Great Expectations - Mrs. Joe
The importance of Mrs. Joe in Great Expectations has two major parts: the significance of the character, and the symbolism of the character. The signifance of Mrs. Joe is to complete the figure of Joe The symbolism of Mrs. Joe is actually the physical manifestation of Joe's fears in combination with his desire for a commanding father-figure. First, Mrs. Joe's reign of terror is obviously necessary for Joe's existence. In the beginning of Great Expectations, Joe requires identification as a major character. Without the weakness that Mrs. Joe instills in Joe via her reign of terror, Joe never develops to a major character. Joe is identified as a compassionate, sensitive character, and the ...
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out the dustpan -- which was always a very bad sign -- put on her coarse apron, and began cleaning up to a terrible extent. Not satisfied with a dry cleaning, she took to a pail and scrubbing-brush, and cleaned us out of house and home,..." Truly, a frightening creature is that that may destroy a household by cleaning when anger besets her. Third, the comedy also has a serious side, though, as we remember our mothers exerting their great frustrations upon the household tasks of cleanliness. So, Mrs. Joe serves very well as a mother to Pip. Besides the age difference and the motherly duties of housekeeping for Pip and Joe, the attitude of a scornful mother is also apparent. This, of course, draws Joe even closer to Pip, by relation. Mrs. Joe serves as link to make it so that Joe appears very much to be the father of Pip. In addition, Joe, although terrified of Mrs. Joe, is a very honorable man and would never consider divorcing his wife. Through this condition, however, Joe appears ...
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Great Expectations - Mrs. Joe. (2007, January 27). Retrieved March 26, 2025, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Great-Expectations-Mrs-Joe/59379
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"Great Expectations - Mrs. Joe." Essayworld.com. January 27, 2007. Accessed March 26, 2025. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Great-Expectations-Mrs-Joe/59379.
"Great Expectations - Mrs. Joe." Essayworld.com. January 27, 2007. Accessed March 26, 2025. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Great-Expectations-Mrs-Joe/59379.
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