Jekyll

Question 1

Jekyll quotes:

Answer 1

• “A large, well-made, smooth-faced man of fifty… every mark of capacity and kindness”
• “If I am the chief of sinners, I am the chief of sufferers also”
• “dreadful smile”
• “Now that the evil influence had been withdrawn, a new life began for Dr Jekyll. He came out of seclusion”

Question 2

What themes does the quote “A large, well-made, smooth-faced man of fifty… every mark of capacity and kindness” link to?

Answer 2

• Duality
• App vs reality
• Repression
• Friendship + loyalty

Question 3

Analyse “A large, well-made, smooth-faced man of fifty… every mark of capacity and kindness”

Answer 3

• The phrase “smooth-faced man of fifty” is unorthodox and perhaps even paradoxical as a fifty-year-old man would typically be etched with wrinkles and signs of age. The first tangible description of Jekyll paints his as almost artificial, he seems the archetype of a respectable gentleman yet almost to the extent where he seems manufactures
• The word “kindness” illustrates why Utterson has such an affinity with Jekyll, it was Jekyll’s supposed kindness that drew Utterson in, compelling him to forge a strong bond with Jekyll. However, the placement of “mark” next to “kindness” foreshadows a hidden stain on Jekyll’s morality
• This flawless exterior foreshadows the bleak consequences of such repression. Jekyll’s sanitised appearance becomes an ironic counterpoint to the barbaric Hyde lurking beneath, a monstrous reflection of the darkness he seeks to control and his morbid curiosity
• The unblemished facade suggest Jekyll’s mastery of social performances symbolises the conflict between surface appearances and deeper realities. He can suppress aspects of himself deemed unacceptable, alike to his later fascination with indulging darker desires, without raising suspicion.

Question 4

What themes does the quote “If I am the chief of sinners, I am the chief of sufferers also” link to?

Answer 4

• Duality
• App vs reality
• Repression
• Good vs evil
• Science vs religion

Question 5

Analyse “If I am the chief of sinners, I am the chief of sufferers also”

Answer 5

• The alliteration of “sinners” and “suffers” blurs the distinction between these concepts, suggesting an intertwined relationship. As Jekyll is microscopic for Victorian gentleman, it reveals the ambiguity and blurred lines between morality and immorality in Victorian society, as well as good and evil. This interconnection ridicules how this ‘progressive’ society is in reality founded on hypocrisy, duality and suffering
• Jekyll’s internal struggle, embodying both “sinner” and “sufferer”, epitomises this paradox. He battles with indulging in his sinful darker desires while undergoing the suffering imposed by societal repression in Victorian society
• Despite Jekyll’s religious transgressions in his pursuit of “scientific balderdash”, he acknowledges he is still subject to divine condemnation. The biblical allusion to hell, embedded in the term “sinner” accentuates that despite his defiance and rejection of societal norms, he remains accountable to God’s judgement
• This inner turmoil reflects the Victorian struggle between scientific progress and religious faith. Despite the growing disillusionment with the rise of scientific theories, the judgement of God was inescapable and still prevalent in society

Question 6

What theme does the quote “dreadful smile” link with?

Answer 6

• Repression

Question 7

Analyse “dreadful smile”

Answer 7

• The phrase “dreadful smile” employs an oxymoron as the noun “smile” is starkly contradicted by the adjective “dreadful” which creates a peculiar and uncanny image that unsettles the reader by exposing the inherent duplicitous nature of Jekyll.
• This oxymoron also highlights the inescapable burden of conforming to overly strict social and moral expectations within Victorian London. Where Jekyll is forced to maintain a socially acceptable façade, his “dreadful smile” becomes a manifestation of his inner torment.
• The “dreadful smile” highlights Jekyll’s character regression as it implies that beneath his façade of reapectability lurks a hidden “dreadful” depravity

Question 8

What theme does the quote “Now that the evil influence had been withdrawn, a new life began for Dr Jekyll. He came out of seclusion” link with?

Answer 8

• Friendship + loyalty

Question 9

Analyse “Now that the evil influence had been withdrawn, a new life began for Dr Jekyll. He came out of seclusion”

Answer 9

• The phrase “Now that the evil influence had been withdrawn” is structured using a passive construction. This syntactical choice deliberately obscures the agency, reinforcing Dr Jekyll’s hypocrisy.
• This lack of explicit agency reflects Jekyll’s own precarious
  self-deception, his belief that he can distance himself from Hyde without addressing the moral corruption within himself. Stevenson’s syntax here mirrors the larger themes of responsibility and self-denial that pervade the novella.
• This idea is mirrored by the contrast between “a new life began” and “he came out of seclusion”. The dichotomy between withdrawal and emergence hints at Dr Jekyll’s internal battle. He views his abstinence from Hyde as his redemption, yet the façade of a new life is merely an illusion, foreshadowing his inevitable relapse.

Question 10

Good vs Evil quotes: