If any man in that neighbourhood could stand up long against Joe, I never saw the man. Orlick…was very soon among the coal dust and in no hurry to come out of it.
– Charles Dickens
Great Expectations, Chapter 15. While Joe himself is often the victim of Mrs. Joe’s temper, he rarely criticizes her and is very loyal to her. Here he defends her honor after Orlick gets into an argument with her and he knocks Orlick to the ground.