Examples Of Father Figures In Great Expectations

A Father for PipCharles Dickens’s novel Great Expectations is about an orphan named Pip, who is beingraised by his sister and her husband. He comes into a great fortune by means of a secret benefactor, and so leaves his home for London to be a gentleman. The book follows Pip intomanhood, along with his exploits and trials along the way. Throughout the story, several father figures were very prominent. These included Joe, Jaggers, and Magwitch.Joe is the husband of Pip’s sister, and has known Pip the longest of the three, ever sincePip was a boy. All through Great Expectations, from beginning to end, Joe shows his love for Pip. For example, at dinner in the beginning of the book, he is concern when he notices that Pipis not eating. When Mrs. Joe is about to hurt Pip, Joe steps in to stop her.

When Pip gets into tremendous debt, Joe pays it off.Another good example of Joe’s love for Pip would be when Mr. Jaggers comes to take Pip awayto become a gentleman. He offers Joe money for compensation. Joe is outraged at the very ideathat money could replace his dear Pip, going so far as to cry out, “‘If you think as Money canmake compensation to me for the loss of the little child . . . and ever the best of friends!—‘”(150). The relationship between Joe and Pip could be best described in those words, “ever the best of friends”.Mr. Jaggers acts as Pip’s father when Pip first leaves his boyhood home for London.Jaggers is a powerful lawyer hired by Pip’s benefactor to be his guardian. He is the mostimpersonal of the three, even stating to Pip that “‘I am paid for my services, or I shouldn't