good vs evil Flashcards
what are the 3x key ideas for good vs evil?
- Hyde as the manifestation of evil
- Jekyll struggle with GvsE
- Lanyon’s dramatic decline
introduction:
Stevenson’s ‘The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’, published in 1886, explores the conflict between good and evil within human nature against a backdrop of Victorian repression and scientific uncertainty. Good versus evil is prominent throughout, most notably through Jekyll’s struggle with him and his counterpart, Hyde.
topic sentence for paragraph 1 (Hyde as manifestation of evil):
Firstly, Hyde is presented as the manifestation of evil.
quotes to use for paragraph 1 (Hyde as manifestation of evil):
“satan’s signature”
“Edward Hyde alone in the ranks of mankind was pure evil”
“murderous mixture of timidity and boldness”
analyse “satan’s signature”
Firstly, Hyde is presented as the manifestation of evil. Utterson observes that Hyde’s face bears “Satan’s signature’- an image that implies Hyde is a work of evil art- as though Satan himself has signed off the creation. This is ironic, given the fact that it later turns out that the real creator of Hyde is, in fact, his “good friend Henry Jekyll”. The alliteration in “Satan’s signature” makes the phrase sound almost like an advertising gimmick, or a slogan, which infers that the evil in his “face” is so instantly recognisable to Utterson and the reader that it is almost branded on like a logo. This links to the Victorian concept of physiognomy- the belief that moral character could be judged by appearance- suggesting that Hyde’s wickedness is literally stamped onto him. Hyde is repeatedly described using images of Satan, making it clear that he is a purest form of evil- a kind of symbolic, religious evil that normally only exists in theory, but which has now been created as flesh and bone.
analyse “Edward Hyde alone in the ranks of mankind was pure evil”
. This is emphasised through the statement: “Edward Hyde, alone in the ranks of mankind, was pure evil”. The adjective “alone” highlights how unique and isolated Hyde was, creating sympathy for him, just as the reader might feel for Frankenstein’s Monster, since neither asked to be created. However, the phrase “pure evil” suggests Hyde is devoid of any redeeming qualities, presenting him as a completely amoral being. It’s not just that he does wrong, he is “evil” in its purest form. This highlights his separation from “mankind” as he doesn’t fit into the “ranks” that define humanity, thus alienating him.
analyse “murderous mixture of timidity and boldness”
Also, the oxymoronic image of a “murderous mixture of timidity and boldness” suggests evil. His “timidity” suggests an unfamiliarity with the world, as though Hyde is a newly formed entity, while his “boldness” suggests confidence and recklessness. This contrast could present Hyde as a childlike figure- born into the world as a man but with the naïve impulsivity of an infant. He is free from the moral constraints that govern the Victorian society, acting on primitive instincts. Yet, his “murderous mixture” reveals that his childlike qualities are not innocent, but instead create a horrific combination of unpredictability and cruelty- making him a true figure of horror.
paragraph 1 analysis (Hyde as manifestation of evil):
Firstly, Hyde is presented as the manifestation of evil. Utterson observes that Hyde’s face bears “Satan’s signature’- an image that implies Hyde is a work of evil art- as though Satan himself has signed off the creation. This is ironic, given the fact that it later turns out that the real creator of Hyde is, in fact, his “good friend Henry Jekyll”. The alliteration in “Satan’s signature” makes the phrase sound almost like an advertising gimmick, or a slogan, which infers that the evil in his “face” is so instantly recognisable to Utterson and the reader that it is almost branded on like a logo. This links to the Victorian concept of physiognomy- the belief that moral character could be judged by appearance- suggesting that Hyde’s wickedness is literally stamped onto him. Hyde is repeatedly described using images of Satan, making it clear that he is a purest form of evil- a kind of symbolic, religious evil that normally only exists in theory, but which has now been created as flesh and bone. This is emphasised through the statement: “Edward Hyde, alone in the ranks of mankind, was pure evil”. The adjective “alone” highlights how unique and isolated Hyde was, creating sympathy for him, just as the reader might feel for Frankenstein’s Monster, since neither asked to be created. However, the phrase “pure evil” suggests Hyde is devoid of any redeeming qualities, presenting him as a completely amoral being. It’s not just that he does wrong, he is “evil” in its purest form. This highlights his separation from “mankind” as he doesn’t fit into the “ranks” that define humanity, thus alienating him. Also, the oxymoronic image of a “murderous mixture of timidity and boldness” suggests evil. His “timidity” suggests an unfamiliarity with the world, as though Hyde is a newly formed entity, while his “boldness” suggests confidence and recklessness. This contrast could present Hyde as a childlike figure- born into the world as a man but with the naïve impulsivity of an infant. He is free from the moral constraints that govern the Victorian society, acting on primitive instincts. Yet, his “murderous mixture” reveals that his childlike qualities are not innocent, but instead create a horrific combination of unpredictability and cruelty- making him a true figure of horror.
