Fear Essay plan - Jekyll and Hyde Flashcards
Who?
Mr Hyde installs fear in others –> he embodies fear through his violent actions –> people react to him with horror and revulsion.
Mr Utterson is fearful of Hyde and his control over Jekyll.
What?
Stevenson presents psychological and moral fear –> duality reveals hidden evil within, creating uncertainty
When?
Fear is presented during Hyde’s violent episodes (chapters 1, 4 and 8) –> each act is more violent than the other –> leads to Jekyll becoming increasingly isolated and anxious
Where?
In the streets at night or in Jekyll’s home –> the murder of Sir Danvers Carew was in the streets of London –> “The night was brilliantly lit by the full moon” Gothic setting of London. Makes murder more dramatic, as if it’s under a spotlight.
Why?
Fear highlights the duality of human nature –> Jekyll’s experiments reveal his inner conflict between good and evil
Context
Societal pressure on Jekyll to supress his violent side and act like a gentleman –> Jekyll creates Hyde to separate and indulge his darker impulses
What to focus on in the extract?
What is happening? What is about to happen? What has happened previously?
Why is this extract important?
How is fear presented here?
How does this link to wider themes/ideas of your intro?
Context?
Beginning main idea 1:
Fear is introduced through mysterious events and transformations
–> For example the trampling of the girl by Hyde, creates mystery and an unknown feeling around his character
–> ‘Hyde trampled calmly over the child’s body’
–> Shows Hyde’s brutality and lack of empathy
–> Highlights the unpredictability and danger of Hyde
Beginning main idea 2:
Jekyll’s will presents fear in chapter 2 Search for Mr Hyde of the novella
–> Jekyll’s will hints at Hyde’s control and potential danger
–> Utterson fears Hyde’s influence and Jekyll’s vulnerability
–> “It offended him both as a lawyer and as a lover of the sane and customary sides of life.”
–> Utterson’s fear and loyalty to Jekyll drives him to uncover the truth
Beginning main idea 3:
Utterson experiences nightmares, which reveal his anxiety about Hyde’s influence
–> Utterson dreams of “Hyde…glide through sleeping houses.”
–> The imagery suggests secrecy and menace
–> conveying his fear and evoking his anxiety and dread
Beginning contextual link
fear reflects Victorian anxieties about duality and hidden evils
-–> Victorians valued reputation but feared hidden immorality
Middle main idea 1:
fear develops through mystery, transformation and moral conflict
–> Hyde’s unpredictability and brutality create terror
–> Hyde’s violence terrifies others, like in Carew’s murder: “ape-like fury”
–> The animalistic imagery makes Hyde seem savage and uncontrollable
–> Utterson feels horror and urgency to solve the mystery
Middle main idea 2:
Jekyll’s transformations become increasingly uncontrolled, inducing fear in Jekyll as Hyde becomes more in control
–> Jekyll describes transformations as “involuntary” and “horrifying.”
–> Jekyll’s fear of losing control amplifies his desperation: “The moment I choose, I can be rid of Mr. Hyde.”
–> shows his false confidence, masking his desperation, this leads to tragic consequences and loss of control
Middle main idea 3:
Jekyll’s inner moral conflict shows his fear of Hyde
–> Jekyll’s behaviour becomes erratic and secretive as he isolates and withdrawals himself from society
–> In Chapter 6, Jekyll “denied himself to visitors.”
–> Revealing Jekyll’s deepening fear and loss of control over Hyde
Middle contextual link
social status and reputation were crucial for respect and influence
–> Jekyll withdrawing from society could damage his reputation and invite suspicion
–> damages others trust in him, which is important for him as a doctor
End main idea 1:
End main idea 2:
End contextual link:
Conclusion
