Edward Hyde Flashcards
What is the evidence that Hyde embodies wickedness
- Hyde is “pure evil”
- Murders Danvers Carew unprovoked which he takes “delight” in. It’s shocking how much he enjoys violence
How is Hyde’s evil reflected in his appearance
it leaves “an imprint” of deformity and decay”. Hyde is so evil that it’s obvious for everyone to see, there’s “something wrong with his appearance”
What does Stevenson frequently compare Hyde to
Stevenson frequently compares Hyde to animals, particularly apes. This is a comment on people and society
What does Jekyll’s transformation to Hyde suggest to the audience
That there’s a pure evil side to each and every apparent respectable man forcing the reader to consider that there could be a dark, immoral side to everyone
How is Darwin’s theory linked to the book
(Darwin’s theory was widely known to the public at the time) Hyde is presented as Jekyll’s less evolved side- often compared to an ape - and he’s smaller and less respectable, which emphasises the idea that the upper classes were superior
What did Victorians try to hide
Victorians tried to hide what they thought were animalistic desires beneath a civilised exterior- they wanted to appear respectable in order to fit in with civilised society
How are peoples description of Hyde representative of Victorian society
Several characters say they can’t explain why they dislike Hyde. The fact that these characters can’t or won’t make any sense of Hyde may reflect the way they’ve repressed their own dark side
How are people disturbed by Hyde’s appearance
Enfield says he is “extraordinary-looking” and Utterson says he can “read Satan’s signature” on Hyde’s face. This is disturbing to the reader as they begin to think about a man’s capacity for evil
