The forge is symbolic of the strength of character in Joe
Gargery. He is an honest man who wears his heart for all to see on his rolled up
sleeve as he works and values industry as a virtue. Yet, despite his physical prowess,
Joe acquiesces to his termagant of a wife, demonstrating his strength of character, for
he will not allow her to abuse little Pip. In another instance, when Mrs. Joe takes
"Tickler" to Pip, he intervenes and takes the blows; then, when Pip appears to gulp his
bread and butter on Christmas Eve (instead he hides it in his pant leg), Joe is
concerned that he will choke, so he tells Pip to cough up some of it. Hearing him, Mrs.
Joe sharply asks, "What the matter now?" but Joe ignores her so
that Pip will not be whipped or mistreated.
Possessing
great integrity, Joe chastises Pip when he confesses to lying about his visit to Miss
Havisham, instructing him that lying is a terrible thing. But, at the same time he
rebuilds Pip's battered ego at having been called "common" by telling him he is "an
uncommon scholar."
Throughout the narrative of
Great Expectations, Joe is a permanent fixture much like the
forge. As light emanates from the forge, Joe's loves emanates from his heart, even when
Pip is rude to him during his visit to London. Charitably, he tells Pip that he will no
longer visit him in London as he does not belong. But, whenever Pip comes to the forge,
the fortress of Joe's love, he is received warmly. Like the light of forge, Joe is a
spiritual light in the gloomy marshes.
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