Jekyll and Hyde Commonality Statements

Question 1

Characterisation of Jekyll

Answer 1

1. Jekyll has the outward appearance of an upper class gentleman filled with respectability, goodness and integrity.
2. However, he is a conflicted character, consumed by ambition and darker more unwholesome/sinful tendencies within him. These manifest themselves in the form of his alter ego, Hyde.

Question 2

Setting

Answer 2

1. Contrasting settings are used to reflect contradictions within the personality of characters and the duality of human nature more generally.
2. Contrasting settings also reflect the two conflicting sides of Victorian society- its respectable face and the sordid, disreputable reality beneath the surface.

Question 3

Secrets/ Deception

Answer 3

1. Throughout the novel characters, such as Jekyll, deceive and hide the truth from others as well as themselves. This reflects the duality, corruption and hypocrisy that exists within human nature and Victorian society more generally.
2. Utterson is a particularly secretive character who frequently locks away documents in his safe and isn’t always transparent.

Question 4

Characterisation of Hyde

Answer 4

1. Hyde is presented as an immoral, sinful and animalistic character.
2. Hyde is representative of the darker side of human nature and the unwholesome urges and capacity for evil that exists within all of us, including Henry Jekyll in particular.

Question 5

Flawed Character Clarify Central Concerns

Answer 5

1. We are presented with characters, such as Jekyll, who have a more sinister, morally questionable side lurking beneath the surface of respectability. Jekyll sheds light on the theme of duality of and corruption within human nature.
2. Hyde shows no remorse due to his lack of human empathy and possesses sinful tendencies which represent the evil that exists in all of us.