Joe Gargery Character Analysis in Great Expectations Essay Sample

In Great Expectations, Joe Gargery is a significant character, having a strong impact on and helping adapt the building blocks, for the main character, Pip’s life. He is basically the parental role in the story of Pip; Joe him up and is a loving and caring person in his life. A gentleman is thought to have high social status, culture, and enough money. We are going to discuss whether he is a true gentleman. Many people would disagree with this statement, possibly because of his illiteracy, or his incapability of pronouncing certain words or letters. This essay will highlight how Joe Gargery is, in fact, a true gentleman.

First of all, Joe is a compassionate soul. He is described by Pip as “good-natured, sweet-tempered, easy-going, foolish, dear fellow – a sort of Hercules in strength.” Dickens reinforces the positive image of Joe, comparing him to that of a strong god in Greek mythology. In addition to this, the quotation indicates his qualities which are similar to a true gentleman. He provides a nurturing presence in the childhood of Pip and does everything in his power to make the life of Pip’s better. An important thing outlined by Dickens is the contrast between him and his wife. Joe treats Pip as his own son, even though he took him in as an orphan. When he married Mrs Gargery, he still insists Pip come live with them: on the other hand, she is constantly reminding Pip about how she ‘raised him up by hand’ and this does not fail to portray the affectionate nature of the man in comparison to his wife. In addition to this, he continually respects his wife, despite her rages and maltreatment. We know this because in chapter 15, when Orlick picks a fight with Mrs Joe, calling her a “foul shrew”, Joe quickly comes to her defence, proving even further his personal integrity, as he is upholding his title of peacekeeper of the forge.

Another characteristic that Joe obtains is his understanding and loyalty. When Pip gets his inheritance from his unknown benefactor in order to get educated, fundamentally having to leave to become a gentleman in London, Joe is completely supportive. He does not show any anger or bitterness towards Pip having to leave the marshlands, because Joe wants the best for Pip. In response to Mr Jaggers offering money and compensation, Joe is insulted and angered by the idea of him becoming paid. “If you think as money can make compensation to me for the loss of the little child…” He believes that no amount of cash could ever counteract the loss of his child. This illustrates Joe’s humbleness and his compassion towards Pip. It also shows the true intentions for rearing up Pip: it was never about the money, but more about the rewarding feeling of having looked after him. We can also infer his humility when he goes to meet Pip in London. He states that he feels out of place in the extremely smart clothes and that he is “wrong out of the forge”. Joe acknowledges the fact that he simply does not belong in high-class society. This quote indicates Joe’s uninterest on his external appearances, which Pip is completely obsessed over. Ultimately, his character is very authentic and recognises who he truly is.

Joe is a forgiving man. Throughout the book, Pip treats Joe in cruel ways. In Satis House and in London, he is ashamed of him. After the change in social class, the gap between them increases both physically and emotionally. Joe senses that Pip is embarrassed of him when he comes to visit, yet cares for Pip, nonetheless. “You and me was ever friends,” the pronouns you and me shows that Joe obviously still really cares about him. Post several years of being cut off, Joe still reaches in the depths of his heart to forgive Pip; in fact, he forgives him almost immediately. “O dear old Pip, old chap. God knows as I forgive you, if I have anythink to forgive!” This is a connotation of a religious theme, hence the words “god” and “forgive”. It is almost as if Joe is a god-like character in terms of his morality, because of how kind he is to Pip. The repetition of forgive emphasises the non-existence of a grudge towards Pip due to the mistreatment against him for a long period of time. As well as this, his forgiveness is shown when Magwitch confesses to stealing the pie from him a long time ago, in which Joe pardons him.

In conclusion, Joe is a true gentleman. He demonstrates this in many ways, from the very beginning bringing Pip up in his respectful forges, to the end of the novel. Looking at all the evidence, it can be assumed that he is a very loyal, humble, caring and forgiving man. Even though he lacks the stereotypical needs of a gentleman (based upon birth and wealth), he holds the true characteristics of a gentleman, a lot like Dickens’ portrayal of a gentleman who is a person of kindness, humility, and generosity. He is a true gentleman at heart. However, it took Pip a long time to realise that himself.