Joe's Boots

Joe's boots were too big on him. This is ironic because Pip used to be just like Joe. They used to be equals. Pip used to have ragged clothing that didn't quite fit right and he also couldn't read very well. This is a substantial change Pip and Joe's relationship. Even after Pip leaves London and goes back to visit Satis house his attitude towards Joe and the forge doesn't change. Pip begins to make a list of excuses in his head for not staying at the forge with Joe and Mrs. Joe. He convinces himself that he "should be an inconvenience at Joe's; [he] was not expected, and [his] bed would not be ready" (225). The old Pip would have gone back to the forge, but the new Pip, the Pip with great expectations, is too ashamed to go back and stay at home with Joe the blacksmith.

After living the highlife for years Pip has realized the irony in it. Living in London with all the rich, highly educated persons is really no more enjoyable than his childhood while living at the forge. Now that money is out of the scenario Pip comes to his senses and realizes that he had been treating Joe very badly. Pip has been through a lot and after realizing that his fortunes were given to him by Magwitch he realizes that maybe he wasn't all that more special than Joe. Pip let it get to his head that Miss. Havisham saw potential in him and gave him the money, when in reality it wasn't Miss. Havisham and Pip wasn't as special as he thought. Pip begins to feel pertinence for the way he treated Joe. When Pip wakes up from being ill he says to Joe, "O Joe, you break my heart! Look angry at me, Joe. Strike me, Joe. Tell me of my ingratitude. Don't be so good to me!" (463). Pip has woken up and can tell that Joe has been there the whole time he was sick. Pip feels bad because Joe has been taking care of him the whole time he was sick. Pip feels guilty because when Joe came to visit before all he did was talk badly towards Joe and treat Joe like he was a lower