Great Expectations
Mrs. Joe Gargery
Pip's sister
Pip's sharp-tongued older sister, who raised him "by hand" and ruled the household with scolding.
Mrs. Joe is Pip's older sister and Joe's wife. She is quick-tempered and domineering, always telling the boy to be grateful to those who brought him up by hand. She lets Pip and Joe know she is overworked and a martyr to the house.
She is proud of her connections, especially Uncle Pumblechook, and thinks the boy should be thankful for everything. Her anger is a constant presence, but it is also the way of a woman overwhelmed by her duties and frightened of nothing.
“Where in the world have you been, you young monkey?”
In the story
Contains spoilers.
Mrs. Joe scolds Pip for the time he spends in the churchyard. At the Christmas dinner, she discovers that the pork pie is missing. She cheers when Pumblechook brings news that Miss Havisham wants Pip.
One night she is struck down in the forge with a convict's leg-iron and left unable to speak. Biddy moves in to care for her. Pip later learns that Orlick was the attacker. Mrs. Joe dies, and Pip returns for her funeral and promises to visit often.
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