Great Expectations Joe Gargery Character Traits

In Charles Dicken’s Great Expectations, Joe Gargery is the most inspiring and morally strong character of the story. This trait of his is highlighted during his meeting with Pip in London. He speaks compassionately to Pip, saying “Pip, dear old chap, life is made of ever so many partings welded together, as I may say, and one man’s a blacksmith, and one’s a whitesmith, and one’s a goldsmith, and one’s a coppersmith. Diwisions among such must come, and must be met as they come. If there’s been any fault at all to-day, it’s mine. You and me is not two figures to be together in London; nor yet anywheres else but what is private, and beknown, and understood among friends” (Dickens 246). The relevance of this quotation comes from the fact that Joe has always been supportive and a fatherly figure to Pip. …show more content…
Joe’s ordinariness in contrast to Pip’s acquired richness of lifestyle does not change Joe’s loving attitude towards Pip. Conversely, Joe by using the above metaphor is trying to make Pip understand that his elevated social status has come to him naturally and that he should not feel awkward because of him being related to Joe. Joe is trying to detach himself from Pip with the sole purpose of paving a smooth road for him to become a gentleman. In his metaphor, Joe relates himself to the crude blacksmith which he is by profession at the old anvil, in the old burnt apron, and sticking to the old work. Pip is being referred as a goldsmith by him who does refined metalsmithing. In addition, Joe even takes the fault on himself of making Pip uncomfortable due to his presence in Pip’s social surrounding. Here the reader understands Joe’s wonderful nature of constantly working for the betterment of those he loves and in this case it being Pip. Moreover, Joe also assures him that they will continue to remain friends and nothing will change their