Dr Jekyll Flashcards
This statement captures Jekyll’s belief in the duality of human nature. It reflects the novel’s central theme: the conflict between good and evil within a person.
“Man is not truly one, but truly two”
Jekyll initially believes he has control over Hyde, showing his arrogance and ignorance of the true power of his darker side. This foreshadows his eventual downfall.
“The moment I choose I can be rid of Mr Hyde”
Jekyll admits that his desire for knowledge and experimentation overpowered his fear of potential consequences, reinforcing the theme of dangerous scientific ambition.
“The temptation of a discovery so singular and profound, at last overcame the suggestions of alarm.”
This metaphor highlights how repressing his darker urges only made Hyde’s return more violent. It reflects Victorian anxieties about repressed desires eventually breaking free.
“My devil had been long caged, he came out roaring.”
This short but revealing confession highlights Victorian repression. Jekyll admits that his respectable exterior hid sinful desires, showing the conflict between societal expectations and human nature.
“I concealed my pleasures”
Jekyll sees good and evil as inseparable “twins” within every human. The imagery of an “agonized womb” suggests that this struggle is painful and inescapable.
“The curse of mankind… that in the agonized womb of consciousness, these polar twins should be continuously struggling.”
