Question

What does Pip mean when he says in chapter 2 of Great Expectations that he and Joe were "brought up by hand"?

1) They were raised with strict discipline
2) They were raised without the help of a nanny
3) They were raised by their parents
4) They were raised in poverty

Answer 1

Pip's statement about being 'brought up by hand' in 'Great Expectations' refers to being raised with strict discipline, often involving physical correction, by his sister Mrs. Joe.

Step-by-step explanation:

When Pip says in chapter 2 of Great Expectations that he and Joe were "brought up by hand," it means that they were raised with strict discipline. This phrase indicates a form of upbringing where physical corrections and a strict household were the norms. Mrs. Joe, who is Pip's sister and Joe's wife, is known for her harsh and often physically abusive behavior towards both Pip and Joe. This form of 'bringing up' contrasts greatly with the middle class values of cleanliness, discipline, morality, hard work, education, and good manners, where children would engage in 'self-improving' activities, as detailed in the narrative about middle-class children in the early nineteenth century.