Mr. Jaggers, a powerful criminal lawyer, rips apart others in his testimony as if he were a jagged edge and leaves others to quiver in his path. Mr. Jaggers is a rich, foreboding man that lives in London and is often described as having a cold and impenetrable exterior. He has a large head, dark complexion, deep set eyes, bushy black eyebrows, and his hands smell very strongly of scented soap. In this scene, Pip gets to see Mr. Jaggers, firsthand in in all of his enormity in the courtroom. He witnesses the fear that Mr. Jaggers instills in the witnesses, judges, convicts, just about anyone he comes in contact with. "If anybody, of whatsoever degree, said a word that he didn't approve of, he instantly required to have it 'taken down.' If anybody wouldn't make an admission, he said, 'I'll have it out of you!' and if anybody made an admission, he said, 'Now I have got you!' the magistrates shivered under a single bite of his finger. Thieves and thieftakers hung in dread rapture on his words, and shrank when a hair of his eyebrows turned in their direction. Which side he was on, I couldn't make out, for he seemed to me to be grinding the whole place in a mill; I only know that when I stole out on tiptoe, he was not on the side of the bench; for, he was making the legs of the old gentleman who presided, quite convulsive under the table, by his denunciations of his conduct as the representative of British law and justice in that chair that day. " (p.202) As you can see, Mr. Jaggers is the jagged edge in the courtroom. He has a very sharp wit about him and he rips and cuts others in his words and even a mere look. It seems like everyone quivers in his presence, almost being deathly afraid of him. If someone says a word that he doesn't approve of, he has it removed immediately. No one dares to stand up to him, thus be cut up by his words. He won't take no for an answer, as he manages to get everything out of everybody. Therefore, Mr. Jaggers is appropriately named because he is the jagged edge that no one wants to go near.
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I agree with you. Mr. Jaggers does resemble a jagged edge. He is sharp, quick, and he gets to the point fast. He knows what he is doing and his clients worship hime because he is so good at his job. He is serious about what he does and he doesn't let anything get in his way. In the courtroom as you mentioned, he is terrifying and he leaves people quivering in his path. Another time where Mr. Jaggers acts like a jagged edge is when he first meets Pip and Joe and the others at the bar. He shows that he is a lawyer and he also shows that he is a force not the be reconed with. "'I know you do,' said the stranger; 'I knew you would. I told you so. But now I'll ask you a question. Do you know, or do you not know, that the law of England supposes every man to be innocent, until he is proved - proved - to be guilty?' 'Sir,' Mr. Wopsle began to reply, 'as an Englishman myself, I--' 'Come!' said the stranger, biting his forefinger at him. 'Don't evade the question. Either you know it, or you don't know it. Which is it to be?' He stood with his head on one side and himself on one side, in a bullying interrogative manner, and he threw his forefinger at Mr. Wopsle - as it were to mark him out - before biting it again." (chapter18 pg 134). As seen in this quote and the one that is posted above. Mr Jaggers is like a jagged edge; sharp, quick, and ready to strike at any moment.
ReplyDeleteThe name Jaggers does infact bring a rough connoations to it. In turn when someone is described as being or acting rough they sometimes take on a lifestyle of power over others. When Mr. Jaggers was talking to the townspeople he exclaimed, " And do you remember, that but for me you wouldn't be here and couldn't be here?(167)" This slighly disrespectful tone that Jaggers uses illustrated his power over this towns person and shows that characature of Jaggers as being this powerful and rough type of personality. Jaggers' rough way of going about life shows not only his power over others but his willingness to assert himself over others.
ReplyDeleteInteresting, it does seem that Mr. Jaggers definately seems to be cruel, and has no friendly relations with any of the townspeople he speaks to in his office. Hence, he seems to be a jagged edge, in terms of his actions with these people and his words. "'Now, I wont have it!'Said Mr. Jaggers, waving his hands at them, to put them behind them.'If you say a word to them, ill throw up the case.''We thought, Mr. Jaggers- one of the men began pulling off his hat.'Thats exactly what i told you not to do!...'I think for you!" (167). In a puzzle, the jagged edge doesnt seem to fit in with the others. That holds true here, as Mr. Jaggers doesn't get along with anyone, it seems.
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