Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde key quotes + analysis Flashcards
“some place at the end of the world”
Mr Enfield reminds us of the duality of human nature - a Victorian society hidden from the face of the public where they lay a world of opium dens and prostitutes. This is the end to the respectable civilised Victorian society. Chapter 1
“the man trampled calmly over the child’s body and left her screaming”
Hyde’s first known crime. The juxtaposition of the brutality of Hyde’s actions with the complacency of his reaction adds to the horror. Chapter 1
“it was hellish to see”
Mr Endfield describes to Hyde’s trampling to be evil. Reference to a Satanic act. Chapter 1
“like some damned Juggernaut”
Hyde is compared to a large lorry suggesting his strength and brutality. Reference to hell in the sentence again. Chapter 1
“He is not easy to describe. There is something wrong with his appearance; something displeasing, something downright detestable.”
Mr Enfield’s physical description of Hyde. He cannot explain the appearance however acknowledges there is something wrong with him. Chapter 1
“He must be deformed, he gives a strong feeling of deformity, although I couldn’t specify the point…”
Hyde appears to be deformed and again, Mr Enfield can’t explain how. Chapter 1
“Mr Utterson sighed deeply but said never a word…”
Theme of secrecy. Mr Utterson does not express his emotions outright and explicitly. Chapter 1
“I have seen devilish little of the man.”
Dr Lanyon and Jekyll can’t put their scientific differences aside and do not see each other anymore. “Devilish” and “little” perhaps reflect Hyde. Chapter 2
“great field of lamps of a nocturnal city
Setting of London at night - Gothic language. Chapter 2
“Mr Hyde shrank back with a hissing intake of the breath…”
Mr Utterson’s first encounter with Hyde. “Hissing” symbolises a snake which could represent the devil. Chapter 2
“Mr Hyde was pale and dwarfish, he gave an impression of deformity without any nameable malformation, he had a displeasing smile…”
Mr Utterson’s description of Hyde - echoes previous description by Enfield. Hyde’s appearance bears a mark into the soul. Chapter 2
“the man seems hardly human… Something troglodytic…”
Hyde is compared to a thing of degraded, primitive, or brutal character. He is sub-human. Chapter 2
“the expense and strain of gaiety”
The Victorian society gentleman find indulging in his own pleasures to be a great effort and slightly amiss. Chapter 3
“the moment I choose, I can be rid of Mr Hyde”
Jekyll reassuring Mr Utterson that Hyde can be easily removed - yet it is ironic that Jekyll continues to return back to Hyde as he cannot overcome his temptation. Chapter 3
“a fog rolled over the city”
Pathetic fallacy of the fog over London. Representation of Mr Utterson’s mind. Chapter 4
“he broke out in great flame of anger… carrying on like a mad man”
Hyde has no self-control and is easily angered for no reason. Chapter 4
“with ape-like fury, he was trampling his victim under foot and hailing down a storm of blows”
The brutality of Hyde’s murder of Carew. Described in animalistic terms. Chapter 4
“Dr Jekyll looking deadly sick…”
Jekyll conversing with Utterson. He appears to be physically deteriorating. Chapter 5
“The fog still slept on the wing above the drowned city”
Repetition of the fog. Gothic setting. Chapter 5
“his past was unearthed… and all disreputable”
Hyde’s past actions goes against the Victorian society. Chapter 6
“Lanyon declared himself a doomed man…”
Due to his lack of belief into the unknown possibility of transcendental science, Lanyon has led himself to his own death. Chapter 6
“I have had a shock and I shall never recover…”
Lanyon is intolerant to what he has witnessed and has been defeated by Jekyll. Lanyon knows he cannot comprehend what he has witnessed. Chapter 6
“I am the chief of sinners, I am the chief of sufferers also.”
Jekyll has realised what he has done and understand only he can deal with it in his letter to Utterson. Chapter 6
“like some disconsolate prisoner”
This simile relating Jekyll to a prisoner suggests a state of self-imprisonment. The metaphorical jail, then, is not a physical space but rather a psychological one.
