Great Expectations Essay, Research Paper

Sharing common suffering often serves as the basis for a relationship of mutual appreciation. In such relationships, both figures endure pain, but use this torment as a similarity on which to bond. Usually in a relationship so deep and impressionable, one prominent figure stands out as a role model that influences the other. Charles Dickens presents such a situation in the novel Great Expectations. The characters Pip and Joe share a profound consanguinity, through which Joe’s model of behavior constitutes Pip’s conscience. The great admiration that exists between Pip and Joe begins with emotional affinity, weathers Pip’s quest for true identity, and serves for his eventual return to his true self.

Through emotional correlation, Pip and Joe lay the foundation for the great appreciation they hold for one another. Mrs. Joe, the spitefully harsh woman who beats Pip and Joe, serves as the source of their detriment. In the beginning the reader learns of Tickler, or the stick with which Mrs. Joe beats her younger brother Pip. After making a stealthy visit to the churchyard, Pip returns home to find Joe warning him, “Mrs. Joe has been out a dozen times looking for you… and what’s worse, she’s got Tickler with her” (40). Joe pities the boy, and temporarily hides him behind the door, to protect him from the hands of his enraged wife. “She’s a coming! Get behind the door, old chap, and have the jack-towel betwixt you” (41). Out of his good-hearted nature, Joe makes Pip’s welfare his responsibility to see that Pip remains unharmed. Later on, Joe reveals to Pip his generously kind act of warmly accepting the boy into his home after the deaths of Pip’s parents, but against the will of his ill-natured sister. “…I said to her, ‘And bring the poor little child. G-d bless the poor little child,’ I said to your sister, ‘there’s room for him at the forge!’ ” (78). Once again, due to his compassionate nature, Joe has made Pip’s well-being his obligation to look after and care for the young Pip. At this revelation, Pip breaks down in tears, realizing all that Joe has magnanimously done for him. Pip also realizes that he shares a special bond with Joe, as he describes their relationship: “our…freemasonry as fellow-sufferers, and his good-natured companionship with me…” (42). Like Pip, Joe suffers at the hand of Mrs. Joe who angrily proclaims to Pip: “It’s bad enough to be a blacksmith’s wife (and him a Gargery) without being your mother” (40). Not only does she insult and harm Pip, but in the process she also manages to insert some form of verbal or physical abuse toward her husband. “I often served as a connubial missile- at Joe…” (41), Pip informs the reader. Thus, a special link forms between the two sufferers. Once establishing this firm and deeply-rooted connection, Joe and Pip’s relationship persistently survives, regardless of the gaps that soon arise.

Joe honors Pip’s decision to leave for London and manifests his devotion to Pip throughout all stages of his quest to become a gentleman. Preceding Pip’s journey, Mr. Jaggers, the appointed guardian, requests the release of the apprentice, Pip, from his master, Joe. He then offers Joe compensation for the lost services; however, Joe rejects the money: “But if you think as Money can make compensation to me for the loss of this little child- what come to the forge- and ever the best of friends! – ” (168). He feels that one cannot put a price on the loss of a dear friend and feels wrong to withhold Pip from such an opportunity: “ ‘Pip is that hearty welcome,’ said Joe, ‘to go free with his services, to honour and fortun, as no words can tell him.’ ” (168) This support not only exists before the journey; but also continues during Pip’s actual pursuit to become a gentleman. When visiting Pip in London, Joe takes Pip’s new social class into consideration, dresses in appropriate attire and refers to Pip as “Sir.” Yet, despite the great extents to which he goes to adapt, Joe feels misplaced. He realizes that he does not belong, and prepares to depart, saying, “You and me is not two figures to be together in London, nor anywheres else but what is private, and beknown, and understood amongst friends… you shall never see me no more in theses clothes” (246). However, regardless of these newly-founded social gaps, Joe and Pip “had ever been the best of friends…and ever would be so on” (246), as Pip explains. Further on in Pip’s journey, when rationalizing his rejection of Joe for the sake of Estella, one notes a temporarily visible indication of Joe’s influence. “I never thought there was anything low and small in me keeping away from Joe, because I knew she would be contemptuous of him. It was but a day gone, and Joe had brought the tears in my eyes; they had soon dried, G-d forgive me! soon dried” (265). Although soon subdued by Pip’s new snobbish perception and belittlement of people, his conscience, instilled by Joe, momentarily forces him to contemplate thoughts that have been buried in his past. When Pip finally realizes that his so-called “great expectations,” in reality no more than mere phony and exaggerated fantasies, he returns to Joe to beg forgiveness: “…pray tell me, both, that you forgive me!” (488). Joe, of course, in his good-hearted nature, replies: “O dear Pip, old chap… G-d knows as I forgive you, if I have anythink to forgive” (488). Even after snobbishly rejecting Joe, he lovingly forgives Pip, saving the relationship that has managed to survive against all odds, much like the morals Joe implants within Pip.

