Great Expectations Paper Essay

When an individual loves someone else, it is difficult to let the person go or accept his/her return, because of the poor decision that one person made to leave his/her loved one. However, since the person already left, is it worth the pain and agony in the end to accept that person into the hurt individual’s life once again? In his Victorian Literature novel, Charles Dickens satirizes the Victorian Era multiple times within Great Expectations. For example, in the 1800’s the masculine class were the regulators of the family and weren’t aggravated by women, but in this novel the females obtain the upper position, like how Mrs. Joe overpowers Orlick. Charles Dickens named the novel Great Expectations, because its means that an individual is positive that something significant will occur with no warning if the individual wants it bad enough, but in English Victorian society, achieving expectations meant that someone was destined to collect vast sums of riches and success. Throughout Pips three stages in the novel Great Expectations, Charles Dickens utilizes the character of Joe, who out of compassion and sympathy demonstrates that suffering is a sacrifice one is willing to endure for the love of another individual, and how this idea changes what Pip’s views, personality, and values are at the end of his high expectations. During Pip’s first stage of expectations, Joe explicates that he suffers greatly because of Orlick, Mrs. Joe and Pip, but only wishes to steer Pip in the right direction and to have given enough ‘love’ to change Pip’s views and expectations. First, Orlick takes Joe by surprise when he starts to get angry and jealous of Pip and tells him â€Å"No favoring in this shop. Be a man!†(15.65), but because Joe wants no trouble he lets him have the day off which makes Mrs. Joe terribly angry. Additionally, when Orlick offends Mrs. Joe, Joe defends her even though she was mad at him, because he loves her and is willing to suffer through Orlicks harsh words. Pip’s troublesome behavior at the table is brought to attention when Joe states, â€Å"You and me is always friends, and I’d be the last to tell upon you, any time†¦But such as a most uncommon bolt as that!†(2.8) Pip’s actions got Joe in trouble while he was trying to help P ip, because the helpful advice made Joe ignore Mrs. Joe and which made him have to face consequences such as being â€Å"pounced on† and â€Å"knocked [in] his head for a little while against the wall behind him† (2.8). Also, it expresses how Joe dealt with Mrs. Joe’s and Pip’s spiteful behavior all because he cared for them and was compassionate to all people. Pip’s behavior shows readers that as a child he didn’t have any expectations but eventually set the bar higher which was not what Joe truly wanted to happen. This helps readers understand how having sympathy and a good heart doesn’t always payoff at first, but latter lets people become the best of friends in the long run, like Pip and Joe. While sitting by the warm fire at night Joe explains to Pip that â€Å"When [he] got acquainted with his sister, it were the talk how she was bringing him up by hand†¦. [And] how small and flabby and mean he was†¦Ã¢â‚¬  and how he â€Å"†¦would have formed the most contemptible opinion of himself self!† (7.38) which makes Pip start to cry because he felt ashamed by how he acted, but grateful that Mrs. Joe and Joe stayed with him. At that time Pip, a commoner, didn’t care about anyone and just wanted to do what he wanted, although it made him look bad and unkind. In the long run Pip’s disobedient attitude and Joe’s loving heart was worth it because he and Joe became best friends which was held together by a strong bond of love. Lastly, Joe was affectionate and loving towards Pip even when Pip was cruel to him which shows readers the sacrifice Joe endured with Pip. The forfeit Pip watched Joe go through changed him because it made him want to do something more and become someone higher who wont have to deal with pain and sacrifice. In conclusion, Pip starts to change into the gentleman he wants to become while Joe is still remaining at is side, longing for his ‘old chap’. During Pip’s second stage of his expectations Joe sacrificed his dignity and friendship for Pip, because he felt sympathy towards him which makes readers wonder if Joe gave Pip enough ‘love’ to not make him leave his dear friend, Joe, and change his personality. To, begin, Joes love is tested and questionable when he tells Pip, â€Å"But if you think as Money can make compensation to me for the loss of the little child†¦and ever the best of friends!