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David Cronin
Mrs. Jamie Smith
Advanced Placement Literature
14 March 2016
2008: Great Expectations
A father and a dad are both relative terms when the male parent in a relationship are
discussed; however, those two terms vary in meaning considering any man can become a father,
but a special man can become a dad. A dad is always there for their child no matter what the
circumstances may be; whereas, a father only claims the child as his own. The lines between a
father, a dad and a mentor becomes extremely blurred as Pips journey to become a gentleman
progresses forward. In Charles Dickens Great Expectations, two of the most dynamic figures in
Pips life struggle to remain an influential influence considering Joe and Magwitch serve as foils
for each other because of their inconvenient roles as a possible father figure as well as a mentor
in Pips nonchalant life.
After the death of his parents, Pip began to live with his extremely viscous older sister
that brought him up by hand (8) as well as her husband, Joe. The reader is definitely able to see
that Mrs. Joe wears the pants in that relationship considering her abusive nature. Joe is Pips best
friend and supportive male body as Pip grows into a man; however, poor influences that Mrs. Joe
casted on Pip forced him to be ungrateful and chase life beyond what Joe could afford. As Pip
began to taste the life of a gentleman, Pip decided that Joe was underneath him because of Joes

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uneducated mind and sloppy appearance. Ironically, Joes uneducated mind is what prompted Joe
to make sure Pip had an education as a young boy.
A convict jumps out on Pip as Pip is observing the gravestone of his parents. Pip is
extremely frightened by this stranger considering this stranger is threatening to murder him.
You get me a file and you get me wittles. You bring em both to me. Or Ill have your heart and
liver out (5). Pip agrees to bring this convict what is required to live; however, in an ironic twist
this convict believes that Pip actually cares about his well-being. As it turns out, this convict is a
man named Magwitch. Magwitch is a lifelong criminal that is wealthy and he is Pips secret
benefactor that made Pip a gentleman. Once Pip discovered that a convict made Pip a gentleman,
he faltered because he could not fathom the idea of a man with no social status being able to give
him the world especially because Pip believed that a wealthy woman was trying to make him
love her daughter.
After Pips life comes crumbling down after the death of Magwitch, Pip is left with
nothing. Pip is extremely sick almost to death and is also drowning in debt he acquired while he
held the status of a gentleman. In Pips delusional state he imagines Joe caring for him;
nevertheless, Joe is actually caring for Pip and he even manages to pay for all of the debt as well.
Magwitch can be considered as a foil for Joe considering the actions of Magwitch highlight
many positive traits of Joe throughout the story. Both men are considered to be similar in many
ways such as: they are uneducated, they are not gentlemen, they strive to be in Pips life.
Magwitch gave a Pip a life he wanted, but Joe gave Pip a life he needed. Magwitch ripped Pip
from his content life and made him a gentleman because he believed that a gentleman would
warrant a better life; however, by becoming a gentleman, Pip was tossed into despair. The
despair that Pip faced was because of the selfish actions of Magwitch. The chip on the shoulder

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that Magwitch held because of his own personal regrets pushed him to pursue Pip to become a
gentleman. If Magwitch did not prompt Pip to live an outlandish lifestyle, Joe would have kept
Pip living a happy life instead of Pip being forced to live in despair for the majority of his adult
life.
Some critics may say that Magwitch allowed Pip to live the life Pip wanted all long;
however, what life did Pip truly live? Pip lived the life Magwitch wanted him to live. The main
reason Pip left Joe is because of his love for Estella; however, even after leaving Joe, Estella did
not love Pip. Pip could have achieved the same amount of success or possibly more success
while living with Joe instead of alienating the people that actually loved him. Estella did not care
if Pip was educated or uneducated considering she did not love him in either circumstance. Pips
relationship with Estella would have ended with the mist rising in either scenario.
It can be said that Joe is a mentor as well as a dad to Pip; whereas, Magwitch is a father
to Pip. Joe will always be there for Pip no matter what tragedy may occur. Magwitch is dedicated
to himself because he only takes into consideration his own opinion before he makes heinous
decisions; therefore, the effects Magwitch had on Pip were unnecessary. As Pips life progressed,
the reader was able to discern the fact that Joe was not only a great man, but a great dad.
Theres one thing you may never be sure of, Pip, said Joe namely, that lies is
lies. Howsever they come, they didnt ought to come and they come from the father of
lies and work round to the same. Dont you tell no more of em, Pip. That aint the way to
get out of being common, old chap. And as to being common, I dont make it out all
clear. You are uncommon in some things. Youre oncommon small. Likewise youre a
oncommon scholar (68)

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Pip had just confessed to Joe that he lied about his experience at the Satis house. Joe
advises Pip that he does not need to lie to be able to succeed in his life because Pip is
oncommon. This passage paints Joes true character vividly in the mind of the reader
considering the true character of Magwitch is built on lies and the reader can decipher this
concept and build Joe as a better character in the work because of examples like this.
The morals run rampant in Great Expectations; nevertheless, several characteristics of
Joe can shine above the rest especially since Magwitch clashes with several of Joes morals.
When the reader observes Joe as a figure in Pips life, the caring nature of Joe emerges. That
nature of Joes personality is what Dickens desires the reader to observe considering throughout
the novel the reader is introduced to cold and calculating characters; nevertheless, even though
Joe is stepped on by those characters again and again, Joe is still able to rise up with a positive
personality and help his son out of a treacherous situation. Dickens wanted to highlight that
nature of Joe to illustrate that Magwitch is the best possible foil for Joe considering the
differences in their personalities despite their similar social ground. Magwitch is hell bent on
revenge; whereas, Joe is content with peace in his life. Dickens wants the reader to understand
that the good guy can be happy as well, considering Joes evil wife died and he was able to marry
a much younger woman.
The expectations Pip had for his life were great. The expectations Magwitch had for his
life were great. The expectations Joe had for his life were average; whereas, the expectations Joe
had for the lives of others were great. Joes incorruptible nature contrasted with the selfish nature
of Magwitch illuminated the meaning of Great Expectations. Joe is a dad because he will go to
any lengths for Pip. Magwitch is a father because he just claims Pip as his own even though he
did not positively contribute to the life of Pip. Joe is the definition of a good guy being able to

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rise to the occasion without being corrupt and miserable living a gentlemen lifestyle and Dickens
portrayed that message in the novel as the gentlemen and corrupt failed.
Works Cited
Dickens, Charles, and Radhika Jones. Great Expectations. New York: Barnes and Noble, 2003.
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