Pip is able to begin his steps toward freedom from the moment he visits Miss Havisham's and begins to grow a desire for money. Mrs. Joe controls Pip through his own fear and when Pip's desire for wealth over powers his fear of Mrs. Joe, he is then able to escape that stage of being controlled. This is apparent in the life of Mrs. Joe. She depends upon her power over Pip for life. Clearly, it is not a coincidence that she dies as soon as Pip begins to seek a new life. Since controlling Pip is her life it is clear that Dickens decided to kill her off to demonstrate his new found freedom, which is truly not free. But Pip escapes Mrs. Joe's reign ends when he begins to feel a new desire for money, not in the instant that Mrs. Joe dies. Mrs. Joe's death is just a result of her loss of control. Pip no longer needs the control of Mrs. Joe and is controlled by his new desire for money.
5 comments:
I never thought that by Mrs. Joe dying, Pip was released from the power that she had over him. But, now that you explain just how he is freed from her power, I can clearly understand just how Dickens intended it to be. Does this mean the same for Joe? While Mrs. Joe was still alive, him and Pip were both controlled by her. When she dies, Pip gains his freedom only to lose it again to money. Does this mean that Joe gains his power through the death of his wife?
I would never say that Joe gains power because he does not seek that power. I think Joe is generally very static in that case: demonstrating his very humble values. This is what makes him such a good father figure for Pip; however, Pip does not accept Joe as a father figure. I would say that the power shifts into the hands of Miss Havisham because Pip begins to listen to her whims instead of the whims of his sister. Just how Mrs. Joe controls Pip through fear, Miss Havisham controls Pip through his new desire for wealth. So no, I really do not think that Joe gains that power. Although, I would say that he is realized from Mrs. Joe's reign, just like Pip. But Joe does seek out Biddy, so perhaps that is where he finds his next imbalance of power?
That makes complete sense. I wasn't even thinking in that way. I was just exploring the idea that because Pip gains power through the death of Mrs Joe, that Joe would gain power as well. I see how the main point in this is that Pip seeks to gain power, while Joe is seemingly content with what he has. As with Biddy, I don't know if there will be an imbalance of power between Joe and Biddy because I feel that both Joe and Biddy are content with what they currently have. So I don't think that either of them will be looking for ways to increase power in their relationship.
Joe is is more of a simple man, the good samaratin type, and strives to attain the truely importatnt things in life, such as love, happiness, and satisfaction, rather than searching for money, like Pip.
I don't think Joe gained any power through this-because he didn't want it. And, typically, if someone doesn't want power, they will just ignore what power they gained unless they absolutely have to use it. As for Pip being released from Mrs.Joe's power? I think that yes everything except when he was entirely released from his power is true. I found that he was released from her power earlier, once he gained gentleman status. For after that, she was hardly mentioned and seemed in no way to restrict his power.....
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