jQuery issue

JavaScript
1 

$('<a>', {
                class: 'prev page-numbers',
                href: '#',
                text: '&laquo;',
                click: function () {
                    alert(this.text);
                } 
            });

Unfortunately, the text displays as « not <<
it automatically converts & to & and I don’t want it to…
thoughts?

2

Have you considered using the actual characters?

3

I have but, << does not display the same as «

4

Make new html file.
Put « in it.
View html page in browser.
copy paste.