Great Expectations Response 1

I chose the passage about Mrs. Joe and in this passage Pip is describing how Mrs. Joe was beating Joe. Mrs. Joe is the head of the family and treats both Joe and Pip as children even though Joe is her husband. Her abuse makes Joe and Pip feel small and they fear doing anything wrong so they don't get beaten. “By this time my sister was quite desperate, so she pounced on Joe, and, taking him by the two whiskers, knocked his head for a little while against the wall behind him: while I sat in the corner, looking guiltily on.” This quote proves that Mrs. Joe has control over Joe and Pip. Joe is too physically and mentaly weak to use any initiative to defend himself while Pip sits in the corner, scared to react. This shows how Mrs. Joe has her immediate family wrapped around her finger, getting them to do whatever she wants. The part that says that she was desperate shows that she runs the family and she will do anything to keep her power and won't take no for an answer.