Jekyll and Hyde Analysis Flashcards
‘A man of rugged countenance that was never lightened by a smile.’
Choice - Stevenson’s description of Utterson’s “rugged countenance” presents him as stern and unemotional, embodying the ideal Victorian gentleman—reserved, rational, and controlled. The phrase “never lightened by a smile” suggests he represses emotions, reinforcing the Victorian value of restraint. By introducing Utterson this way, Stevenson establishes him as a figure of stability, someone who upholds societal expectations and moral respectability, making him the perfect character to investigate the unsettling events of the novel.
Effect - For a Victorian reader, Utterson represents the ideal balance between reputation and morality. Unlike Jekyll, who succumbs to hidden desires, Utterson’s self-discipline reflects the Victorian fear of unchecked impulses leading to downfall. His serious nature contrasts with the chaos of Hyde, emphasising the novel’s theme of duality—the struggle between control and hidden darkness within all men.
‘The last good influence in the lives of down going men’
Choice - Stevenson’s description of Utterson as “the last good influence” presents him as a symbol of morality in a world where evil is spreading. The phrase suggests that goodness is fragile and diminishing, reinforcing the theme of good vs evil. The term “down-going men” implies an inevitable moral decline, showing how easily individuals can fall into corruption. By portraying Utterson as a steady, moral force, Stevenson highlights the stark contrast between him and characters like Jekyll, who actively battles between his good and evil sides.
Effect - For a Victorian reader, this reflects the belief that reputation and morality must be upheld to prevent society from falling into chaos. Utterson represents the importance of self-control, while Jekyll’s descent into Hyde warns of what happens when evil is embraced. Stevenson suggests that once morality is abandoned, corruption becomes unstoppable, reinforcing the novel’s warning about the dangers of unchecked evil.
‘Lean, long, dusty, dreary and yet somehow loveable’
Choice - Stevenson uses juxtaposition in “lean, long, dusty, dreary and yet somehow loveable” to emphasise Utterson’s duality. The dull, lifeless descriptions contrast with his unexpected warmth, reinforcing the theme of duality. While he appears emotionless, he is compassionate and loyal, reflecting the Victorian ideal of repression and restraint. His controlled nature contrasts with Jekyll, who succumbs to his darker side, showing that all men have hidden complexities.
Effect - For a Victorian reader, this highlights the tension between appearance and reality in a society obsessed with reputation. Utterson’s ability to balance seriousness with kindness makes him a moral guide, unlike Jekyll, whose failure to restrain his desires leads to destruction. Stevenson suggests true goodness lies in integrity, not outward appearance.
‘Well known man about town’
Choice - Stevenson’s phrase “well-known man about town” presents Mr. Enfield as a typical Victorian gentleman—respected, sociable, and morally upright. The phrase suggests he is well-regarded in high society, balancing popularity with integrity, which was essential for maintaining a gentleman’s reputation. Enfield’s presence in social circles implies he is admired for his character and discretion, embodying the ideal of a man who upholds moral values while navigating the expectations of Victorian society.
Effect - For a Victorian reader, this reinforces the importance of reputation and morality in a gentleman’s life. Enfield’s status as both well-known and principled reflects the expectation that a true gentleman should be admired for his honor and respectability, not just his social connections. Stevenson uses Enfield to highlight the balance between public image and moral duty in Victorian society.
‘We could and would make such a scandal out of this’
Choice - Stevenson’s phrase “We could and would make such a scandal out of this” highlights the importance of reputation in Victorian society, where social standing was fragile and easily destroyed. The repetition of “could and would” emphasizes the power of public exposure, suggesting that a man’s reputation depended not on his true character but on what was publicly known. Enfield’s words show how fear of scandal shaped behavior, reinforcing the idea that protecting one’s image was more important than addressing wrongdoing.
