Character Analysis Of Joe Gargery In Great Expectations By Charles Dickens

Great Expectations is an autobiography novel written by author Charles Dickens. The novel revolves around young Pip who is an orphan and lives with his abusive sister and her husband. Through his own hardships and development in life, Pip has always been cared for and helped by his father figure, Joe Gargery. Joe Gargery is a rather important character to the story because without his role in Pip’s life, Pip would not have been the man that he became later on. Joe Gargery is a hardworking man who is loyal and fair to himself, his wife, and even Pip. He holds a job as the village blacksmith, as an understanding husband who only tries to do well for his wife, and aims to be a loving father to Pip regardless of the troubles in his life. In chapter two of the book, Joe Gargery is described as being, “mild, good-natured, sweet-tempered…a sort of Hercules in strength, and also in weakness.” (Dickens 7). Joe Gargery fits this description well and although he is a smart man, Charles Dickens gives him the characteristics of having little education, no grand ego, and a pure innocent spirit. Such values and characteristics can make the reader feel sympathy for Joe Gargery each time that Mrs. Joe becomes defensive against

That is a fact that can be seen through his loving and caring nature towards those who love him and through his numerous acts of kindness. However, he also has his weaknesses as the protagonist. He rarely shows himself as powerful or self-determined, reacting instead to those around him and living his life as a romantic. Pip’s idealism often leads him to perceive the world in his own way, from his own ideas, rather than from the way that it really is. This is a problem for him because it leads him to behave badly toward the people who care about him. For example, when Pip try’s to be a gentleman, he acts as he thinks a gentleman would act, which leads him to treat Joe and Biddy in a bad