Jekyll

Question 1

“a large, well made, smooth faced man in his fifties”
chapter 3

*Jekyll does not appear in chapter 2 outside of third person discussions about him, this is necessary to shroud him with an air of mystery that perpetuates throughout the text

Answer 1

• archetype of a typical Victorian gentleman
• ” smooth faced man of fifty” is unorthodox and also paradoxical as a man in his fifties would typically be etched with wrinkles and signs of ageing
• also portrays him as the stark anthesis of Hyde, he is “large” compared to Hyde’s “particularly small” stature and his “capacity to kindness” contrasts Hyde’s evil nature
• Context: Victorian society commonly believed in physiognomy. The fact that Jekyll seems physically flawless portrays the facade of respecitibilty and perhaps hints the falsity of physiognomy as we later learn that Jekyll has evil within him

Question 2

“Dr Jekyll, looking deadly sick”
chapter 5

Answer 2

• The battle against Hyde is dwindling as he begins to indulge more in the endeavours of Hyde
• Juxtaposes the prior chapter “ Dr Jekyll was quite at ease”, which shows the fragility of the composure and Jekyll’s powers over his inner evils
• The motif of illness is prominent throughout the novella as it is used to communicate something incredulous or something that the characters do not want to come to terms with, Jekyll is sickened by the reality of that Hyde is taking over

Question 3

“If i am the chief of sinners, I am the chief of sufferers also”
chapter 6

Answer 3

• Advertises the dual nature of man
• The act of sinning itself too has a dual nature it is rewarding as it involves indulging in hedonistic desires, but sinning comes with a punishment and thus suffering

Question 4

” My devil was caged up and came out roaring”
chapter 10

Answer 4

• references to the inner “devil” which is a manifestation of Jekyll’s darkest desires in the form of Hyde.
• the notion of “devil” is a religion allusion denotes a stark contrast with Christian ideas of morality
• the verb “roaring” has connation of an animalistic, uncontrolled, agitated and deadly expression of his repressed elements in Hyde
• the verb “caged” depicts the repression of Victorian society, there is a perputated theme of suffering and and toxic austerity. Also has feral, animalistic allusions
• ” a prosperity to ill” indicates a deeper and more natural tendency and inclination to morality