A character analysis of Joe Gargery from 'Great Expectations' by Charles Dickens
"Joe is truly the innocent, humble truthful gentleman"
Charles Dickens proves his literary genius by creating the innocent and gentle character of Joe Gargery and by making him so real and down to earth.
We are introduced to Joe very early in the novel, as Pip's best friend and confidante. He is like a grown up child with an innocent mind and humble character. He calls Pip ‘Dear old-chap' and this is what he himself is throughout the novel. Joe's marital life is not very pleasant owing to Mrs. Joe's strict housekeeping ways and fixations about her starched apron with needles poking out of it , her tickler, her dustpan and her bringing up of both Joe and Pip ‘by hand', making life miserable for Pip but Joe seems to be accustomed to it. The gentle fellow does not complain, has no regrets and no hard feelings for anyone. He allows his wife to bring him up ‘by hand'.
Joe is a hard core simpleton blacksmith. His life is the forge and he loved spending time in the ‘Three jolly bargemen'. His principle in life is to work hard and be honest. This is exactly what he wants Pip to do in life.
Joe is a lifelong friend to Pip, he loves Pip from the depth of his simple, humble heart and would do anything for him. Joe's simplicity strikes the readers throughout the play. Joe is comfortable in his working clothes. He looks very conscious and out of place in his Sunday clothes. However, for Pip's sake he dresses up in a suit when he goes to meet Miss Havisham. One can hardly forget Dickens's humour when he describes Joe in his Sunday clothes, looking like a bird with feathers sticking out from his neck and an open mouth as if he were ready for a worm to get into it.
Joe's unselfishness is brought to life when he humbly lets go of Pip being his apprentice. He happily agrees to cancel the apprenticeship and urges Pip to go to London to become a gentleman.
Joe is a gentleman in a true sense when it comes to his friendship with Pip. Pip's ingratitude, his snobbery, his pride and his ignorance of Joe, have no impact on Joe's love for Pip. Unlike Pip, Joe has no expectations from anyone. His only desire is see Pip become a gentleman. He tells Pip that blacksmiths, coppersmiths and goldsmith are equal in his eyes; He truly loves his work and has a sense of dignity towards it.
Unlike other characters in the novel, Joe never changes. He is the same dear fellow we meet in the beginning of the novel and he maintains his humbleness throughout the novel. Eleven years later when Pip comes to meet Joe and Biddy, he finds that nothing had changed in Joe. He still sat by the kitchen fire, smoking a pipe and looking as simple and as innocent as ever. Joe's affection for Pip is brought to light when he names his son ‘Pip', for the sake of fond memories.
Just like always, Joe is there for Pip whenever he needs him and even when he does not need him. He welcomes Pip with open arms, with the same affection and tenderness which are characteristic to him. Joe is the most realistic creation of Dickens in Great Expectationsand he eventually, comes out as the true gentleman of this novel.
Charles Dickens proves his literary genius by creating the innocent and gentle character of Joe Gargery and by making him so real and down to earth.
We are introduced to Joe very early in the novel, as Pip's best friend and confidante. He is like a grown up child with an innocent mind and humble character. He calls Pip ‘Dear old-chap' and this is what he himself is throughout the novel. Joe's marital life is not very pleasant owing to Mrs. Joe's strict housekeeping ways and fixations about her starched apron with needles poking out of it , her tickler, her dustpan and her bringing up of both Joe and Pip ‘by hand', making life miserable for Pip but Joe seems to be accustomed to it. The gentle fellow does not complain, has no regrets and no hard feelings for anyone. He allows his wife to bring him up ‘by hand'.
Joe is a hard core simpleton blacksmith. His life is the forge and he loved spending time in the ‘Three jolly bargemen'. His principle in life is to work hard and be honest. This is exactly what he wants Pip to do in life.
Joe is a lifelong friend to Pip, he loves Pip from the depth of his simple, humble heart and would do anything for him. Joe's simplicity strikes the readers throughout the play. Joe is comfortable in his working clothes. He looks very conscious and out of place in his Sunday clothes. However, for Pip's sake he dresses up in a suit when he goes to meet Miss Havisham. One can hardly forget Dickens's humour when he describes Joe in his Sunday clothes, looking like a bird with feathers sticking out from his neck and an open mouth as if he were ready for a worm to get into it.
Joe's unselfishness is brought to life when he humbly lets go of Pip being his apprentice. He happily agrees to cancel the apprenticeship and urges Pip to go to London to become a gentleman.
Joe is a gentleman in a true sense when it comes to his friendship with Pip. Pip's ingratitude, his snobbery, his pride and his ignorance of Joe, have no impact on Joe's love for Pip. Unlike Pip, Joe has no expectations from anyone. His only desire is see Pip become a gentleman. He tells Pip that blacksmiths, coppersmiths and goldsmith are equal in his eyes; He truly loves his work and has a sense of dignity towards it.
Unlike other characters in the novel, Joe never changes. He is the same dear fellow we meet in the beginning of the novel and he maintains his humbleness throughout the novel. Eleven years later when Pip comes to meet Joe and Biddy, he finds that nothing had changed in Joe. He still sat by the kitchen fire, smoking a pipe and looking as simple and as innocent as ever. Joe's affection for Pip is brought to light when he names his son ‘Pip', for the sake of fond memories.
Just like always, Joe is there for Pip whenever he needs him and even when he does not need him. He welcomes Pip with open arms, with the same affection and tenderness which are characteristic to him. Joe is the most realistic creation of Dickens in Great Expectationsand he eventually, comes out as the true gentleman of this novel.
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