Jekyll And Hyde Quotes Flashcards
(9 cards)
Chapter 10: Jekyll “I felt younger, lighter, happier in body.”
In his final confession, Jekyll describes the initial sensation of transforming into Hyde, stating, “I felt younger, lighter, happier in body.” This list of positive physical feelings immediately highlights the powerful allure of the transformation. The words “younger,” “lighter,” and “happier” suggest a profound sense of vitality, freedom, and well-being that Jekyll perhaps lacks in his everyday life as the constrained Dr. Jekyll. This emphasis on the “body” indicates that the transformation is not just a mental shift but a physical liberation, embodying the release of suppressed energies and desires. These pleasurable physical sensations are a key factor in making the Hyde persona addictive to Jekyll, as they offer a stark contrast to the burdens of his respectable existence and make the return to his darker self intensely desirable.
Chapter 10: Jekyll “I sat in the sun on a bench; the animal within me licking the chops of memory.”
In Jekyll’s final confession, the quote “I sat in the sun on a bench; the animal within me licking the chops of memory” powerfully reveals the enduring nature of his internal duality and the dangerous allure of his darker side. The initial image of Jekyll “sat in the sun on a bench” presents a deceptive picture of calm respectability, sharply contrasting with the disturbing reality of his inner self. The potent metaphor, “the animal within me,” directly refers to Hyde, highlighting how this base, instinctual, and amoral part of him is not a separate entity but remains fundamentally “within” him. The vivid and unsettling imagery of the animal “licking the chops of memory” suggests a visceral, almost pleasurable craving for the experiences and freedom Hyde offered. This portrays the memory of Hyde’s destructive acts as something desirable, emphasizing the addictive nature of giving in to his darker impulses and illustrating Jekyll’s losing battle for control as the allure of the forbidden continues to dominate his thoughts, even in moments of apparent peace.
Chapter 4 “With ape-like fury, he was trampling his victim under foot and hailing down a storm of blows under which the bones were audibly shattered”
Stevenson portrays the sheer brutality of Hyde’s violence during the Carew murder with shocking vividness: “With ape-like fury, he was trampling his victim under foot and hailing down a storm of blows, under which the bones were audibly shattered.” The simile “ape-like” dehumanizes Hyde, presenting him as a primitive, savage creature driven by animalistic rage, a stark contrast to the expected civility of Victorian society. This dehumanization is intensified by the violent verbs “trampling” and “hailing,” the latter suggesting a relentless, almost supernatural assault. The phrase “hailing down a storm of blows” evokes a chaotic, uncontrolled force, emphasizing the sheer power and mercilessness of the attack. The auditory imagery of “bones audibly shattered” adds a visceral, horrifying dimension, making the violence graphic and sickeningly real. 1 The effect on the reader is profound: the graphic description evokes shock, horror, and disgust, revealing the monstrous nature of Hyde and the terrifying potential for savagery that Jekyll’s experiment unleashed. This scene creates a sense of deep unease about the fragility of civilization and the dark impulses lurking beneath the surface of Victorian respectability.
“The man trampled calmly over the child’s body and left her screaming on the ground. It sounds nothing to hear, but it was hellish to see”
Mr. Enfield’s account of Hyde’s actions immediately establishes his uniquely horrifying nature: “The man trampled calmly over the child’s body and left her screaming on the ground.” The chilling juxtaposition of the violent act “trampled” with the adverb “calmly” is particularly effective, suggesting a shocking lack of emotion, empathy, or even awareness from Hyde, highlighting his profound inhumanity. The focus on a child as the victim underscores Hyde’s utter depravity and contempt for innocence, leaving her “screaming on the ground,” a vivid image of suffering. Enfield’s reaction, “It sounds nothing to hear, but it was hellish to see,” employs stark contrast and hyperbole (“hellish”) to convey the visceral, inexplicable horror of witnessing such pure, detached evil. This initial incident is crucial in establishing Hyde as a figure of immense cruelty and otherness, instantly generating a sense of revulsion and foreboding for the reader, and setting a dark tone for the mysteries of human nature the novella will explore.
