In the English dictionary it states that a gentleman is a man who is a chivalrous and a well-bred man. I believe that a gentleman is kind, caring and relaxed. In `Great Expectations' there are many different types of `gentlemen'. The novel's perception of a `gentleman', along with the Victorian ideal is that you need money and an education to be a `true gentleman'. Very different to most people's ideal nowadays.

To start my essay I'm going to look at Joe. In the early parts of the novel Pip describes him as a:

`A mild, good-mannered, sweet-tempered, easy-going, foolish, dear fellow.' Page 8

This description describes both the dictionaries and my definition of a `gentleman' however, in the novel Joe is the last person any other character would say is a `gentleman'. Pip is ashamed of Joe even thought Joe...