Analysis of chapter 9

Question 1

Why is Lanyon surprised to receive a letter from Jekyll?

Answer 1

They don’t usually communicate by letter, and Lanyon had been to Jekyll’s for dinner the night before, so it’s strange that he is sending a letter so soon afterwards.

Question 2

The chemical in the drawer is described as being “blood-red”. What is the effect of this language choice?

Answer 2

The “blood-red” colour links the chemical to violence and bloodshed. This emphasises how sinister and dangerous the potion is.

Question 3

The letter Lanyon receives was written by Mr Hyde. What impression do you get of Hyde’s state of mind from his letter? Use examples in your answer.

Answer 3

• Hyde’s letter suggests that he is in a
  desperate mindset. He mention his
  “extreme distress of mind”, then
  repeats this idea when he is
  “labouring under a blackness of
  distress”. The repetition of “distress”
  highlights how upset he is.
• Hyde’s letter highlights his serious state of mind. He asks Lanyon to prioritise his requests above everything else, even being “summoned to the bedside of an emperor”. This hyperbole shows the importance of the tasks Hyde is giving Lanyon.

Question 4

Lanyon originally thinks his dislike of Hyde is due to “personal distaste”. What does he mean by this and what does it suggest about Hyde?

Answer 4

This means that Lanyon’s dislike of Hyde is instinctive — it is human nature to dislike him. This makes Hyde seem more sinister — it suggests that there is something unnatural about him, and hints that he isn’t entirely human.

Question 5

What is unusual about Hyde’s clothes?
A. They are unfashionable
B. They are too big for him
C. They are very expensive
D. He isn’t wearing any

Answer 5

B. Hyde’s clothes are “enormously too large for him”.

Question 6

Give an example that shows Hyde is anxious to get the potion when he meets up with Lanyon.

Answer 6

Lanyon says that Hyde is so impatient that he tries to “shake” Lanyon

Question 7

Hyde tells Lanyon “what follows is under the seal of our profession.” What does this mean?

Answer 7

As a doctor, Lanyon can’t tell anyone about what he has seen, because doctors aren’t allowed to reveal details about their patients. This could be why Lanyon doesn’t reveal Jekyll’s secret until both of their deaths.

Question 8

‘Lanyon’s curiosity is what killed him.’ Do you agree or disagree? Explain your answer.

Answer 8

• You could have said Lanyon’s
  curiosity does kill him. He chooses to
  give into the “greed of curiosity” even
  though Hyde warns him that his
  “sight” will be “blasted” by what he
  sees. The things he sees then shock
  him so badly that he dies.
• You could have also have said that
  Jekyll is responsible, not Lanyon’s
  curiosity — if Jekyll hadn’t done
  experiments to begin with, Lanyon
  would never have died.

Question 9

How does Stevenson make Hyde’s transformation seem shocking?

Answer 9

Stevenson makes Hyde’s change seem shocking by emphasising his pain — he says that Hyde “reeled” and was “grasping”. Lanyon’s dramatic reaction, with his repeated screams of “O God!”, also make Hyde’s change seem shocking by showing that it was terrifying to witness.