The novel is written in the first person, by Pip himself giving the readers detail of Pips thoughts as he looks back on his life. Pip is writing this as a man with hindsight, it creates intimacy but by using the first person.
When Pip first becomes acquainted with, Estella he is told that he is ‘common’, It is from this moment that Pip wants to be educated, Estella makes him feel inferior whilst he is still illiterate. This is the motivation for his longing to gain status and become in his mind, a gentleman, this presents him as arrogant.
When Pip is first told of his fortunes, he believes that he will be able to become a gentleman and, in his eyes, become worthy of Estella. During his last week at home, he goes to tell Biddy that he would rather Joe was better qualified. Pip feels Joe is “rather backward in some things” which, is ironic as it is he Pip who is backward in this notion of being ‘a gentleman’ and the true importance of social status. He tells Biddy that he wants her to “help Joe on, in his learning and his manners.” Biddy is horrified at the change in Pip, she rubs a leaf with such force at the thought of it that it is torn in two. This is symbolic of what biddy can see is happening to the relationship of Pip and Joe, the leaf represents their close bond of friendship, when it is torn in two she can see the effect of Pip leaving for London will have on Pip and Joes’ relationship. Biddy can see that Pip wants desperately to become a gentleman and so offers him a word of warning; “a gentleman should not be unjust neither.” Pip is yet to learn this.
Pip settles in London forgetting Joe and his kindness. Joe asks Biddy to write a letter to Pip on his behalf. This chapter, which begins with the letter, Dickens uses as a frame. The letter is written in Formal language; “when not agreeable please leave your word.” This shows the change in relationship Joe and Biddy feel inadequate by Pips new status as a gentleman.
Pip narrates with;” exactly with what feelings.” He looks forward to Joes’ coming. He is very embarrassed and shamed by Joe. Pip is thankful none of his high class friends, such as Bentleys Drummle will have the misfortune to meet Joe.
When Joe arrives Pip knows instantly that it is him from the; “clumsy manner of coming upstairs.” This is due to the fact that Joes’ boots are too big for him, this shows poverty and dickens’ now creates pathos around the figure of Joe.
When Joe finally enters Pip’s apartment it is obvious how over whelmed Joe is by the manner in which he grasps Pips hands and works up and down; “as if I had been the last patented pump.” This imagery adds to the comic element of the novel. Dickens uses such vivid imagery to show how Pip finds Joe’s lack of mature ness hilarious, which presents him as quite an insensitive and cold person. Dickens uses further imagery when describing Joes’ hat as a ‘birds’ nest’ I this chapter Pip is mocking Joe’s nervousness in the presence of a ‘gentleman.’ Pip does little to make him relaxed, which suggests he feels this barrier between them is fitting and correct.
The divide between Pip and Joe is evident form their dialog, such as when Joe refer to Pip as “sir,” Joe is very tense as he is desperate to fit in with these upper class gentlemen; this is shown when he tries to use long words such as; “architectorial.” They are no longer close friends.
Pip notices Joe is uncomfortable through the way he is dressed. Pip wonders to himself: “why should a man scrape himself to that extent before he considers himself as fully dressed?” This is a question aimed at the reader who knows the answer. It is Pip who is blind. This shows Pip hypercritical behaviour, if Joe had turned up in his working class clothes Pip would have surely criticized Joe for being dirty and been even more ashamed of him.
Dickens writes this novel as Pip narrating with hindsight, this is apparent when he writes; “if I had been easier with Joe, Joe would have been easier with me.” This shows that Pip has since realised that he was impatient and out of temper with him and realises why; “Joe heaped coats of fire onto my head.” Pip also notices how Joes’ attitude towards Pip changes when they were along and Joe uses the affectionate term; “Pip.” However, he relapses into politeness in the presence of another gentleman and refers to Pip as, “sir” This shows that Joe feels unworthy of Pip, the gentleman, and that Pip doesn’t see Joe as an equal, but as an inferior.
Dickens is often philosophical in his writing. Joe says to Pip “life is made of ever so many partings welded together, as I may say, and one mans’ a blacksmith and ones’ a white smith and ones’ a goldsmith, divisions among such must come, and must be met as they come.” Dickens is trying to show the Victorian readers the split status of society.
Dickens uses pathos on Joe very effectively to show that although Joe is a simple person he is not bitter “Goodbye old chap, God blesses you” Joe parts with Pip on good terms. This presents Pip as unreasonable and stubborn.
It is obvious when Pip and Joe are alone together, there is still a spark between them, they haven’t completely forgotten their close bond of friendship, “our eyes met and all the ‘sir’ melted out of that manly heart as he gave me his hand.” This physical closeness is symbolic of the bond between Joe and Pip. They are not as close as they previously have been, however when the two join hands we see Pip is bound to Joe forever like a tree and its roots.
Pip loved spending money; consequently, he lands himself in debt from luxuries like jewellery. Debt collectors come to arrest Pip whilst he is ill they try to take him to prison however is unable to move Pip. Pip is suffering form financial and emotional problems. Pip is unable to distinguish dreams from reality, it is for his reason that he can’t tell whether Joe is really standing in front of him, he is delighted when he realises that it is Joe.
Dickens shows that Joe is constant in his love for Pip by the physical contact and the phrase “what larks.” Pip has realised his wrong doing and is penitently asking God for forgiveness. Pip also asked God to bless Joe, just as Joe did Pip, this shows the role reversal, and Pip now values Joe. Joe notices this and responds by reinstating himself as the father figure.
Dickens had very strong feelings about various issues and he makes his opinions known through the novel. This gives the novel a strong moral purpose; Dickens uses the novel to criticize Victorian society, he does this through Pip.
Dickens sees wealth as a great corrupter. Pip’s snobbishness and his sense of being better than others, including Joe, springs from his new affluence. In London he mixes with wealthy but worthless people, Pip I convinced that his new found wealth has made him a gentleman and therefore superior. Dickens shows us how wealth brings out the worst in other characters as well; Pumblechook acts disgustingly when he takes Pip out to dinner and insists on taking his hand; previously Pumblechook treats Pip as though he is dirt.. Wealth brings out the worst in Pip, and it is his suffering which makes him a better person.
Ironically, the two natural “gentlemen” in the novel are Pip’s surrogate father, Joe and Magwitch, both of whom he rejects in the false idea that they are not good enough for him. Joes’ forge, were Pip grows up, a place where thins are made, shaped and given a purpose- it is always warm, in terms of temperature and emotions, Joe is warm and affectionate, as is Pip when he was a boy. When Pip comes into contact with Satis house, money and people with a higher class, this drives out the warmth in him and he becomes, for a while in the middle of the novel, an ungrateful, unfeeling person who despises those he should value and love.
Throughout the novel Pip changes a developed greatly, Joe does not change, he is steady and simple and for this reason is obviously admired by Dickens. Dickens believes that the best teaching is suffering, Pip worked very hard to rebuild all the bridges between himself and his acquaintances; consequently, he ends up surrounded by people who truly love him. Pip suffered greatly but was greatly rewarded.
