Key Quotes For Characters Flashcards
Mr Hyde
“Damned Juggernaut”
• A “juggernaut” is a wagon which was used to carry around the image of the Hindu God Krishna. Worshippers would sometimes throw themselves under its wheels and get crushed to death. More generally it means a hugely overwhelming, destructive force. The further theme of sacrifice implied by the word “Juggernaut” may reference the sacrifice Jekyll makes to Hyde in exchange for indulging in dedadent and inappropriate behaviour. This suggests Hyde is controlled solely by impulse.
“A man who was without bowels of mercy”
• Hyde is merciless; the alliterative “w” gives a sense of difficulty in articulating Hyde as a character, and as a being who lacks all morals.
“So ugly that it brought out the sweat on me like running”
• Hyde is a physical manifestation of evil. He evokes disgust and revulsion in all simply by sight. This promotes the gothic conventions of horror and terror in the text.
“His every act and thought centered on self”
• He is selfish, which is far from Victorian ideals. This contrasts with the characters of Utterson and Enfield who are reputable and presented as typical Victorian gentlemen. This emphasises the role of the Freudian id in the character of Hyde, and his self-centred existence further aligns him with animals rather than humanity.
“Drinking pleasure with bestial avidity from any degree of torture to another; relentless like a man of stone”
• This is a jarring description of excessive drinking and bestial behaviour as “man of stone” highlights a lack of conscience and suggests an air of immovability. The hedonistic connotations of excessive drinking further cause the reader to dislike Hyde as he appears to fully indulge himself.
Mr Hyde
“Damned Juggernaut”
• A “juggernaut” is a wagon which was used to carry around the image of the Hindu God Krishna. Worshippers would sometimes throw themselves under its wheels and get crushed to death. More generally it means a hugely overwhelming, destructive force. The further theme of sacrifice implied by the word “Juggernaut” may reference the sacrifice Jekyll makes to Hyde in exchange for indulging in dedadent and inappropriate behaviour. This suggests Hyde is controlled solely by impulse.
“A man who was without bowels of mercy”
• Hyde is merciless; the alliterative “w” gives a sense of difficulty in articulating Hyde as a character, and as a being who lacks all morals.
“So ugly that it brought out the sweat on me like running”
• Hyde is a physical manifestation of evil. He evokes disgust and revulsion in all simply by sight. This promotes the gothic conventions of horror and terror in the text.
“His every act and thought centered on self”
• He is selfish, which is far from Victorian ideals. This contrasts with the characters of Utterson and Enfield who are reputable and presented as typical Victorian gentlemen. This emphasises the role of the Freudian id in the character of Hyde, and his self-centred existence further aligns him with animals rather than humanity.
“Drinking pleasure with bestial avidity from any degree of torture to another; relentless like a man of stone”
• This is a jarring description of excessive drinking and bestial behaviour as “man of stone” highlights a lack of conscience and suggests an air of immovability. The hedonistic connotations of excessive drinking further cause the reader to dislike Hyde as he appears to fully indulge himself.
Mr Hyde-part 2
“He is not easy to describe. There is something wrong with his appearance; something displeasing, something down-right detestable. I never saw a man I so disliked, and yet I scarce know why. He must be deformed somewhere, he gives a strong feeling of deformity”
• Mr Hyde is a vague character in the eyes of the reader as descriptions of him are ambiguous. He evokes fear in other characters, posing a mechanism by which people may experience the inner terrors and sins that exist within them. Stevenson’s use of ambiguity forces the reader to imagine their worst fears in Hyde. The alliterative “d” reinforces a sense of repulsion; anaphoric repetition of “something” creates an air of unceasing intangibility.
“The other snarled aloud into a savage laugh; and the next moment, with extraordinary quickness, he had unlocked the door and disappeared into the house”
• The words “Savage” and “snarled” gives a sense of unrestrained and uncontrollable destruction and freedom: Hyde is a degenerate, acting like an animal, without morals or social restraint. Alongside this, sibilance reinforces notion of underlying sinsterness.
Furthermore, “extraordinary quickness” highlights Hyde’s supernatural force.
“There was something abnormal and misbegotten in the very essence of the creature”
• “Abnormal” differentiates Hyde from all other men and beings; “creature” again reinforces animalistic imagery. He is troglodytic in nature so without boundaries. By referencing the “very essence” Stevenson is commenting on the true evil personality of Mr Hyde, and this could link to the supernatural as this is considered impossible within society.
This could also imply that Mr Hyde is the true essence of Dr Jekyll.
“That masked thing like a monkey jumped from among the chemicals”
• Reference to Darwin’s theory of evolution: Hyde is a degenerate both in the colloquial and scientific fashion. Hyde is separated from the rest of the characters by mentioning the
“chemicals” from which he has been created.
Use of setting
- “A certain sinister block of building thrust forward its gable on the street.”
– Narrator (Chapter 1)
The description of Hyde’s door introduces a sense of foreboding and secrecy. The “sinister block” represents Hyde’s hidden, malevolent nature, contrasting with the surrounding respectable area. - “It was a fine dry night; frost in the air; the streets as clean as a ballroom floor.”
– Narrator (Chapter 4)
The crisp, peaceful setting contrasts sharply with the violence of Sir Danvers Carew’s murder. This juxtaposition heightens the shock of Hyde’s brutality in a seemingly serene environment. - “The fog still slept on the wing above the drowned city.”
– Narrator (Chapter 5)
The fog represents mystery, concealment, and moral ambiguity, mirroring Jekyll’s own obscured secrets. The “drowned city” metaphor evokes a suffocating, ominous atmosphere. - “A district of some city in a nightmare.”
– Narrator (Chapter 4)
This description of Soho, where Hyde is found, portrays it as eerie and otherworldly. It reinforces the Gothic tone and emphasizes Hyde’s connection to disreputable, dangerous spaces. - “The fog lifted a little and showed him a dingy street, a gin palace, a low French eating house, a shop for the retail of penny numbers and twopenny salads.”
– Narrator (Chapter 4)
This detailed depiction of Soho reflects the Victorian association of poverty and crime with moral decay. The dismal and chaotic setting underscores the sordid world Hyde inhabits. - “The night was brilliantly lit by the full moon.”
– Narrator (Chapter 4)
The full moon casts an eerie light over the city, contributing to the Gothic atmosphere. Its brilliance contrasts with Hyde’s dark deeds, such as the murder of Carew, heightening the tension. - “A fog rolled over the city in the small hours, the early part of the night was cloudless.”
– Narrator (Chapter 2)
The fog is a recurring symbol of mystery and concealment in the novella. Its sudden appearance mirrors the moral obscurity and unpredictability of Jekyll and Hyde’s duality. - “The lamps glimmered like carbuncles.”
– Narrator (Chapter 4)
The imagery of “carbuncles” (a type of gemstone or infection) reflects both beauty and corruption, symbolizing the dual nature of the city and its inhabitants.
