The Analysis of Friendship Between Pip and Joe in 'Great Expectations' by Charles Dickens

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The Analysis of Friendship Between Pip and Joe in 'Great Expectations' by Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens wrote ‘Great Expectations’ in 1861. It was first

published in a magazine called ‘All Year Round’, in serialized form.

Every week he would leave the readers wanting to buy the next weeks

copy by finishing with a cliff – hanger ending.

The story plots the development of Pip, an orphan, from a young boy to

adulthood. It begins with his life with his cruel sister and her kind

husband Joe, the Blacksmith. Two events determine the

Next three decades of his life. Firstly he helps an escaped convict.

Secondly he is called to entertain the wealthy Miss Havisham and her

ward, Estella, who he falls in love with. He becomes discontented with

this “common life” and after inheriting money he is thrown into a

shallow life of luxury and breaks the bonds with his past life. After

being very ill Pip realises that being a gentleman means more than

having money and an education.

Many of Dickens books are about childhood difficulties. Perhaps this

is because he was drawing on the experience of his own difficult

childhood and his own desire, like Pips to become a gentleman. Dickens

books are also about the class struggle, cruelty, inequality and

injustice. Punishment was harsh such as deportation to do hard labour

in Australia for small crimes or public hanging. Books with morals

were a good way to criticise the social system and so bring abut a

more just system. This was because there were no TV’s, no radios or

internet to inform people so the majority read.

During Pips early years he and Joe share a relationship based on love

and trust, like father and son or two brothers. They are united in

their suffering because of the cruel Mrs Joe. For example she gives

them both horrible tar water to drink. They play games and have

friendly competitions in order to cheer up the atmosphere. They both

mouth words to each other so not to get her angry.

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