topic sentence for paragraph 2 (Jekyll’s struggle):
Alternatively, Jekyll is presented as struggling with good and evil throughout the novella.
quotes to use for paragraph 2 (Jekyll’s struggle):
“delighted me like wine”
“devil had long been caged, he came out roaring”
“dark influence”
analyse “delighted me like wine”
Alternatively, Jekyll is presented as struggling with good and evil throughout the novella. His initial experiences of Hyde are often positive, emphasised when he says that Hyde “delighted” him – a verb that reflects excitement and pleasure. However, this delight is compared to “wine”, which is significant because wine is intoxicating, lowering inhibitions and leading to actions one might later regret. This suggests that Hyde is not truly as “delightful” as Jekyll initially perceives him to be, foreshadowing his later downfall. Stevenson could be using this to critique Victorian society’s repression of desire, as Hyde represents Jekyll’s suppressed instincts.
analyse “my devil had long been caged, he came out roaring”
This is particularly evident when Jekyll compares Hyde to his “devil” that had “long been caged” and “came out roaring”. The “devil” represents the darker, primal side of human nature. It isn’t just evil, but embodies all suppressed desires and forbidden urges that a Victorian society condemns. The phrase “long caged” highlights Jekyll’s lifelong struggle to maintain a respectable facade- he had metaphorically locked away his instincts to meet these social expectations. This provides an image of forced restraint and denial. However, when this darker side is finally released, it “came out roaring”. The verb “roaring” evokes imagery of an untamed beast, reinforcing the idea that Jekyll’s repression of his instincts has only made them more dangerous. He also uses the possessive determiner “my”, suggesting that he is taking ownership, but not accountability. This implies he still views Hyde as a separate entity rather than an integral part of himself, delaying his realisation that he and Hyde are truly one
analyse “dark influence”
This idea of addiction is also prevalent, as Jekyll describes Hyde as a “dark influence”. At first, Jekyll embraces the freedom Hyde provides, but as the “influence” strengthens, he loses control over his transformations. This suggests that evil, once indulged, cannot be contained, drawing parallels with Victorian fears about moral decay and addiction.
paragraph 2 analysis (Jekyll’s struggle):
Alternatively, Jekyll is presented as struggling with good and evil throughout the novella. His initial experiences of Hyde are often positive, emphasised when he says that Hyde “delighted” him – a verb that reflects excitement and pleasure. However, this delight is compared to “wine”, which is significant because wine is intoxicating, lowering inhibitions and leading to actions one might later regret. This suggests that Hyde is not truly as “delightful” as Jekyll initially perceives him to be, foreshadowing his later downfall. Stevenson could be using this to critique Victorian society’s repression of desire, as Hyde represents Jekyll’s suppressed instincts. This is particularly evident when Jekyll compares Hyde to his “devil” that had “long been caged” and “came out roaring”. The “devil” represents the darker, primal side of human nature. It isn’t just evil, but embodies all suppressed desires and forbidden urges that a Victorian society condemns. The phrase “long caged” highlights Jekyll’s lifelong struggle to maintain a respectable facade- he had metaphorically locked away his instincts to meet these social expectations. This provides an image of forced restraint and denial. However, when this darker side is finally released, it “came out roaring”. The verb “roaring” evokes imagery of an untamed beast, reinforcing the idea that Jekyll’s repression of his instincts has only made them more dangerous. He also uses the possessive determiner “my”, suggesting that he is taking ownership, but not accountability. This implies he still views Hyde as a separate entity rather than an integral part of himself, delaying his realisation that he and Hyde are truly one. This idea of addiction is also prevalent, as Jekyll describes Hyde as a “dark influence”. At first, Jekyll embraces the freedom Hyde provides, but as the “influence” strengthens, he loses control over his transformations. This suggests that evil, once indulged, cannot be contained, drawing parallels with Victorian fears about moral decay and addiction.
topic sentence for paragraph 3 (Lanyon’s dramatic decline):
Finally, the overwhelming presence of evil can be seen in Lanyon’s dramatic decline.
