I was astonished to see that both my hands were burnt; for, I had no knowledge of it through the sense of feeling.
– Charles Dickens
Great Expectations, Chapter 49. Pip’s hands are badly burned from his rescue of Miss Havisham when her dress caught fire. His burns symbolize his moral growth and development as a character. Despite being cruelly treated by Miss Havisham, Pip put himself at great risk to save her life. Without a thought for his own safety, he covered the flaming woman in his coat and a tablecloth and injured himself in the process. His show of compassion for a bitter woman who wronged him marks an important step on his journey to being a better person.