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Posted by Peter Wigin on April 17, 19102 at 22:54:43:
In modern society there are many who hold the philosophy of “every man for himself”. These people think that one’s chief concern should be for oneself and that an individual has no obligation to serve the greater good. In ens book, Great Expectations, many characters, such as Orlick and Mr. Jaggers, seem to live by this philosophy. Furthermore those characters who are kind, such as Joe Gargery, often seem to suffer from it. Yet when one looks more deeply, it is evident that kindness is rewarded in the end. By the end of the book, the reader sees ens’ true belief is that no good deed goes unrewarded, even if the reward takes a long while in coming. The experiences of Joe, Herbert and Pip all illustrate this pattern. Each of them performs some kind act, which at first brings trouble rather than reward. Later, however, each of them benefits as a result of his earlier kindness. Although generosity may be inconvenient at times, ens seems to be saying it will be rewarded in the long run.
Joe Gargery’s determination to be kind and gentle causes him much suffering, but in the long run he is the better for it. Joe’s father abused Joe and Joe’s mother. As a result Joe promised himself never to mistreat a woman. Ironically this promise resulted in Joe being mistreated by his own wife. Joe’s longsuffering kindness is poorly repaid again by Pip. Joe cares for Pip like a son and loves him unconditionally. Then when Pip becomes a gentleman, he is ashamed of Joe and abandons him. This seems to say that kindness is not rewarded but, as the story unfolds, things appear differently. Biddy marries Joe because he continued to be good to and love Mrs. Joe and Pip. Biddy saw his kindness and selflessness in this and loved him for it. Joe regained Pip’s love and respect when despite Pip’s failings Joe nursed him back to health and paid his creditors. Although Joe received no material rewards, he did finally receive everything he wanted. He obtained his dream of a tranquil home and through this, true peace and inner happiness.
Similarly, Herbert Pocket’s kindness got him no immediate recompense. Only years later did he discover his reward. From the very beginning of Pip and Herbert’s relationship, Herbert was always kind. Herbert’s acts of kindness ranged from things as small as instructing Pip in proper table manners, to nursing Pip’s burned arm and even to breaking the law when he helped plan for the convict Magwitch’s escape from England. The only payment that Herbert received for his goodness was inconvenience, debt, and the risk of disgrace and imprisonment. In was not until many years later that Herbert learned that his kindness had secretly been rewarded. Herbert’s kindness inspired the only good thing that Pip did with his wealth when he arranged to buy Herbert a partnership in a business. This not only secured Herbert’s professional future, but also allowed him to marry. Herbert’s friendship also caused Pip to do another noble thing when he defended Herbert’s family to Miss Havisham. This in turn led Miss Havisham to leave them something in her will. This showed again that it takes time, but in the end goodness is always rewarded.
This cycle of eventual reward for kindness is especially evident in connection with Pip. The first, most material kindness Pip did was to bring food and a file to the convict hiding in the graveyard. Pip anticipated no reward. Instead he expected to get in trouble with Mrs. Joe and the law. Only years later did the convict reward Pip with his wealth, and it was still longer before Pip learned that his great expectations were connected to his kindness on the marshes. Later, Pip made a sacrifice by using the last of his wealth to buy Herbert a partnership instead of paying the rest of his own debts. Pip made an even greater sacrifice when he stood by Abel Magwitch after his final arrest. Because of this Pip lost his wealth, his social status and was publicly disgraced. Furthermore, Pip was generous to Miss Havisham when he injured himself by saving her from the fire and by forgiving her for her past misconduct. These actions seemed more likely to hurt than to help Pip, but this was not the case. Pip’s kindness to Herbert saved Pip from disaster because as a partner, Herbert was in a position to give Pip a . Pip’s kindness to Magwitch and Miss Havisham at the end of their lives brought him a much greater reward. He found redemption. Pip stood by the convict the way he should have stood by Joe. When he forgave Miss Havisham for the wrongs she did to him, he felt in a way that he was forgiven for the wrongs he did to others. When Miss Havisham asked for forgiveness, he replied, “I can do it now. There have been sore mistakes; and my life has been a blind and thankless one; and I want forgiveness and direction far too much, to be bitter with you”(379). Not only did this bring him redemption, it led him to a greater maturity that allowed him to deal with the difficulties he faced. Money and affluence did not teach Pip how to be a true gentleman. It was only when he was kind in hard times that he became a true gentleman and thus received the best reward.
It is true that ens believes kindness would be rewarded, but that does not necessarily mean that the reward would be immediate or tangible. In fact the greatest rewards were neither immediate nor tangible. Joe’s gentleness and loyalty were ultimately rewarded not with wealth but with peace and a happy life. Herbert gave friendship and friendship was his reward, and through this friendship he received some financial aid as well. The first thing Pip gave was food and aid to the escaped convict and he received an inheritance. However by the end of the story, the inheritance was lost. Pip also gave friendship and a to Herbert and he received the same from Herbert in return. To Miss Havisham he gave compion and forgiveness and to the returned convict Magwitch he gave loyalty and love. In return for these kindnesses, Pip received redemption. Finally, his greatest reward was a good character. At last he became the gentleman he set out to be.