Effect - For a Victorian reader, this reflects the era’s rigid social expectations, where a tarnished reputation meant ruin. Enfield’s attitude reveals how people prioritised secrecy over morality, allowing corruption to persist. Stevenson critiques this hypocrisy, showing how the obsession with maintaining appearances fuels deception, ultimately leading to downfall, as seen with Jekyll.
‘The man trampled calmly over the child’s body and left her screaming.’
Choice - Stevenson’s oxymoron “trampled calmly” highlights Hyde’s unnatural lack of emotion, making his violence even more disturbing. The contrast between brutal force and indifference suggests his cruelty is instinctive, reinforcing his inhumanity. By targeting a child, Stevenson emphasizes Hyde’s complete disregard for innocence, reflecting fears of Victorian urban violence and hidden criminality.
Effect - For a Victorian reader, harming a child would be especially shocking, challenging the belief that all men possess a conscience. Hyde’s lack of remorse fuels themes of violence and repression, as he embodies the savage instincts Jekyll and society suppress. The child’s “screaming” intensifies the horror, reinforcing Stevenson’s warning about the dangers of unrestrained evil.
‘It sounds nothing to hear, but it was hellish to see’
‘Sawbones turned sick and white with the desire to kill him’
Choice - Stevenson’s description of the “sawbones” (a slang term for a surgeon) “turning sick and white with the desire to kill him” highlights the extreme emotional response to Mr. Hyde’s violence. The word “sick” suggests disgust and physical revulsion, while the phrase “desire to kill” demonstrates how deeply Hyde’s actions provoke violent impulses in others. This intense reaction underscores Hyde’s ability to elicit not just fear, but a violent, almost animalistic rage in those around him.
Effect - For a Victorian reader, this quote would serve to heighten the theme of unchecked violence and the influence of evil on society. The fact that a professional like the surgeon, who is typically calm and composed, is reduced to such a primal urge illustrates the overwhelming power of Hyde’s violence. This reaction reflects the growing anxiety about the darker, uncontrollable aspects of human nature, especially in an era where social order and restraint were highly valued.
‘Like satan’
‘Strong feeling of deformity’
Choice - Stevenson’s phrase “strong feeling of deformity” emphasises Hyde’s physical appearance as a reflection of his inner evil. This is tied to the Victorian fascination with physiognomy, the pseudoscience which claimed that an individual’s character could be read from their facial features and body structure. Hyde’s “deformity” symbolizes not only his physical difference but his moral corruption. The discomfort his appearance causes is meant to signify that something unnatural and dangerous lurks within him.
Effect - For a Victorian reader, this would reinforce contemporary beliefs in social Darwinism and moral degeneration, where physical deformities were often seen as signs of criminality or moral failings. In an era where appearance and reputation were tightly linked to one’s moral character, Hyde’s grotesque, disfigured image serves as a visible marker of his evil nature. Stevenson uses this to critique the era’s belief in the ability to judge people based on outward appearances, underscoring the theme of duality—the contrast between the respectable Dr. Jekyll and the monstrous Hyde.
‘Dry divinity’
‘Hearty, healthy, dapper, red-faced gentlemen’
Choice - Stevenson’s description of Dr. Lanyon as a “hearty, healthy, dapper, red-faced gentleman” aligns him with the ideal Victorian gentleman. His physical traits—”hearty”, “healthy”, and “dapper”—suggest vitality, refinement, and success, which fit the era’s belief in physiognomy, where appearance was thought to reflect moral character.
Effect - For a Victorian reader, this portrayal reinforces Lanyon as a model of order, rationality, and respectability. His outward health contrasts with Jekyll’s hidden corruption, emphasising the duality between Victorian ideals and the darker, more chaotic forces lurking beneath the surface, as represented by Jekyll and Hyde.
‘Wrong in the mind.’
Choice - Dr. Lanyon’s description of Dr. Jekyll as “wrong in the mind” reflects his perception of Jekyll as someone who has strayed from conventional thinking. Jekyll’s scientific pursuits, particularly his interest in exploring the limits of human nature, are seen as a rejection of traditional, ethical science. This judgment suggests that Jekyll’s intellectual curiosity has led him into dangerous, morally questionable territory.
