Monumental Crusaders
In chapter 4 of Great Expectations Pip draws a picture of Mrs Joe getting cross in the house. When she is cross, either her husband Joe Gargery or Pip would signal a token by crossing forefingers. As she continues in this state for weeks, they also continue in this state. Later, Pip compares crossed fingers with monumental crusaders. During the Victorian era, it was a common belief that the stone statues of medieval knights found on church tombs represented crusaders if the figures were sculpted with legs crossed. Dickens creates a vivid picture of Pip and Joe sitting frozen and stiff in the house.