jekyll and hyde Flashcards
“i incline to cains heresy…
i let my brother go to the devil his own way”
i incline to cains heresy, i let my brother go to the devil his own way analysis
- allusion to “cains heresy” not only references the biblical story of Cain and Abel where Cain betrays his brother, but also carries symbolic weight. his “heresy” signifies a rejection of moral responsibility and an embrace of personal desires and interests over the wellbeing of others
- by aligning himself with this heresy, Utterson implies that he is willingly disregarding the potential harm inflicted upon others
- the metaphorical phrase “let my brother go to the devil his own way” coveys uttersons conscious decision to distance himself from Jekylls actions and consequences.
- the use of the metaphor suggests that Utterson acknowledges the devilish and destructive nature of Jekylls behaviour but chooses to detach himself emotionally and morally, allowing Jekyll to peruse his own path of malevolence without interference
- religious imagery - the reference to cain and the devil carries religious undertones and evokes powerful imagery associated with sin, temptation, and the struggle between good and evil
- foreshadowing - he watches his brother (jekyll) decline, yet turns the other cheek, until the end where he is forced to get involved, again suggested by the word “let”, as it implies that Utterson has the ability to stop his brother but chooses not to
what themes can “i incline to cains heresy, i let my brother go to the devil his own way” be linked to
secrecy - Uttersons statements alludes to his inclination to maintain secrecy and respect jekylls privacy. as jekyll is a friend of uttersons, and is trusted with his private information, utterson acknowledges his role in upholding the confidentiality surrounding jekylls affairs
curiosity - hints at the underlying curiosity about Jekylls mysterious and potentially scandalous activities, and Utterson is already portrayed as a persistent investigator, driven by his desire to uncover the truth, so his choice of words suggest he is tempted to delve further into Jekylls secrets, but ultimately restrains himself out of respect got Jekylls wishes
i make it a rule of mine….
the more it looks like queer street, the less i ask
i make it a rule of mine the more it looks like queer street the less i ask analysis
“queer street” used metaphorically to represent a situation or circumstance that appears suspicious, unusual or morally ambiguous. the metaphor adds depth and vividness to his statement, emphasising the importance he places on refraining or avoiding prying into questionable matters
- “rule” suggests a general guideline or principle, underscores Enfields cautious and prudent nature, suggesting that hes learnt from experience to avoid unnecessary inquiries into suspicious situations, and it conveys his belief in maintaining personal boundaries and avoiding unnecessary entanglements
Irony - the use of irony adds depth to his character, as although we see Enfield claiming that he avoids prying into suspicious matters, the fact that he encounters and witnesses a suspicious incident involving Hyde, and the fact that he carries on going depths to uncover it, contradicts his assertion, and this irony highlights the underlying intrigue and mystery in the story and creates a sense of tension
themes “the more it looks like queer street….” can be linked to
curiosity - enfields statement reflects a sense of curiosity, but one which is restrained or limited. the phrase “the less i ask” implies that he possesses a natural curiosity, but consciously chooses to suppress or control it. it seems like Enfield is aware of the potential dangers or unpleasant revelations that may arise from satisfying his curiosity. emphasises the need to not delve too deeply into matters that may be morally ambiguous or unsettling
secrecy - the mention of queer street implies a sense of hidden or undisclosed information or circumstances. his rule of not asking questions when situations appear suspicious or unconventional suggests a desire to respect and maintain the secrecy surrounding such matters. it implies that Enfield understands the importance of discretion and preserving the privacy of others, indirectly acknowledging the potential consequences of uncovering hidden truths
“your sight shall be blasted….
a prodigy to stagger the unbelief of satan”
“your sight shall be blasted, a prodigy to stagger the unbelief of satan” analysis
hyperbole - emphasises the severity of the consequences that will befall doctor Lanyon if he witnesses Jekylls transformation. the phrase “your sight shall be blasted” suggests a dramatic or extreme outcome, as if Lanyons vision may be destroyed or devastated
- metaphorical phrase “a prodigy to stagger the unbelief of satan suggests an extraordinary or remarkable phenomenon that will astonish or shake the disbelief of even Satan himself, positions the transformation as an awe inspiring event
- the Biblical allusion and reference to Saran suggest that what Lanyon is about to see is so shocking that it defies the skepticism of the embodiment of evil, and the allusion adds a layer of moral and spiritual weight to the quote, conveying the enormity of the forthcoming events
- the language and phrasing in words such as “blasted” “prodigy” “stagger” all suggest impending doom and disturbance, creating tension and foreshadowing Lanyons later fate
what themes can your sight shall be blasted be linked to
secrecy - alludes to the hidden truth that has been concealed from dr lanyon, implying that Jekyll possesses knowledge that is kept secret and unknown to others. the use of the word blasted suggests a sudden unveiling of his secret, indicating that its been hidden with great care and caution, and highlights the consequences of exposing that secret to others
curiosity- the statement piques Lanyons curiosity, creating a sense of anticipation and intrigue about what he is about to experience
“i had gone to bed Henry Jekyll, I had awakened Edward Hyde” analysis
- repetition of phrase “i had” creates a sense of parallelism and rhythm, emphasising the stark contrast between the two, and adds a sense of firmness and certainty to the statement
- past perfect tense (had gone and had awakened) conveys a sense of sequency and completion, indicating that Jekylls transformation into Hyde had occurred in the past and emphasises the irreversible nature of the transformation
- using their proper names reinforces the notion that they are separate individuals with distinct personalities, highlighting the duality that lies at heart of the narrative
- dramatic irony- jekyll and hyde are the same person, this creates tension as we anticipate the consequences of Jekylls dual nature and how it will be revealed to other characters
“the man seems hardly human….
something troglodytic, shall we say?”
“there was something wrong with his appearance…”
something displeasing, something downright detestable”
“there was something wrong with his appearance, something displeasing, something downright detestable” analysis and themes it could be linked to
THEMES :
appearance vs reality
consequences of repressing true nature
