Joe Gargery doesn’t scream “important character” while reading, but his constant presence and personality have a significant influence on the people around him. Joe Gargery is Pip’s stepbrother, and was a very prominent figure in raising Pip. Joe withstands a lot of abuse from the people close to him. His wife, Mrs. Joe is often rude and violent towards both Joe and her brother Pip. She is bitter because she wishes she were more than a village blacksmith’s wife. Through all this, Joe remains kind. The reason that Joe endures the abuse is because of his love for Pip. He stays with Mrs. Joe for Pip’s sake because she is Pip’s mother figure, and Joe recognizes that it is important for Pip to have a loving family. Joe is uneducated and a bit rough around the edges, but he is a caring and compassionate person. "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 …show more content…
With the majority of his family dead, and his abusive sister acting as his guardian, Pip was deprived of most things a child needs to thrive emotionally. He is constantly put down by his sister and told that he is worthless and a burden. The one bright spot amidst all the gloom was Joe. Joe protected Pip from a good majority of his sister’s beatings and did his best to support him. Before Pip leaves for Satis house, he seems fairly content with his lot in life because he has never known a life outside of it. However, when he meets Estella and she ridicules him for his mannerisms and appearance, he instantly becomes distraught about those things. It is a huge blow to his self-esteem and he becomes insecure. Instead of standing by Joe, Pip leaves to pursue higher social