The female characters in Great Expectations have the greatest influence on Pip’s development

While it may be true to argue that the female characters of Great Expectations strike the about detrimental effect on fritter away, it would certainly non be accurate to portray them as having had the superlative enchant on his development. Although, the tyrannical Mrs Joe, the embittered Miss Havisham and pips be bashd Estella stool a large hand in plastic blasts moral decline, it is without doubt Magwitch and of course, the moral cornerstone of the book, Joe who have the most profound effect on him.As well as this there argon the minor male characters of the book such as Wemmick (in his Walworth capacity) and to a lesser extent Jaggers, and their part in restoring dash to decency. Having said this, it must be acknowledged that in his childhood years it is in fact Mrs Joe who has the most immense influence on Pips development. Her highly reproving bring him up by hand, regime destroys his self-worth, forcing him to develop a real sense of self-resentment. Hear that, be g rateful to those who brought you up by hand, is a deeply ironic statement, for it is Mrs Joe he owes least gratitude to, considering the negative feign she has on Pips young life. The physical and verbal abuse she expels on him leads to a lose of adequate love and affirmation. Im a common labouring boy, my hands are coarse and my boots are thick generally Im in a low lived bad way, is a bleak outlook that comes from a young boy who has had his self-worth quashed at a lower place his sisters tyranny.It is of course this lack of self-esteem which is most harmful to Pips development, forcing him to create the fantasy of reinvention that ultimately leads to his moral decline. However, we cannot allow that regardless of Mrs Joes predominant influence, Joe, Pips fri windup and father figure, is, to an extent, able to have a positive impact on Pip.Primarily, he is able to provide him with what little affirmation possible in such a common cold erecthold, establishing a solid friendship with his fellow sufferer, We are ever the best of friends aint us Pip? Furthermore, in terms of moral development, this gentle Christian man is able to instate in Pip the foundations of the values which he must ultimately return to in the peak of his moral decline. Joe the moral mentor, encourages Pip to develop the similar goodness he himself possess, by teaching him number of vital lessons such as compassion with the quote We dont know what it is you have done, but we wouldnt have you starve to death for it, poor fellow woeful creatur, would us. and the importance of honesty through (telling lies) aint the way to get out of being common. Hence Joe is able to have some effect on Pip in his childhood years.Once exposed to the world of Satis house it is the influence of Miss Havisham and Estella that largely occupies his life during the expectation years. We see the manner in which Miss Havisham plays further on his lack of self-worth, using Estella to belittle him and break hi s heart Hes a coarse and common labouring boy. This lack of self-worth combines with the glamour of their lifestyle which mesmerizes Pip and leads him to create the fantasy of reinvention.It is the initial meeting at Satis house, therefore, that consequently sees Pip commence his deluded journey in the pursuit of false ideals. Estella also becomes a major contributor to this fantasy, as Pip is naively led on by her and is blinded by her beauty, failing to realize what unfeignedly lies beneath. Thus it could be said that Miss Havisham and Estella have a large part in negatively influencing Pip and fuelling his desire to become a gentleman. In contrast, we see that it is the male character Magwitch who initiates the moral repurchase in Pip.Although initially Pip holds him with abhorrent disgust, as time moves on he is forced to under go a major reality check in assessing his idle and wasteful lifestyle. Magwitch is able to extract from Pip the core values he exhibited in his child hood years, in particular the quality of compassion. Towards the end of their relationship we have the declaration from Pip May I be as true to you as you have been to me. indicating the profound effect this common convict has had in returning Pip from the pretentious prig to the morally decent character we are able to respect.Wemmick and to a much lesser extent Jaggers are also able to provide examples of this compassion which help Pip towards his return to decency. During his reality check Pip is also provided with the unselfishness of Wemmick in his Walworth capacity. His caring of the age and the simple idealistic life he leads Pip to open his eyes to true gentility. In a much more ambiguous way we have Jaggers. The revelation of his secretive rescue of Estella from the criminal milieu provides Pip with a compassionate side of Jaggers not revealed before. These examples dramatically influence his development, encouraging his shift spinal column to integrity.However, it is onc e more Joe who is able to most deep influence Pip, completing his moral redemption and providing him with the model of selflessness and compassion. Pip suffers from a mystery unsoundness which is highly symbolic of a phase of personal disassembly, in which he questions himself and rebuilds his character. It is Joe who appears as the saviour, nursing him back to health and in the process teaching Pip that true gentility comes only with qualities such as humility, honesty and most importantly the ability to love and be loved. God bless this gentle Christian man, is a defining moment in Pips development as he is finally able to take Joes nobility. Thus without doubt we are left to see that it is the male character Joe who has the most intense influence on Pips character.It is clear to see therefore that it is instead although the female characters do have quite a detrimental effect on Pips development, it is instead the male characters and lead by Joe who have the greatest influence . In particular these male characters have quite a substantial hand in helping Pip re-establish his moral decency and hence redeem himself in the eyes of the reader.