Analysis of chapter 10 Flashcards
Henry Jekyll's full statement of the case
What does Jekyll believe was his worst fault when he was a young man?
He believes his worst fault was a “gaiety of disposition” — he thought he was too lively.
Give an example that shows Jekyll is ashamed of his sins before he creates Hyde.
He says he “hid them with an almost morbid sense of shame”.
Why does Jekyll say he “hesitated” before testing the potion?
He says that by taking the potion he “risked death”.
Jekyll says he originally thought of separating his good and bad sides as a “beloved daydream”. What does this suggest about his initial attitude towards the idea?
The description of the plan as “beloved” shows Jekyll’s passion and enthusiasm for the idea. However, the word “daydream” suggests that he thought it would be impossible or very unlikely.
How does Stevenson present Jekyll’s first transformation into Hyde? Use examples in your answer.
- Stevenson presents the
transformation into Hyde as painful.
He uses sensory language to do this,
describing the “grinding in the bones”
that Jekyll feels. This sensory
description brings the image to life
for the reader and helps them to
understand Jekyll’s severe
discomfort. - Stevenson also presents Jekyll’s
transformation into Hyde as
emotionally difficult. He experience a
“horror of the spirit” that he thinks is
worse than “birth or death”. This
strong language shows that his mind
is as strongly affected as his body is
by the transformation.
How do Jekyll’s “undignified” pleasures change when he becomes Hyde?
They become “monstrous”. This means that Hyde’s sins are worse than Jekyll’s were.
Does Jekyll initially feel guilty for the crimes Hyde commits? Give an example in your answer.
Jekyll doesn’t initially feel guilty. He says that it was “Hyde alone” who was guilty, while his own “conscience slumbered”
Why does Jekyll decide to open a bank account for Hyde?
After he is witnessed trampling the girl, Hyde is asked to pay compensation. To do so, he has to bring them a cheque in Jekyll’s name, which risks Jekyll’s reputation. Jekyll opens a bank account in Hyde’s name to avoid having to do this again.
Jekyll believes that in other circumstances he might have created an “angel” instead of Hyde. What would these circumstances have been, and why doesn’t Jekyll create an “angel” in his actual experiment?
He says that he might have created an “angel” rather than Hyde if he had approached the experiment with a “more noble spirit” and “generous or pious aspirations”. This wasn’t the case with Jekyll’s experiment — he was motivated by “ambition” and “evil”, while his “virtue slumbered”.
Jekyll deliberately leaves out the “details” of his “infamy” as Hyde. Why do you think he chooses not to include this information?
He doesn’t include details because he is ashamed of them and can hardly admit that he committed them. This could then suggest that he’s trying to follow the rules of polite society at the time by keeping the details hidden.
Jekyll notices Hyde has “grown in stature”. What does Jekyll think this means?
A. Hyde has been eating more
B. Hyde is becoming stronger
C. Hyde grows every time he kills
D. Hyde has been taking more of the
drug
B. Jekyll says that Hyde has a “more generous tide of blood”, suggesting that he is healthier. Jekyll worries that this means he could become Hyde forever.
What is Jekyll thinking about when he transforms into Hyde in the park?
Jekyll was comparing his “active goodwill” with the “lazy cruelty” of other men. This “vainglorious” (vain) thought seems to lead to him turning into Hyde because he is thinking immorally again.
Why does Hyde keep taking the potion and turning himself into Jekyll?
Hyde’s “terror of the gallows” makes him change back — he doesn’t want to get caught and hanged for murdering Carew.
Jekyll says that when you try to cast off the “burden” of your life it returns with “more awful pressure.” How is this shown in this chapter?
Jekyll tries to cast off the “burden” of his life (his desire to act sinfully) by transforming into Hyde. However, his burden returns with “more awful pressure” — the crimes that Hyde commits are worse than Jekyll’s original sins, and this becomes a “burden” that threatens Jekyll’s reputation.
How do Hyde and Jekyll feel about one another at the end of Jekyll’s life? Use examples in your answer.
Jekyll and Hyde hate each other in “equal” amounts. Jekyll describes his hatred of Hyde as instinctive, while Hyde loathes Jekyll’s “despondency” (depression) and the fact that Jekyll doesn’t like him. Jekyll also days he found it in his heart to “pity” Hyde, although Hyde doesn’t show any pity in return.