Effect - For a Victorian reader, the phrase would underline Jekyll’s deviation from moral and scientific norms, an unsettling idea for a society that valued order, control, and respectability. Lanyon’s condemnation emphasises the potential consequences of unrestrained ambition and the moral dangers of scientific experimentation that ignores established boundaries, foreshadowing Jekyll’s eventual downfall.
‘Such unscientific balderdash’
‘Shrank back with a hissing intake of a breath.’
Choice - Stevenson’s description of Hyde’s “hissing” associates him with a snake, an animal often linked to deceit and danger, reinforcing his animalistic nature. The verb “shrank” suggests fear or a defensive instinct, similar to a wild animal reacting to a threat. This depiction of Hyde as primitive and instinct-driven reflects the atavistic fears of the Victorian era—that some individuals might regress to an earlier, more savage state of evolution.
Effect - For a Victorian reader, Hyde’s prehistoric qualities would have been unsettling, aligning with Darwin’s theory of evolution, which suggested humans had descended from apes. This challenged religious beliefs about divine creation, raising fears that society could devolve into barbarism. Hyde’s regressive traits make him the embodiment of these anxieties, reinforcing the novel’s warning about the dark, untamed side of human nature.
‘If he be Mr Hyde, he had thought, “I shall be Mr Seek’
Choice - Mr. Utterson’s thought, “If he be Mr. Hyde, he had thought, ‘I shall be Mr. Seek,’” shows his determination to uncover the truth about Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The phrase “Mr. Seek” highlights Utterson’s active pursuit of hidden knowledge, motivated by both concern for Jekyll and a desire to reveal the concealed truths of his life.
Effect - For a Victorian reader, this reflects the tension between secrecy and reputation. In a society where maintaining respectability was crucial, Utterson’s investigation challenges the idea that secrets should be kept for the sake of social order. It highlights how concealed truths can disrupt society, suggesting that secrecy can be both dangerous and destructive.
‘In the law of God, there is no statute of limitations.’
‘Must have secrets of his own; black secrets’
‘A large, well-made, smooth-faced man’
‘Dr Jekyll grew pale and there came a blackness about his eye’
‘He broke out in a great flame of anger’
‘A great chocolate-coloured pall lowered over heaven’
‘Dingy windowless structure with curiosity’
‘If it came to a trial your name might appear’
‘Death-warrant written legibly upon his face’
‘You must suffer me to go my own dark way’
‘God forgive us,God forgive us,’
‘Like some disconsolate prisoner ‘
‘Walked on once more in silence’
‘I think there’s been foul play’
‘Digging among the crates’
‘My shoulders are broad enough to bear the blame.’
‘Down with the door’
‘Beheld the face of Edward Hyde’
‘Like a man restored from death—there stood Henry Jekyll!’
‘My life is shaken to its roots’
‘Man is not truly one, but truly two’
Choice - Stevenson repeats “truly” to emphasise the seriousness of Jekyll’s realisation, creating a factual, almost biblical tone. By stating that man is “not truly one, but truly two,” he challenges Victorian ideals of moral purity, suggesting even the most respectable individuals have a hidden darker side. This reflects strict expectations of Victorian gentlemen, who were expected to maintain a perfect reputation while suppressing sinful desires. The certainty of Jekyll’s statement reinforces Stevenson’s warning about the dangers of repression.
Effect - For a Victorian reader, this idea was shocking, as reputation was central to society. The novel exposes the hypocrisy of outward respectability, warning that repression leads to destruction. This reflects fears of urban crime and moral decay, particularly in Soho, where Hyde lives—symbolizing the concealed darkness within individuals and society itself.
‘I concealed my pleasures’
‘Even as good shone upon the countenance of the one, evil was written broadly and plainly on the face of the other.’
‘Instantly the spirit of hell awoke in me and raged’
‘Had fallen upon his knees and lifted his clasped hands to God’
