Great Expectations 8

• "Hammer boys round - Old Clem!
  With a thump and a sound - Old Clem!
  Beat it out, beat it out - Old Clem!
  With a clink for the stout - Old Clem!
  Blow the fire, blow the fire - Old Clem!
  Roaring dryer, soaring higher - Old Clem!" (p. 94)
  

Dickens alludes to the song "Old Clem" in Great Expectations while Pip is visiting Miss Havisham. The song originates from the blacksmith's patron Saint Clement. On November 23, The Day of Saint Clement, blacksmiths took a holiday. A senior apprentice, representing Old Clem, led a march that traveled around town and stopped at taverns to share the history of Old Clem. The blacksmiths would pass around a box for donations and the money gained was used to pay for the apprentices' meal. Growing up, Pip, the prospective apprentice, would hear Joe "hum fragments" (p. 94) and retained the lyrics to share with Miss Havisham. Unlike Pip, who is concerned about appearance, and Mrs. Joe, who is cruel and dominating, Joe's silent, yet diligent character suggest he is a traditional, happy-go-lucky guy. Even though he might be uneducated, Joe takes pride in his work. Humming a familiar tune shows his true enjoyment being a blacksmith. One could also notice that instead of singing out the words, Joe hums, indicating his timidness around Mrs. Joe.

Work Cited:
"Old Clem - Dickens expression. Help!" The Phrase Finder. Web. 3 Jan. 2010. http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/14/messages/65.html.

Photo Credit:
Saint Clement. Photograph. Orthodox Images. Web. 3 Jan. 2010. http://www.orthodoximages.com/images/icons/patrons/dingman/Clement_Ding6x8.jpg.