Hyde Flashcards
Mr Hyde Overview
Edward Hyde is the violent alter-ego of the doctor Henry Jekyll; Jekyll has created him through scientific experimentation to embody all of his ‘evil’ traits. As the novel progresses, Hyde begins to gather more and more power over Jekyll and eventually becomes his downfall. Jekyll dies in Hyde’s body, leaving a letter of explanation which serves as the tenth chapter. He is “pale and dwarfish” and lives a carefree existence. Hyde has a house in the sleazy area of Soho, bought for him by Dr Jekyll. He also has access to Jekyll’s house.
● Classist system: It could be seen that Mr Hyde, if considered as a single, unconnected entity, is a member of the working class, whereas Dr Jekyll is upper class. This disparity in wealth and status means that, to an extent, Hyde is not subject to the same societal scrutiny as Jekyll is: he can act with aggression and a lack of remorse. Furthermore, Hyde’s violent murder of Carew can be seen to represent a violent uprising of the proletariat. On the other hand, if the reader considers Hyde an intrinsically linked extension
“Strong feeling of deformity”
Mr Hyde is displayed as much smaller and younger than Dr Jekyll. Stevenson presents Hyde as having a “strong feeling of deformity”. Here, his appearance is used to emphasise his criminality as through physiognomy. Furthermore, Hyde evokes disgust to those who encounter him “so ugly it brought the sweat on me like running”
“With a flush of anger”
- it can be argued that Hyde is the embodiment of a wholly id-controlled mind (id is the part of the brain focused on animal instincts and pleasures), with no thought for remorse or consequences to his actions (such as when he tramples the girl or murders Sir Carew). He has few inhibitions so cannot restrain himself from committing this atrocious behaviour
“Incredibly mangled” “trampled calmly”
The oxymoron between the harsh verb “trampled” and the peaceful connotations of the adverb “calmly” portrays Hyde’s heinous nature as he seems to feel pleasure when committing atrocities. Furthermore, the stomping of the little girl “left her screaming” connoting the harm Hyde causes in society without having any remorse for his deliberate actions. The intention of causing mayhem is reinforced when he malevolently murdered a well respected man in society and left him “incredibly mangled”.
○ “Shrank back with a hissing intake of the breath” ○ “The creature” ○ “Seizing, surprising and revolting” ○ “Into a savage laugh
These quotes resembles Hyde’s animalistic behaviour, and intertwines with Darwin’s theory in which humans evolve from apes. This theory if reinforced with the phrase “ape-like fury”, where it is clear that this embodiment of physical destruction lives in care-free existence and acts as a “dammed juggernaut” which has Hindu connotations of a destructive force.
“It wasn’t like a man”
Hyde’s humanity has been deteriorated into a animalistic characterisation where he has been compared to the likes of vulgar animals which has no other intentions but to cause tremendous harm to society.
