In Charles Dicken’s novel Great Expectations, it’s another novel apart from David Copperfield, fully narrated in first person, and is also quite similar to Oliver Twist since both two main characters, Oliver and Pip, are orphans, so there are absolutely some other characters that have significant influences on them. For Oliver, Mr. Brownlow and Mrs. Maylie are those who change his fate, while for Pip, Joe Gargery and Mr. Pumblechoook are the two who significantly affect the growth of Pip. They both somehow take a role in Pip’s upbringing, affecting Pip’s growth track, but are also having a diverse attitude and behavior during Pip’s growth.
Joe Gargery, as Pip’s brother-in-law, is Pip’s guardian and the only to Pip always honest. He’s serving as a protective figure throughout Pip’s childhood, showing a few kindnesses and generosity during Pip’s childhood. Joe had talked about his childhood to Pip, and explained and comforted Pip for her sister’s bossy and hot-tempered, “I broke out crying and begging pardon, and hugged Joe round the neck: who dropped the poker to hug me, and to say, ‘Ever the best of friends; an’t us, Pip? Don’t cry, old chap!’” (Dickens ch7) Joe seemed to be the only one who loved and protected Pip unconditionally and selflessly, even though he’s a blacksmith with a limited education, he still provides Pip a place to avoid his sister’s harsh treatments. He always prioritizes Pip’s sake, and tolerates Mrs. Joe’s tyrannical behavior, even trying to beautify her behavior to reduce the damage to Pip. Because of Joe, Pip’s childhood is much better, that there’s still people around him caring and protecting him, that he doesn't need to survive all on his own, it’s quite fortunate for Pip.
Mr. Pumblechook is totally in the control group with Joe Gargery, only thinking about himself even in Pip’s upbringing. Mr. Pumblechook is Joe’s uncle, a corn merchant and was the first to tell Mrs. Joe that Pip has been asked to play at the house of Miss Havisam. He’s totally exaggerating his component in Pip’s growth, “‘Boy, be forever grateful to all friends, but especially unto them which brought you up by hand!’” (Dickens ch7), seeking attention in how much he did for Pip’s growth. Mr. Pumblechook is being depicted as an opportunistic and self-important person in the first twelve chapters which he put himself as the benefactor in Pip’s life and the one changing Pip’s destiny. However, he didn’t know how to deal with a boy, and is being pompous and belittling Pip, exaggerating his growing position with her over pip. All of those actions Mr. Pumblechook did and his attempt on persuading others and getting attention on his pay out in Pip’s growth is to ensure that Pip’s growth can have benefits on himself.
Joe and Mr. Pumblechook are two totally different kinds of people in Pip’s life, with different characteristics but both affecting Pip a lot. Their different personalities have had a different feeling on Pip, and Pip absolutely knows each of their purposes, and he’s quite sure who is caring for him with all his heart, and who is only at superficial pleasantries for some benefits. Joe shows Pip a high extent of understanding and compassion, protecting him from his irritable and fiery sister, who has harsh and punitive punishment on Pip. Besides, Mr. Pumblechook is quite hypocritical, and is taking credit for any positive development in Pip’s fortunes which then he had the opportunity to give Pip a grease job and gain interest from this. The different purpose of Joe and Pumblechook is permeated in all their behaviors and Pip knew their different attitude toward him, being clear that Pumblechook is sycophantic and tries to rely on Pip to reach his dream of social climbing, being even more wealthy. Whereas Joe is always treating him and protecting him to make his childhood carefree, at least with hope and goodwill. Therefore, Joe and Pumblechook are two types of people, even though what they did is for Pip’s growth, but their starting point is different, what Pip feels is also different.
In conclusion, in the first part of the novel Great Expectations, apart from the main character Pip, Joe and Mr. Pumblechook is the other two important characters that push the story plot forward. They are quite important for the building up of the whole story that they both have a significant effect on Pip and leaving a profound influence in Pip’s growth. Joe is the one on the positive side, showing generosity and kindness, being as the guardian and protector of Pip’s childhood, while Mr. Pumblechook is on the negative side, even though he is good at camouflage his real purpose, Pip can still get the point of he’s hypocritical. These two types of people in Pip’s life he met makes the whole story more vivid, and closer to reality, that can better highlights Dicken’s theme throughout the book.
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