In his novel Great Expectations, Charles Dickens displays the recurring theme of how sometimes in life, despite what the accepted behavioral norms are for a certain group, not everyone complies to these standards. He uses this theme to make a profound statement in regard to his lack of conformity to gender ideals as depicted by the Victorian era, through the use of reversed gender roles. Stereotypically, Victorian ideals stated that women were to be kind and nurturing, and the men were to be strong, stoic and dominant. These roles are reversed in Great Expectations, exemplified by Mrs. Joe’s cold-hearted, punishing ways and Joe Gargery’s maternal and compassionate traits. Charles Dickens depicts the theme of reversed gender roles in his novel
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Joe’s cane that she uses to physically abuse Joe and Pip. Tickler is introduced in the novel when Joe is wearily telling Pip that Mrs. Joe is on a rampage searching for him. In this scene, Pip explains that “Tickler was a wax-ended piece of cane, worn smooth by collision with my tickled frame.” (6) Tickler is a symbol for the abuse that Pip and Joe face by the mean-spirited Mrs. Joe. This adaption of a woman abusing a man, unlike the gender stereotype suggests, exemplifies the evident reversal of gender roles. Tickler also demonstrates the literary element irony, because its name does not match its use. The word ‘tickler’ is generally associated with something light-hearted, painless, and butterfly-like. This contrasts with Mrs. Joe’s use of ‘Tickler’, because she utilizes the cane to inflict pain upon her family when she is unhappy with …show more content…
This is portrayed when Joe and Pip have a parley when Pip returns from the cemetery, and Joe expresses to Pip, “I wish it was only me that got put out, Pip; I wish there warn 't no Tickler for you, old chap; I wish I could take it all on myself.” (38) This exemplifies how Mrs. Joe’s violence and physical abuse is placed upon Joe and Pip, unlike stereotypical traits say that the man is the one who abuses his woman, showing the reversal of gender roles that is evident in Great Expectations. Furthermore, as the novel progresses, Pip recalls his relationship with Joe upon his sick days, when Joe had nursed Pip back to health. Pip says, “For the tenderness of Joe was so beautifully proportioned to my need that I was like a child in his hands. He would sit and talk to me in the old confidence, and with the old simplicity, and in the old unassertive protecting way…” (366) This quote exemplifies Joe’s tender and nurturing qualities, and his zealous approach to his dearly-cherished friend Pip, which correlates back to the theme of reversed gender roles that go against the Victorian era’s stereotypical feelings on the perceived role of a man; Joe goes against this standard by displaying maternal characteristics in his caring for
Joe’s cane that she uses to physically abuse Joe and Pip. Tickler is introduced in the novel when Joe is wearily telling Pip that Mrs. Joe is on a rampage searching for him. In this scene, Pip explains that “Tickler was a wax-ended piece of cane, worn smooth by collision with my tickled frame.” (6) Tickler is a symbol for the abuse that Pip and Joe face by the mean-spirited Mrs. Joe. This adaption of a woman abusing a man, unlike the gender stereotype suggests, exemplifies the evident reversal of gender roles. Tickler also demonstrates the literary element irony, because its name does not match its use. The word ‘tickler’ is generally associated with something light-hearted, painless, and butterfly-like. This contrasts with Mrs. Joe’s use of ‘Tickler’, because she utilizes the cane to inflict pain upon her family when she is unhappy with …show more content…
This is portrayed when Joe and Pip have a parley when Pip returns from the cemetery, and Joe expresses to Pip, “I wish it was only me that got put out, Pip; I wish there warn 't no Tickler for you, old chap; I wish I could take it all on myself.” (38) This exemplifies how Mrs. Joe’s violence and physical abuse is placed upon Joe and Pip, unlike stereotypical traits say that the man is the one who abuses his woman, showing the reversal of gender roles that is evident in Great Expectations. Furthermore, as the novel progresses, Pip recalls his relationship with Joe upon his sick days, when Joe had nursed Pip back to health. Pip says, “For the tenderness of Joe was so beautifully proportioned to my need that I was like a child in his hands. He would sit and talk to me in the old confidence, and with the old simplicity, and in the old unassertive protecting way…” (366) This quote exemplifies Joe’s tender and nurturing qualities, and his zealous approach to his dearly-cherished friend Pip, which correlates back to the theme of reversed gender roles that go against the Victorian era’s stereotypical feelings on the perceived role of a man; Joe goes against this standard by displaying maternal characteristics in his caring for