Great Expectations: Joe Gargery

In Great Expectations Joe Gargery is a very sympathetic character. He is very empathetic throughout the book no matter what happens to him. He shows nothing but kindness to both Pip, and his wife, known as Mrs. Joe, even when they don’t show it back. He shows his love for Pip by saying, “"Which dear old Pip, old chap,’ said Joe, ‘you and me was ever friends. And when you're well enough to go out for a ride—what larks"(Dickens 419). Joe is a very humble person, and always puts other before himself. He feels bad for letting past things happen to Pip, and so he wants to do his best to make up for it. Joe is the most kindhearted person in the book by far, and shows unconditional love towards Pip, and his wife.

Joe Gargery is uneducated, yet perfectly

He looks forward to training Pip in the skill. He also wants to teach Pip his values by telling him this, “…lies is lies. However, they come, they didn’t ought to come, and they come from the father of lies, and work round to do the same. Don’t you tell no more of ‘em Pip, 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” (Dickens 64). He wants Pip to believe that the best way to achieve success is through honest actions. Pip doesn’t start to take this advice into account until near the end of the novel. Joe’s influence on Pip spawns from the fact that he is the only fatherly figure Pip has because is married to Pip’s sister, Mrs. Joe. She is a cruel abusive character, but Joe stays with her out of love for Pip. He tends to see the best in people, and forgives everyone that ever wrongs him. Overall, Joe Gargery is a caring person with nothing but compassion to spread throughout the

This is shown more at the beginning and end of the novel because Pip goes through somewhat a rebel stage in between. Pip is the protagonist of the story, and he goes through a series of stages throughout his life. He begins the story very innocently almost mirroring Joe’s kind attitude. After visiting the Satis house and falling deeply in love with Estella he changes, becoming more independent. Pip goes off on his own to become what he believes is a “Gentleman”. After all his hardships and becoming very ill near the end Pip turns into a more mature character, and he starts to value his friendship with Joe