duality Flashcards
“In this character, it was frequently his fortune to be the last reputable acquaintance and the last good influence in the lives of downgoing men.”(Chapter 1)
Mr Utterson wants to help those who wrong rather than judge them .
“For my man was a fellow that nobody could have to do with, a really damnable man; and the person that drew the cheque is the very pink of the proprieties, celebrated too, and (what makes it worse) one of your fellows who do what they call good.” (Chapter 1)
Enfield explains to Utterson that Mr Hyde and Dr Jekyll are complete opposites or the ‘antithesis’ of each other.
“This document had long been the lawyer’s eyesore.” (Chapter 2)
Utterson hates the will that has been given to him by Dr Jekyll because it names Mr Hyde as the man who will inherit his fortune. Utterson knows Hyde is evil – so why is Jekyll giving this man all his money?
And the lawyer set out homeward with a very heavy heart. “Poor Harry Jekyll,” he thought, “my mind misgives me he is in deep waters! He was wild when he was young; a long while ago to be sure; but in the law of God, there is no statute of limitations.”
“This Master Hyde, if he were studied,” thought he, “must have secrets of his own; black secrets, by the look of him; secrets compared to which poor Jekyll’s worst would be like sunshine.” (Chapter 2)
Utterson believes Dr Jekyll must have some dark secrets from his past that Mr Hyde is using against him to blackmail him.
And as she so sat she became aware of an aged beautiful gentleman with white hair, drawing near along the lane; and advancing to meet him, another and very small gentleman, to whom at first she paid less attention.” (Chapter 4)
The maid who witnesses the attack by Mr Hyde on Sir Danvers Carew, describes Carew as ‘beautiful’ but initially ignores Hyde. The characters meeting here is a representation of good v evil.
“And next moment, with ape-like fury, he was trampling his victim under foot and hailing down a storm of blows, under which the bones were audibly shattered and the body jumped upon the roadway. At the horror of these sights and sounds, the maid fainted.” (Chapter 4)
The narrator describes the attack that the maid witnessed. This emphasises just how evil Hyde is.
“Think before you answer, for it shall be done as you decide. As you decide, you shall be left as you were before, and neither richer nor wiser, unless the sense of service rendered to a man in mortal distress may be counted as a kind of riches of the soul. Or, if you shall so prefer to choose, a new province of knowledge and new avenues to fame and power shall be laid open to you, here, in this room, upon the instant; and your sight shall be blasted by a prodigy to stagger the unbelief of Satan.”
Hyde gives Dr Lanyon a choice: he can witness Hyde’s transformation into Jekyll or he can continue to live in ignorance. (Chapter 9)
