jwhsbrathman's+essay

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In //Great Expectations,// just like in real life, characters and people change depending on occurring events and some remain the same. The book says a lot about the transformation of characters, such as Pip; but it also says a lot about the true nature of characters and how they don’t change from unexpected events that occur often in this book. One character that does not change, and remains with a true nature is Joe. All throughout the story Joe remains a kind and caring character who always thinks of others before himself. There are several events that could spark a negative attitude, but Joe always sought out the better attitude with a steady good nature. =====

There are many events in //Great Expectations// that could spark a bad attitude or even violent thoughts, but through every event that might cause this, Joe, Pip’s guardian, remains a positive person with a kind attitude and thoughts. In the beginning of the book, Joe is introduced as a kind character that cares for Pip as if he were his own son, not his brother-in-law. Joe talks with Pip and shares interests with him. Throughout the book, mostly while Pip is away becoming a gentleman, Pip becomes more irritable with Joe and looks down upon him seeing him as a peasant and therefore does not really wish to speak to him. However Joe treats him the same way every time he talks with him. He even cares for Pip when he becomes severely ill. Pip’s ignorance, however, is not the only occurrence that could have caused Joe to become ill-tempered.

One event that could have really sparked a bad temper from Joe would have been the death of his wife, Mrs. Joe, Pip’s older sister. Towards the end of the novel , readers learn that Orlick, a man who used to work for Joe in the blacksmith shop, sneaks into the Gargery house and severely injures Joe’s wife. While sitting with her and Pip in the hospital, Joe remains calm, but does not really say anything. He stays strong for the others around him by not showing any physical evidence of his sadness because he does not want them to hurt anymore by seeing him upset. Although Joe is upset about his wife dying, like any person would be with a caring heart would be, he does not allow the death to change his mindset or his true nature.

In //__Great Expectations,__// there are several characters whose personalities fluctuate, have a change in mindset, or even change completely altogether. Some characters, however, show a true nature throughout the entire story despite tragic event that would shake any normal person. There were events in the story that other characters dealt with negatively, unlike Joe who always had a positive mindset and always thought of others needs before his own. When something tragic happened, like the death of his wife, Joe always found the strength to stay calm and not show any evidence that he was upset and eventually move on which is something most people should learn how to do.