Blog Post #2 by Jeremy Sharp

An Unbreakable Bond

~Blog Post #2~

Topic C

April 23, 2015

By Jeremy Sharp

Throughout the chapters so far it is clearly seen, that one of Pips first and closest bonds, is with Mr. Joe. They both live similar lives at home under the torment of Mrs. Joe, and have always had each other’s backs. In Chapter 2, Pip describes his relationship with Mr. Joe by saying “In our already-mentioned freemasonry as fellow suffers, and in his good-natured companionship with me, it was our evening habit to compare the way we bit through our slices” (11). As they are having a conversation, Mr. Joe mentions to Pip that he was an ugly baby, but that it didn’t matter, because he was more than willing to take him in as his own. This is a key moment, where Pip gains a deeper appreciation for Mr. Joe. As Pip attends night school, he learns to read and write, and soon discovers that Mr. Joe can’t read at all because he was never able to attend school as a child. When he discovers this, Pip offers to teach him a little bit every night, in secrecy of course from Mrs. Joe. Pip also sees Mr. Joe as someone, and sometimes the only one, whom he can discuss his matters truthfully. After being sent off to Miss Havisham’s house to play with her daughter, Pip is both physically and emotionally abused. He is criticized and viciously mocked for being an uneducated commoner, and is forced to eat his meals outside like an animal. Upon returning, Pip cannot bring himself to tell his sister the truth about what happened that last week, and tells a series of lies, which feed the imaginations of Mrs. Joe and Pumblechook. The only person, whom Pip goes directly to with the truth, is Mr. Joe. As Pip explains what really happened to him over there, Mr. Joe surprises Pip by telling him that lying isn’t right and that they weren’t the key to becoming more than a commoner. Even though he sympathizes with him, Mr. Joe never ceases to instill his wisdom with Pip, because he wants to do everything in his ability to teach him about life and to help him grow as a person. This bond between the two of them is only made stronger day by day, as they experience life’s daily challenges together, and work together to withstand all adversity.