quotes to use in paragraph 3 (Lanyon’s dramatic decline):
“I saw what I saw, I heard what I heard, and my soul sickened at it”
“life is shaken to the roots” “sleep has left me”
“terror” “at all hours” “deadliest shock” “never recover”
analyse “I saw what I saw, I heard what I heard, and my soul sickened at it”
Finally, the overwhelming presence of evil can be seen in Lanyon’s dramatic decline. The repetition in “I saw what I saw, I heard what I heard, and my soul sickened at it”, highlights the undeniable reality of what Lanyon witnessed, suggesting disbelief and horror. It is almost as if he needs to affirm to himself that the experience was real. The phrase “my soul sickened” illustrates the depth of his reaction- it suggests that witnessing this evil has affected him not just physically or emotionally, but spiritually in his “soul” too. This could be linked to the Christian beliefs about the soul; Victorians believed that it was pure and eternal, but Hyde’s transformation challenges this idea, suggesting that evil can corrupt the soul itself. Therefore, Lanyon’s reaction would have terrified a religious Victorian reader.
analyse “life is shaken to the roots” “sleep has left me”
This is emphasised when he admits his “life is shaken to the roots” and that “sleep has left me”, implying that his core beliefs, sense of self and trust in the stability of the world has been deeply unsettled. Not only has Hyde’s evil impacted Lanyon’s outer life, but has also affected him to the “roots”, suggesting a deep, irreversible trauma. The fact that even “sleep has left” him infers that his mind is haunted by what he has witnessed, as sleep is a motif and vital for peace, rest, comfort and safety. Therefore, Hyde’s evil has taken away his ability to find solace or refuge in unconsciousness, leaving him constantly on edge as though every moment is under threat
analyse “terror” “at all hours” “deadliest shock” “never recover”
This “terror” has also turned psychological as it is ever-present “at all hours”. Finally, the use of the superlative, “deadliest” infers that there is nothing worse that could happen to him- he has had such a “shock”, that he shall “never recover” from it. This epistolary narrative therefore provides an eyewitness account, forcing the reader to share his shock and disbelief, thus making the horror of Hyde’s evil feel inescapable.
paragraph 3 analysis (Lanyon’s dramatic decline):
Finally, the overwhelming presence of evil can be seen in Lanyon’s dramatic decline. The repetition in “I saw what I saw, I heard what I heard, and my soul sickened at it”, highlights the undeniable reality of what Lanyon witnessed, suggesting disbelief and horror. It is almost as if he needs to affirm to himself that the experience was real. The phrase “my soul sickened” illustrates the depth of his reaction- it suggests that witnessing this evil has affected him not just physically or emotionally, but spiritually in his “soul” too. This could be linked to the Christian beliefs about the soul; Victorians believed that it was pure and eternal, but Hyde’s transformation challenges this idea, suggesting that evil can corrupt the soul itself. Therefore, Lanyon’s reaction would have terrified a religious Victorian reader. This is emphasised when he admits his “life is shaken to the roots” and that “sleep has left me”, implying that his core beliefs, sense of self and trust in the stability of the world has been deeply unsettled. Not only has Hyde’s evil impacted Lanyon’s outer life, but has also affected him to the “roots”, suggesting a deep, irreversible trauma. The fact that even “sleep has left” him infers that his mind is haunted by what he has witnessed, as sleep is a motif and vital for peace, rest, comfort and safety. Therefore, Hyde’s evil has taken away his ability to find solace or refuge in unconsciousness, leaving him constantly on edge as though every moment is under threat. This “terror” has also turned psychological as it is ever-present “at all hours”. Finally, the use of the superlative, “deadliest” infers that there is nothing worse that could happen to him- he has had such a “shock”, that he shall “never recover” from it. This epistolary narrative therefore provides an eyewitness account, forcing the reader to share his shock and disbelief, thus making the horror of Hyde’s evil feel inescapable.
conclusion:
Therefore, Stevenson presents the theme of good and evil as inescapable, affecting every character in the novella. By structuring the story as a series of fragmented perspectives, Stevenson forces the reader to piece together the truth themselves, mirroring how society attempts to conceal its own darker elements. Perhaps he is criticising the mass hypocrisy within London (linking to his own experiences as he lived in Edinburgh, a city with clear class divides), ultimately suggesting that repressing one’s desires (rather than confronting them) only leads to destruction.