Joe’s integrity serves as a guiding light for Pip on his journey, for Joe’s influence has instilled within Pip a conscience. When introducing Joe in the beginning, Dickens depicts him as “a fair man…with eyes of such a very undecided blue…He was mild, good-natured, sweet-tempered, easy-going, foolish dear fellow- a sort of Hercules in strength and also in weaknesses” (40). His pale physical characteristics denote his innocence; so too does the description of his benevolent personality. His “sweet-tempered” nature, referred to throughout, support his kindhearted figure. On one occasion Joe reveals part of his lurid childhood, which satisfies the curiosity of the readers as to why Joe does not defend himself from the brutality of Mrs. Joe: “…my mother and me we ran away from my father…But my father were that good in his hart that he couldn’t abear to be without us… so he’d come…then he took us home and hammered us” (76-77). In his innocence and naivet?, Joe considers his father a good man who only meant well. Witnessing his mother endure such pain at the hand of his father contributes to his sensitive and compassionate nature. Joe therefore deems causing pain to others as morally incorrect, even for the sake of self-defense. Exposed to such kindness and naivet?, Pip inherently adapts an attitude of benevolence. Joe’s generosity and its influence on Pip proves successful, when later Pip financially assists his dear friend Herbert. “… I had the greatest difficulty restraining my tears of triumph when I saw him so happy… I really did cry in good earnest when I went to bed, to think that my expectations had done some good to somebody” (318). Not only does Joe’s honest integrity influence Pip to do good, but it also serves as Pip’s conscience and his ultimate means of return. When he steals food to give to the convict, Pip feels guilty towards Joe, and only Joe. “Now when I saw Joe…in helpless amazement, I was overtaken by penitence; but only as regarded him…Towards Joe, and Joe only, I considered myself a young monster…” (98). Due to Joe’s early influence, Pip already possesses some form of conscience and a sense of guilt. Pip’s respect for Joe creates his sense of humility towards Joe, and causes Joe to become a role model type of figure for Pip, because Pip looks up to and admires him. “..I had a new sensation of feeling conscious that I was looking up to Joe in my heart” (80). Since Joe has become Pip’s mentor, he serves as his persistent conscience. Later, when accustomed to his expectations, Pip suddenly thinks of Joe. “I lived in a chronic uneasiness respecting my behaviour to Joe. My conscience was not by any means comfortable about Biddy” (291). When acting in ways Joe may deem improper, Pip remembers Joe, and feels ashamed. At the end, when Pip returns home to Joe, Pip describes how Joe’s everlasting presence serves as the reason for his return to the “true” Pip. “I had a guiding spirit at my side whose simple faith and clear home-wisdom I had proved, beguiled my way” (486). This “guiding spirit,” of course refers to Joe and the everlasting impressions he has engraved within Pip’s moral conscience.

Through their great relationship built on a mutual respect, Joe serves as Pip’s unacknowledged mentor. Joe, who possesses humble, na?ve and benevolent characteristics, wins Pip’s respect due to his goodhearted nature. Soon enough, he becomes a role model to whom Pip looks up. Such a relationship not only originates from Joe’s kind and favorable personality, but also stems from their similar emotional conditions, mutual suffering at the hand of Mrs. Joe, and Joe’s concern for Pip’s welfare. Joe therefore becomes a parental figure, to whom Pip looks for guidance and support. Often, the mentor then instills all that he or she can, so that the pupil one day may use these instincts to do what he or she deems proper. However, once he implants morals, the mentor must keep his distance, regardless of whether he approves of his learner’s actions, therefore relying that the student will come to his senses. Showing support, despite disapproval, gives the pupil reason to honor and respect all that you have taught, and eventually, he or she will come through.