Great Expectations Group

Question:

very
very
Student
High School - 9th Grade

Why would Mrs. Joe object to Pip's teaching Joe to write in Great Expectations?

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Posted by very on Monday March 2, 2009 at 12:06 PM and tagged with characters, great expectations, joe, literacy, mrs joe, pip, themes.

Answers:


  1. troutmiller Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    Mrs. Joe couldn't stand to have anyone in the house smarter than herself.  She is a very controlling person, and she wants to be in control of every aspect.  Along with that, she is very in tune with her social class.  She is what we would call a "social climber."  If she could, she'd do anything to be up one notch on the "ladder."  If Joe learned how to read and write, he would raise in his status and "outdo" her.  That would never work for her, so while he "learns" from Pip, they promise not to share that with Mrs. Joe.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/expectations/characters

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    Posted by troutmiller on Monday March 2, 2009 at 5:21 PM