Jekyll and Hyde

Question 1

Jekyll + Hyde quotes:

Answer 1

• “Clothes of the doctor’s bigness”
• “My devil has been long caged, he came out roaring”
• “Agonised womb of consciousness, these polar twins should be continuously struggling”

Question 2

What themes does the quote “clothes of the doctor’s bigness” link to?

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Analyse the quote “clothes of the doctor’s bigness”

Answer 3

• The metaphor of “doctor’s bigness” serves as a reminder of how Dr Jekyll was once the more developed aspects of his nature, although we now mourn the loss of this respectable individual as all that is left of him is his clothes. He has been replaced by his callous and depraved counterpart
• His repression and denial of his true desires ultimately led to the bleak scientific discovery of his dual identity as Mr Hyde. This discovery shatters the illusion of his respectability and exposes the depths of his inner conflict
• Clothes are superficial, highlighting how it was only the superficial aspects of his personality left to survive, everything else was too fragile as it was contrived and false from the start
• This superficiality reinforces the motif of appearance versus reality, as it becomes evident that the virtuous Dr Jekyll was merely a disguise, concealing the darker reality of his inner turmoil
  as Hyde

Question 4

How does the quote “clothes of the doctor’s bigness” link with other themes?

Answer 4

• Good vs evil: The emphasis on the physical “bigness” of Jekyll’s clothes showcases his former dominance over the internal conflict between his dual nature of good and evil. However, as he succumbed to the temptation of his repressed desires, he diminished both morally and physically, transforming into the malevolent Hyde.

Question 5

What themes does the quote “my devil had been long caged, he came out roaring” link to?

Answer 5

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

Question 6

Analyse “my devil had been long caged, he came out roaring”

Answer 6

• The use of the verb “caged” not only signifies societal and religious repression but also perpetuates the theme of suffering and toxic austerity
• The idea of being “caged” and “roaring” carries animalistic allusions linking with Darwinism. This critiques the suppression of these primal and hedonistic urges by societal norms and religious dogma reflecting the ongoing battle between civilisation and primal instincts
• Jekyll’s degenerate desires are symbolically portrayed as “roaring”, a zoomorphic description that hints at a deeper exploration of his descent into his primitive form. Societal constraints compel him to suppress these desires, leading to the emergence of a beastly, animalistic force, personified through Hyde.
• His transmogrification into the evil “devil” of Hyde, was because of his indulgence into pleasure was incoherent with the expectations of his society therefore he was forced to resort to secrecy. This in itself is an oxymoron as dishonesty is incompatible with the blueprint of a respectable gentleman.

Question 7

What themes does the quote “agonised womb of consciousness, these polar twins should be continuously struggling” link to?

Answer 7

• Duality
• Repression
• Good vs evil

Question 8

Analyse “agonised womb of consciousness, these polar twins should be continuously struggling”

Answer 8

• The painful verb “agonised” suggests Jekyll made an egregious mistake in attempting to separate the two aspects of his nature. It illustrates the perpetual pain between the dichotomy of moral duty and personal pleasure
• As this agony occurs in the “womb”, the place of origin and creation, illustrates the inherent and inextricable duality of human nature. Therefore, Stevenson satirises the Victorian want to sterilise this inherent human flaw showing it is an immutable trait inherent to each individual from the moment of creation.
• The noun “womb” is a provocative metaphor, in one sense it could suggest that the two aspects of human nature are never finished developing, they are perpetually in an embryonic state and therefore engaging in a power struggle as they both try to grow within the same guild
• Jekyll’s character, described as concealing “polar twins” of good and evil, serves as a powerful allegory in Stevenson’s novella. Stevenson challenges the Victorian notion that duality is synonymous with evil, instead suggesting that it is an intrinsic aspect of the human condition

Question 9

How does the quote “agonised womb of consciousness, these polar twins should be continuously struggling” link with other themes?

Answer 9

• Friendship and loyalty: Despite outwardly aligning himself with morality and Victorian societal norms, Jekyll’s true loyalties lie in indulging his deepest desires in private, the desires of Hyde. While he presents himself as loyal to the expectations of society and his fellow Victorian gentlemen, his innermost loyalties are devoted to satisfying his personal indulgent cravings
• Science and religion: The biblical reference is then shown by the metaphor of the “womb” and “twins”, alluding to the story of Jacob and Esau. This follows the Calvinist beliefs of the time that every person is ‘enslaved to sin’ and that God predetermines who achieves salvation