Discuss What Jaggers Is in Great Expectations

Discuss What Jaggers Is in Great Expectations

  • Submitted By: cnelson
  • Date Submitted: 05/24/2008 2:30 PM
  • Category: English
  • Words: 1264
  • Page: 6
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At the End of the Chapter Jaggers says; ‘You know what I am don't you?' As a reader, how would you answer the question? He was a burley man of exceedingly dark complexion, with an exceedingly large head and a corresponding hand.' So Mr Jaggers is first introduced to the readers by Pip, who meets him in chapter 10 at Satis House. With instantly recognizable idiosyncrasies such as the biting of his forefinger and the scent of soap which surrounded him Jaggers is immediately noticeable, his character on paper being as noticeable as his physical form is said to be. Jaggers is not introduced to Pip at this point and is therefore simply known to the reader as a ‘gentleman', yet suspense created with Pip saying ‘he was nothing to me, and I could have no foresight then, that he ever would be anything to me…' However with the re-introduction of Jaggers later in the book Pip and the reader begins to create a more vivid picture of him. At the end of Chapter 26 Jaggers says to Pip ‘you know what I am don't you?' This is an odd question, especially the inclusion of the word ‘what' rather than who, Pip ch! ooses not to answer the question, how would I answer it? On introducing himself to Pip and Joe, Jaggers describes himself as ‘a lawyer in London…pretty well known.' It is already apparent to the reader that Jaggers has some, extensive, knowledge of the law as he humiliated Mr Wopsle into silence previously in the Three Jolly Bargemen when Wopsle was enacting a sketch of a court case. In opposing Wopsle Jaggers uses aggressive, accusatory gestures such as standing ‘his head on one side…in a bullying and interrogative manner…throwing his finger at him' and adopting and ‘expression of contempt'. The self-appraisal delivered by Jaggers although not vast, does sum him up, he is brief, parsimonious with words (as we later discover he is with time and money), simply stating facts as they stand. Furthermore there is a confident air about him, it is...

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