“I swear to God I will never set eyes on him again. “ - “You do not know him as I do” - “He will never more be heard of”
In Chapter 5, following the Carew murder, Jekyll’s desperate attempts to reassure Utterson reveal his turmoil and the depths of his secret: “I swear to God I will never set eyes on him again.” This vehement oath, almost a cry of desperation, underscores Jekyll’s genuine horror at Hyde’s actions and his fervent desire to sever ties, highlighting the terrible grip Hyde has on him. His assertion, “You do not know him as I do,” adds a layer of mystery, hinting at the uniquely intimate and terrifying connection he has to Hyde – a truth Utterson cannot yet grasp, reinforcing the theme of profound secrecy. Finally, the declarative statement, “He will never more be heard of,” reveals Jekyll’s desperate hope, or perhaps misguided belief, that he still maintains control over Hyde’s existence. For the reader, these lines are imbued with dramatic irony, as we know Jekyll’s promise is ultimately doomed to fail. Together, these fragmented statements expose Jekyll’s intense internal conflict, serving simultaneously as a genuine expression of his fear, an assertion of his hidden knowledge, and a deliberate act of deception aimed at protecting his reputation and concealing the horrifying truth from his friend.
Chapter 4: “Ape like fury”
Stevenson powerfully depicts Hyde’s brutal nature during the Carew murder through the maid’s description of his actions with “ape-like fury.” The striking simile “ape-like” is highly significant as it immediately dehumanizes Hyde, presenting him as something that is not at all humanly but rather beastly. In the Victorian era, this taps directly into anxieties surrounding Darwin’s theories of evolution and the fear of degeneration – suggesting Hyde embodies a terrifying step backward to a savage, animalistic state. The noun “fury,” implies an uncontrolled, intense, and wild rage, the phrase conveys the sheer savagery and brutality of his violence. The use of this phrase by the witness also emphasizes the shocking, unnatural horror of Hyde’s actions from a contemporary perspective.
Chapter 4: “The fog rolled over the city”
Stevenson uses the description “The fog rolled over the city” in Chapter 4 as a powerful example of pathetic fallacy, where the oppressive weather reflects the dark events unfolding. The fog creates an immediate atmosphere of mystery, which perfectly mirrors the unsettling nature of the Carew murder and Utterson’s investigation. As fog physically hides the city, it also serves as a symbol for the secrecy surrounding Hyde, Jekyll’s experiments, and the truth that is desperately being concealed. This pervasive obscurity highlights the dual nature of Victorian London itself, where a veneer of respectability hides darker, more dangerous underbellies. Additionally, this atmospheric detail contributes significantly to the novella’s Gothic atmosphere, enhancing the sense of unease and dread as the narrative delves into the city’s, and humanity’s, hidden darkness.
Chapter 1: “The street shone out in contrast to its dingy neighbourhood, like a fire in a forest”
In Chapter 1, the description of the street containing Hyde’s mysterious door, which “shone out in contrast to its dingy neighbourhood, like a fire in a forest,” immediately introduces the theme of duality, particularly concerning the setting of London and the nature of appearances. The strong contrast between the well-maintained street front and the surrounding “dingy neighbourhood” mirrors the juxtaposition of respectable Victorian society with its hidden, less reputable aspects. The simile “like a fire in a forest” is striking: the “fire” suggests something that stands out brightly and draws attention, but also carries connotations of danger and being out of place. The “forest,” representing the dark, perhaps unruly neighbourhood, makes the shining street seem like an anomaly – noticeable but potentially threatening, much like a fire you’d spot unexpectedly. This imagery creates an immediate sense of mystery and unease around the door, subtly foreshadowing the dangerous and disruptive nature of the inhabitant (Hyde) and hinting that even something superficially bright can signal something dangerous lurking within the shadows of the city and, by extension, human nature itself.
“These polar twins should be continuously struggling,”
In his final written statement, Dr. Jekyll reflects on his theory of human nature, stating that “these polar twins should be continuously struggling.” This quote encapsulates his belief in the fundamental duality of mankind – that each person is made up of two opposing sides. The metaphor “polar twins” is very effective; “twins” suggests that these two sides are linked and part of the same being, while “polar” emphasizes that they are absolute opposites, like the North and South poles, completely contrary to each other. The phrase “continuously struggling” highlights the never-ending, ongoing internal conflict between these two natures (which Jekyll later embodies as Jekyll and Hyde). This is Jekyll’s view of a core human condition, not just his own problem, explaining the constant battle between good and evil impulses within a person. Priestley uses this to show the philosophical idea behind Jekyll’s experiment – his attempt to separate this struggle – and it underscores the tragic nature of his failure, as this internal battle ultimately destroys him.