†(18.116). Pip is shocked by how much he means to Joe, but still but doesn’t see how much Joe really loves him. Pip deserts Joe â€Å"whom he was so ready to leave and so unthankful to†(18.115), and thinks to himself â€Å"I’ll see you again†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦and â€Å"I’ll feel the loving tremble of your hand upon my arm, as solemnly this day as if it had been the rustle of an angel’s wing! †¦ â€Å"(18.115), which proves that Pip has not realized that this decision mak es Joe sacrifice and suffer all the more. Furthermore, Joe had to scornfully respect his decision to leave and become a gentleman and bear the loneliness while he was away, but still loved him and waited for when Pip realized he should go back to Joe. Moreover, Pip changes his view on his future when Joe explains that â€Å"Divisions among such must come, and must be met as they come†¦ You and me is not two figures to be together in London; nor anywhere else but where is private, and beknown, and understood among friends.†(27.246) Likewise, when Joe is in London with Mr. Wopsle he wants to put pity on Pip and explain to him that they are different people in separate worlds and he wants to show Pip how it hurts when people leave their loved ones. Joe thinks he has sacrificed enough and wants Pip to come back, but now Joe realizes that they are separate people with different expectations. Additionally, Pip and Joe are still great friends; however their breaking relationship hurts Pip and makes him want to restart his life and be with Joe, but he still stays a gentleman. All in all, Joe leaving Pip just as Pip did to him, once again creates Pip to think differently and regret some of his decisions in the past. Throughout Pip’s final stage of expectations, Joe’s compassionate attitude is expected to make Pip change his values and stop Joe from suffering, but makes Joe ponder if he gave Pip enough sympathy to make him come back to him. Firstly, after Pip’s benefactor, Magwitch, dies Pip starts to become ill and also gets arrested because of his debt. While sitting back at his house Pip starts to realize that he always has someone there for him, Joe, and expresses his regret by saying â€Å"O Joe, you break my heart! Look angry at me, Joe. Strike me, Joe. Tell me of my ingratitude. Don’t be so good to me!†(57.388). This statement said by Pip when Joe is by his side, expresses the point that even though Pip did wrong, Joe will always be there to comfort him and make him feel better, and that Pip thinks he should not be treated good by Joe at this point. Furthermore, Pip now understands, â€Å"There was no change whatever in Joe. Exactly what he had been in my eyes then, he was in my eyes still; just as simply faithful, and as simply right†(57.389), which proves that the compassion from other individuals do change peoples values and outlooks on all things in life and expectations. Likewise, Pip appreciates that Joe was faithful to him even though endures suffering because of his high expectations and dire choice to be a gentleman. Moreover, since Pip â€Å"†¦soon began to understand that the cause of it was in [him], and that the fault of it was all [his].†(58.395), he started to feel for his dear friend Joe, again as he once did and wanted to have never of met his benefactor that lead him to leave Joe. This connects to the main point because it finalizes how love is stronger then the pain someone causes another person and how it can shape an individual in different ways. Additionally, when the shameful Pip says, â€Å"Don’t tell him, Joe, that I was thankless; don’t tell him, Biddy, that I was ungenerous and unjust; only tell him that I honored you both, because you were both so good and true, and that†¦ I said it would be natural to him to grow up a much better man than I did.†(59.404), it shows Joe and Biddy how much Pip is truly sorry for the choice he made and, reluctantly, they responded with, â€Å"God knows as I forgive you, if I have anythink to forgive!†(59.404). All in all, Joe’s compassionate and sympathetic heart pays of and lets him forfeit no more, which proves the point that suffering is a sacrifice one is willing to endure for the love of another individual even if the other person doesn’t see the good you are doing until the end. In conclusion, all of the suffering and sacrifice Joe endures, because of much love and compassion he has for others in Great Expectations did prove to make his ‘dear old chap’ Pip reconsider his views, personality and values towards life and his own expectations. The significance in this novel is that sacrificing yourself out of sympathy is a step anyone should be willing to take to have an even stronger bond within the relationship. The idea of sacrifice and suffering for another individual is in the real word, like how a mama bear feeds her cubs before herself, because she cares for them, and just like how Joe suffers and hates being away from ‘his cub’ Pip. All in all, without sacrifice and suffering people won’t have as much compassion for each other and would not endure the pain if they didn’t truly care for them.