The Reader Can Deduce From The Beginning Of The Novel That Mrs. Joe

This sample of an academic paper on The Reader Can Deduce From The Beginning Of The Novel That Mrs. Joe reveals arguments and important aspects of this topic. Read this essay’s introduction, body paragraphs and the conclusion below.

Through the relationship and Interaction of Mr.. And Mrs.. Joe, Dickens has fundamentally questioned the overall role of a male and a female and how this characterizes Joe alongside his actions. By analyzing the historical context of Joe in the growing up in an oppressive and physically abusive household, readers are provided insight to the selfless traits that he possesses and why he allows himself to be subordinate to Mrs.

. Joe.

When the gender roles of his marriage are reversed and sections him to act as the masculine man of the house, the traditional gender stereotypes are both reinforced and questioned to give overall meaning to the creative novel. Throughout the Victorian era, it was socially accepted and recognized that men should establish their dominance with physical and brutal force.

Dickens fundamentally questions this ideology through the Inverted relationship of Mrs… Joe and Joe Gagger. This reversal of dominance Is established In the beginning when Pip reminisces that “Mrs… Joe, throwing the door wide open, and folding an obstruction behind it… Applied Tickler… He concluded by throwing me- I often served as a connubial missile. ” .

What Was The Result Of The Attack On Mrs. Joe?

From the beginning Mrs… Joe is depicted as the dominant figure that provides the discipline, in a non-maternal manner, alongside her trusty companion Tickler’, who we find out is a leather whip.

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Explain why Dickens uses violence to reverse role. Not only does Mrs… Joe direct her anger towards Pip, Joe is a regular boxing bag to the strikes of Mrs… Joe as she “threw a candlestick at Joe, burst into a loud sobbing, got out the dustpan”which was always a very bad sign- put on her course apron, and began cleaning up too terrible extent”. The editor of the Hull Packet remarked that wife beating was “being accepted as the habit of the nation” and a man’s duty was to ‘correct’ his wife or partner. Welsh medieval law expert was quoted in the Daily Telegraph stating that “a man may beat a woman with a stick or rod as thick as his middle finger and as long as his forearm” .

However, in Great Expectations, Dickens’ decides to reverse this habitual understanding of woman beating and provide Insight of the other understated possibility. Novel Guide adds that when “Women suffered from the abuse of their husbands they were expected to peep the marriage together regardless… Joe, although terrified of Mrs… Joe, is a very honorable man and would never consider divorcing his wife. Through this condition, however, Joe appears to be even a more honorable man to choose to preserve the sacred marriage rather than seek his comfort. This Initially characterizes Joe as unalterably loyal and dependent as well as undertaking the stereotypical female role of the Victorian era. During the sass’s, the family structure showed men as the head of the household, distributing discipline and taking ultimate control.

The father was nearly feared throughout the family due to the power that he reinforced daily whilst offering guidance and support was part of a woman’s duty and was therefore seen as a feminine role. However, in the beginning Joe is characterized as a sensitive, man who serves as PIP’s moral compass and clearly separates right and wrong dally confides in Pip saying that “l wish there weren’t no Tickler for you, old chap… But this is the up-and-down-and-straighten it, Pip, and I hope you’ll overlook shortcomings” Joe acts as a stable character who’s morals and values are completely carved in stone ND unalterable, even by the blows of Mrs.. Joe. Dickens’ creatively applies Joe to be a product of a domestic violent household in order to explain the preserving of his dysfunctional marriage. The context develops his character further throughout the novel as an understated and subtle hero.

In the seventh chapter, readers are provided an in-depth explanation as to why Joe allows himself to be oppressed by Mrs… Joe. He confides in Pip explaining that “My father, Pip, he were given to drink, and when he were overtook with drink, he hammered away at my mother most unmerciful. It were ammo’s the only hammering he did, indeed, ‘excepting at myself.. And he hammered at me with a wigwag only to be equaled by the wigwag which he didn’t hammer at his IANAL. Knowing his background, the readers are able to understand why Joe has resorted to passive- aggressive behavior rather than mimicking the pain his father caused to both himself and his mother.

Joe is stuck in his childlike past, being regularly beaten and in a position to please others as well as protecting one particular character, in this particular time period is Pip. Through his history, we can interpret Joe as a protector ND guardian for the underdogs, to act as a voice to those who are in need and as an ultimate Victorian superhero for Pip in the same way he was to his mother. We can deduce that Joe has strategically chosen to marry a dictating woman in refusing to be a part of the domestic violence culture, and therefore, save another female from the undeserving violence as well as refusing to witness the tears released as a result of his blows. However, in doing so he still remains the innocent child who accepts his oppression, and substitutes as an almost female role. Dickens enables the character of Joe to be emphasized as a selfless character who would rather take the pain on himself than cause the violence to another being.

The relationship between Mr… And Mrs… Joe Gagger is subverted once again to the dominant patriarchal structure of the Victorian era to develop the character of Joe in testing his dominance and leadership. After a brutal attack leaves Mrs… Joe incapable of self-sufficiency, Joe takes control of the situation and acts as the head of the household and is forced into the role of a ‘man’. Dickens could be questioning that, spite Joey’s refusal to act as a puppet of the Victorian culture, Mrs… Joey’s destiny of being beaten has been ultimately fulfilled nonetheless. This can be taken through a feminist critique of the notion that women are created to be oppressed and physically diminished. Joey’s unintentional oppression of his wife completely contradicts his original submissive, childlike nature, where he has been programmed to be controlled.

Alternatively, Joey’s mental stance has stagnated at this point in his childlike mindset and now is arguably on the same level or even lower than his brain imaged wife. A feminist viewpoint could question that although Joe holds a power stance over the female, is his mental capability enough to enforce the role? Dickens could also be reinforcing that Mrs… Joe still has the ability to dominate Joe without the in which he originally was trained to despise. However, when individuals are forced into a role, they can either live up to the position or fall short. The change in circumstance doesn’t change his attitude or personality; instead it develops his leadership and empowers Joe to be dominant and confident in his actions. Joe becomes the ultimate caregiver alongside his compassionate and considerate nature, taking care of his wife with unconditional love.

Through the stereotypical Victorian gender roles, Joe is identified as a reasonable and moral man who remains selfless throughout his constant physical abuse. His historical context has explained his marriage to an abusive wife and especially his generous and kindhearted nature. Even though Mrs… Joe serves as a tyrant for whom Joe is made helpless, he acts as a representation of a hegemonic society, which accepts oppression.