expectations, Charles Dickens explores the perception that the value of a man increases with his attainment of material wealth. Dickens probes the truth of such a system of values through Pip's quest for material gain. This quest is the literal pursuit of a better suit of clothing but is conducted without regard for the kind of man wearing the suit. Thus Dickens poses the question: does it profit a man to gain the world at the risk of losing his soul. It is clear, we see, in Great Expectations, that the answer to Dickens's question is no.

If anything, the novel depicts those of lower standing to have better morality than those of higher class. In the beginning of the book, he is a sense comfort for Pip in his rude and abusive wife’s home. When Joe says “‘But I did mind you, Pip,’ he returned, with tender simplicity. ‘When I offered to your sister to keep company, and to be asked in church at such times as she was willing and ready to come to the forge, I 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!’” (Dickens 7). It is clearly illustrated how Joe was the only one that showed Pip kindness as he was the only one to offer Pip a home after he was orphaned and homeless. After Pip shows his embarrassment for his family clearly for everyone to see, Joe begins to take tutoring sessions from Biddy so that he would not embarrass Pip anymore. Even though Pip becomes more and more distant and crude, Joe stays loyal to him. When Joe goes out to visit Pip in London he soon realizes the difference in social class between him and Joe and states“‘Pip, dear old chap, life is made of ever so many partings welded together, as I may say, one man’s a blacksmith, and one's man’s a whitesmith, and one’s a goldsmith, and one’s a coppersmith. Divisions among such must come, and be met as they come’”(Dickens 237-238). He is explaining to Pip that he now knows that the are not in the same social sphere anymore and that there is no use to pretend other wise as the situation was unavoidable as soon as Pip moved to London. He also expresses that his loving affection for Pip is and will always remain inchanged. When Pip returns home from London after he realizes that he does not actually want to become a gentleman he becomes sick and is brought back to health by Joe.

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 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).

Throughout the course of the story he begins to lose his sense of identity in aim to amuse Miss Havisham and convince her that he is good enough for Estella. Unfortunately, he is unsuccessful of his goal and becomes self absorbed towards the idea of becoming a gentleman who is swarmed by wealth and becoming amiable for others, rather than for himself. That is to say, “...as Joe and Biddy became more of their cheerful ease again, I became quite gloomy. Dissatisfied with my fortune, of course I could not be; but it is possible that I may have been, without quite knowing it, dissatisfied with myself.” (Ch. 18). As young as Pip is, he is underestimating the idea of what fortune can do to your disposition as a person. Pip realizes that becoming prosperous had made him rather unhappy and lose interest in his friends that stood by him. Under those circumstances, Pip was flawed with his self esteem and faces the action point that he is becoming who he no longer wants to be. To become wealthy, you are a misdemeanor of yourself and insensitive to those who’ve supported you. With this intention, Pip recollects what Joe had once told him. That is to say, “That ain’t the way to get out of being common, old chap...if you can’t get to be uncommon through going straight, you’ll never get to do it through going crooked.” (Ch. 9). Joe creates the point that dishonesty will get

Joe bitterlessly, ungrudgingly, assesses his true character and place in life, as “I’m wrong in these clothes… out of the forge, the kitchen or off th’meshes” (Dickens 154). He can able to accept his lot as is, and can part with Pip if Pip wishes so. “It ain’t that I am proud, but that I want to be right,” shows Joe admitting what Pip can not admit: that they no longer can be together and preserve Pip’s image. The fact that Joe also recognizes and accepts the importance of Pip’s pride shows how highly he views Pip, despite the ungratefulness. Joe also shows his wisdom, reasoning that “Diwisions among such must come, and they must be met as they come” (Dickens 153).

After Pip recovers, he learns that Joe has paid his debts. Pip starts to think about how he has been treating Joe when Joe says "diwisions among such must come, and must be met as they come" (Dickens

He later on explains his relationship with Joe when it comes to harsh treatment Mrs. Joe gives to her boys, “ Joe and I being fellow-sufferers.” Joe and Mrs. Joe have a perfect complement raising Pip, while one gives kindness the other gives discipline. In chapter nine, Pip deals with a complicated sin of lying to his family and confesses to Joe, who respects Pip to be maturing: “But Joe took the case altogether out of the region of metaphysics, and by that means vanquished it.” Joe Gargery is a respected man too for being kind to women, but his past does define why. In chapter 7, Joe tells Pip part of his past and reveals that the abuse from his father changed him as a man.

In the classic novel Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, Pip experiences three life-altering stages of friendship, greed and remorse. Throughout these influential stages, Joe has played a pivotal role in Pip’s growth to manhood.

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

Dickens criticizes this injustice in Great Expectations buy mocking a society that values wealth and appearance. In the novel typically the poorest characters are the most honest and moral and the wealthiest are the most immoral and corrupt. Pips moral stalwart is Joe, his much older brother in law. Joe is a poor blacksmith who is ridiculed for his humble means by his wife and also by a wealthy Pip for his humility and ignorance of wealth and high society.

Pip “…gave me the bread and meat without looking at me, as insolently as if I were a dog in disgrace. I was so humiliated, hurt, spurned, offended, angry, sorry…,” (Dickens 64). Pip is disconcerted and depressed when Estella does that to him in the beginning of the novel. Pip basically does the same thing to Joe. “Not with pleasure, though I was bound to him by so many ties; no; with considerable disturbance, some mortification, and a keen sense of incongruity. If I could have kept him away by paying money, I certainly would have paid money,” (Dickens 229). Joe is disrespected and he is mortified by the way Pip treats him.

Dickens uses Mrs. Joe in order to unite Pip and Joe early on in the

Pip meets Joe in London after not seeing him since he left the marshes; Joe treats Pip like an acquaintance instead of a life-long friend when he says, “And so GOD bless you, dear old Pip, old chap, GOD bless you!” (Dickens 201). The repetition of the word “old” is a metaphor for how old Pip and Joe’s relationship is and how it is losing steam. They are no longer friends, they are barely acquaintances, and the change is reflected in this quote. There is also some nervousness shown. The repetition of “GOD bless you” shows that Joe is nervous to be around his former best pal, Pip, because of their social class difference. Joe recognizes the change in Pip which is why he is nervous. In the first few chapters of Pip’s journey to London, he finds himself in a typical neighborhood in the city and

Imagine living a luxurious, wealthy life full of money and possessing everything desired at any given time. This utopia may sound like an enjoyable experience, however, it would be contained of personal and emotional hardships. These everyday struggles introduce themselves when the owner of such wealth realizes that those riches can generate loneliness or great sadness. This concept of negative consequences resulting from occupying wealth is expressed in Charles Dickens novel, Great Expectations. Dickens utilizes Estella, a cold-hearted, ill-mannered protagonist to portray that even with all the accessible wealth in the world, it is still possible not to discover happiness and respect for others. Dickens’ idea is conveyed through Estella’s personality, reckless attitude, and as well as Miss Havisham, Estella’s adopted mother.