Loyalty In Great Expectations By Charles Dicken

The novel, Great Expectations, by Charles Dicken includes characters who grew and developed over the course of the plot. Joe Gargery was the brother-in-law of the antagonist, Philip (Pip) Pirrip. Unlike his wife, Joe demonstrated many redeeming traits such as loyalty, regret, and love. Different aspects of his personality were demonstrated in different stages of this classic. In the first stage, we see evidence of his loyalty. When Pip returned home from his first visit with Miss Havisham, he lied to his sister and all of her friends about what happened at the Sadis House. Joe eventually learns about Pip's wrongdoings and protects his friend from the wrath that might occur if Mrs. Joe discovers his fib. He shows that he will stay loyal to Pip to protect the special bond that they have. Furthermore, he remained true to his wife even though she abused him. Joe even defended her to Pip and repeatedly insisted, “your sister is a-fine-figure-of-a-woman,” (27). This trait introduced the reader to the caring Joe we see the rest of the novel.

He expressed, “if there’s been any fault at all today, it’s mine. You and me is not two figures to be in London, nor yet anywhere else but what is private… I’m wrong in these clothes. I’m wrong out of the forge, the kitchen, or off th’ meshes,” (121). This showed how Joe regretted that Pip and he were in different social classes. He felt amiss in Pip’s world, and he felt as though it was his fault. Also, Joe regretted that he never learned to read or write. He believed that it was the reason that he and Pip lost touch. Especially since they were once close friends who loved each