Nobility can present itself in many different ways, from standing up for one another to caring for a friend, which is demonstrated in the novel Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. The book Great Expectations is about a boy named Pip who throughout his life experiences many failures and successes. Throughout the book a character named Joe Gargery appears in Pips life as a father figure and a best friend, and he is one of the kindest characters in the book. Joe Gargery is the noblest character in the book because he shows very good morals and heart.

    Joe shows us how noble he is when he helps out the ill Pip. When Pip had became a gentlemen he treated Joe coldly and ignored him, but Joe took it and put it aside.” ‘Ever the best of friends; ain’t us Pip?’ I was ashamed to answer. ‘Werry good, then,’ said Joe, as if I had answered.” (473) Joe is talking to Pip and telling him that they are still friends forever even though Pip treated him coldly. When Pip fell ill Joe forgave him for the way he treated him and took him in. this shows that Joe is noble because he was able to forgive Pip and put aside any mistreatment to help out his friend because he knew pip was what really matters.

    Joe also shows his nobility by putting up with Mrs. Joe. Mrs. Joe is Joe’s abusive wife, but she is also Pip’s sister. Joe puts up with her because of his love and care for Pip. “ ‘And bring the poor little child. God bless the poor little child,’ I said to your sister, ‘there’s room for him at the forge!’… ‘ Mrs. joe musn’t see too much of what we’re up to. ‘ “ (47) Joe is talking to Pip, and he tells Pip that when they got married he wanted to keep Pip, but they want to stay away from Mrs. Joe. This is noble because he is willing to put aside his own feelings for the feelings of another, and the good of another.

    Joe is also noble because he appreciates life and doesn’t need money or social classes to make his life good, he enjoys it just the way it is. He cares about the things that really matter in life, and he believes that anyone can be astounding but in order to do that they first have to start off normal. “For the tenderness of Joe was so beautifully proportioned to my need that I was like a child in his hands.” (471) This shows how Pip feels with Joe and how Joe was always there for him. Joe’s philosophy and way of thinking makes him a very noble person who has a good set of morals and is very caring and compassionate.

    Joe Gargery shows he is very noble in many different ways. Joe cares for Pip despite having been treated badly by him. Joe also puts up with Pip’s abusive sister Mrs. Joe, for Pips sake, and Joe’s philosophy on life and his good morals show us how noble he is. Nobility is a very important quality to have as a person, good morals and genuine caring can go a long way in life.