Chapter 5 Flashcards
‘I swear to God I will never set eyes in him again’
-gives a sense of steadfast determination through the use of the modal verb ‘will’ followed by the adverb ‘never’
-bc/ festering guilt due to the unforgivable nature of the murder, Jekyll turns to God for forgiveness
-this could perhaps be Stevenson’s commentary on the self-serving and hypocritical nature of the Victorian society(automatically turn to religion to relieve them of their guilt instead of responsibility for their actions)
-Jekyll is presented as vulnerable and emotional which is in contrast to his rational persona
-it is implied that the Murder of Sir Danvers Carew left irreparable damage to Jekyll’s conscience resulting in a more vulnerable character which is susceptible to the dominance of Hyde
“Dr Jekyll looking deadly sick”
-the adjective deadly gives an impression of fatality
-Dr Jekyll’s appearance is significant as it transforms throughout the novella
-contrast from Chapter 3 as he seems to degrade rapidly as a result of the stress of battling Hyde for dominance
-this loss of control is in stark contrast to his previous confidence in chapter 2 where he stated that ‘the moment I[Jekyll] choose , I can be rid of Mr.Hyde’
-this description of Jekyll also juxtaposes the title of Chapter 3 ‘Dr Jekyll was quite at ease’-(noun ease giving a care-free impression) which highlights the fickle nature of his composure, similar to the fragile nature of his power over his inner evil
“windowless” labratory
-alludes to the idea of seclusion and mystery
-Stevenson builds a metaphorical chasm between Jekyll’s private life and his public presentation of himself
-reflects the extent of Jekyll’s fear of ignominy
-links to repression context
-in addition, Dr Jekyll’s “dingy windowless structure” of a lab also greatly contrasts the earlier descriptions of Jekyll’s house which has a “great air and wealth and comfort”
-the lab which had marks of “sordid negligence “could symbolise the repressed side of Jekyll
-The laboratory’s decaying facade and air of neglect contrast sharply with the main house, highlighting the duality of Jekyll’s character
-the seemingly separate but connected buildings could also mirror the hidden yet inexplicable relationship between Jekyll and Hyde and therefore the ambiguity between pure good and pure evil
