J+H: Hyde

Question 1

Hyde: atavism

Answer 1

Atavism: 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 would convict him as such.

Question 2

Fin De Siècle: Hyde

Answer 2

Fin de siécle: Gothic convention is seen in Mr Hyde as he presents many of the fears at the end of the century (fin de siécle) and Victorian era. Mr Hyde could be seen as displaying the worries many people had about the advances of science and medicine and the effect this could have on psychology of individuals. This could be interpreted as Stevenson warning his readership about the consequences of such fast societal developments. A prominent fear at this time was of “devolution”, Hyde is a key product of this as he is the “ape-like” form of a formerly respectable member of society.

Question 3

Hyde: “snarled”

Answer 3

“The other snarled aloud into a savage laugh; and the next moment, with extraordinary quickness, he had unlocked the door and disappeared into the house”

The words “Savage” and “snarled” gives a sense of unrestrained and uncontrollable destruction and freedom: Hyde is a degenerate, acting like an animal, without morals or social restrain. Alongside this, Sibilance reinforces notion of underlying sinsterness. Furthermore, “extraordinary quickness” highlights Hyde’s supernatural force.

Question 4

Hyde: “abnormal”

Answer 4

“Abnormal” differentiates Hyde from all other men and beings; “creature” again reinforces animalistic imagery. He is “troglodytic” in nature so without boundaries. By referencing the “very essence” Stevenson is commenting on the true evil personality of Mr Hyde, and this could link to lombroso theory. As Stevenson is saying Mr Hyde is the true essence (natural/biological) of Dr Jekyll. Stevenson may be doing this to question the nature of society and Victorian reputation and highlights how one it’s consequences is repressing the desires of its individuals (particularly upper classmen).

Question 5

Hyde:Volatile

Answer 5

“With a flush of anger” - the lexical choice of “flush” combined with the adjective “anger” highlights how Hyde is a character with few inhibitions so cannot restrain himself, it is overpowering and as result he experienced a “flush” of these desires resulting in his behaviours. Therefore 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).