duality Flashcards
intro
- one of the most prevalent themes
- theme does not become fully evident to the reader until the final chapter, Stevenson presents clues and references to this duality
paragraph 1
- presents duality through Jekyll and his inner sinister desires and his outward respectable persona being in conflict with each other
‘every mark of capacity and kindness’ / ‘something wrong with his appearance; something displeasing, something downright detestable’
- jekyll is presented as a quintessential victorian gentleman
- hyde is presented as pure evil
‘every mark of capacity and kindness’ / ‘something wrong with his appearance; something displeasing, something downright detestable’
‘EVERY MARK OF CAPACITY AND KINDESS’
- ‘KINDNESS’ implies he is sociable, friendly
- by presenting Jekyll as a quintessential victorian gentleman, stevenson ensure the reader will be shocked when they learn about Hyde due to the contrast between the two
‘SOMETHING WRONG WITH HIS APPEARANCE; SOMETHING DISPLEASING, SOMETHING DOWNRIGHT DETESTABLE’
- analysis on hyde section
middle
- description of Jekylls house is also used to reveal duality
- stevenson presents the door at the front as having a ‘GREAT AIR OF WEALTH AND COMFORT’ leading to the reputable jekyll
- the door at the back, which has an impression of ‘SORDID NEGLIGENCE’ leads to the repugnant hyde
- the door is used as a metaphor for the inter struggles between their two identities
-> stevenson uses this to comment on the deceptive outward appearance of upper victorian society
‘great air of wealth and comfort’
- shows jekylls home is very comfortable and presentable
- the word ‘air’ is a holograph to verb ‘air’ as in ‘to expose’, meaning that the very wealthy and comfortable side of Dr Jekyll is the side he wants to expose to the public
‘sordid negligence’
- the ‘negligence’ of the door reflects something deeper - reflects the dishonourable side that lies deep within all of us
- ‘sordid’ means immoral or dishonourable
para 3
- use of language and imagery emphasizes the theme of duality
- stevenson contrasts light and dark imagery
-> jekyll’s life is associated with ‘sunlight’ and ‘openness’
-> slightly hypocritical as he is keeping a major secret from society
-> contrasts with the ‘darkness’ and ‘secrecy’ Hyde is associated with - stevenson often describes hyde using animalistic terms to depict his primal nature
-> ‘ape-like’ and ‘troglodytic’
-> portrays him as a primitive, unrestrained creature
-> suggests Hyde represents a regression into a less civilised more primal state - use of language reinforces the idea that duality is an essential and inescapable aspect of human identity
conc
- summarise main points made in essay
- reflect on stevenson message that duality exists within everyone and that attempts to deny it can lead to tragic consequences
- end with thought-provoking statement about how the theme of duality remains relevant in todays society