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In Great Expectations, what action–which Pip sees him doing even on his first visit to his London and in chapter 26–does Jaggers seem perform obsessively?

User Channy
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Final answer:

In Great Expectations, Jaggers seems to perform the action of washing his hands obsessively, which symbolizes his desire to cleanse himself of moral responsibility.

Step-by-step explanation:

In Great Expectations, Jaggers seems to perform the action of washing his hands obsessively which Pip first observes during his initial visit to Jaggers' office in London and in chapter 26. This action is repeated throughout the novel and

is symbolic of Jaggers' desire to cleanse himself of any guilt or association with his clients' wrongdoings. The washing of hands can be seen as a metaphor for Jaggers' attempt to rid himself of moral responsibility for the consequences of his clients' actions.

In Great Expectations, the action that Mr. Jaggers seems to perform obsessively, which Pip notices even on his first visit to Jaggers' office in London in chapter 26, is his ritual of washing his hands. This obsessive action is a significant character trait that symbolizes

User Admix
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Final answer:

In 'Great Expectations,' Mr. Jaggers obsessively washes his hands, symbolizing his desire to remain morally clean amidst his work in a corrupt legal system.

Step-by-step explanation:

In Charles Dickens's novel Great Expectations, the action that Mr. Jaggers is observed performing obsessively, even from Pip's first visit to his London office in chapter 26, is repeatedly washing his hands. This obsessive behavior is emblematic of Jaggers's desire to cleanse himself of the moral ambiguity and the guilt associated with his work as a lawyer in the criminal courts, where he deals with a lot of unsavory cases. This action becomes a key symbolic element throughout the novel, speaking volumes about his character and the corrupt nature of the legal system at the time.

User Fozylet
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