Reputation Flashcards
Why do the gentlemen in Jekyll and Hyde value their reputations above all else?
immoral activities and uncontrolled emotions would damage a gentleman’s reputation
if this happened they may no longer be seen as a gentleman at all
which would mean losing many social advantages
Why is Utterson cautious about gossip?
in case it reflects badly on him or his friends
he and Enfield agree never to talk about Hyde and believes in not asking questions if something ‘looks like Queer Street’
How is Utterson concerned about Jekyll’s reputation?
Utterson is more concerned about preserving Jekyll’s reputation than bringing Hyde to trial as after Carew’s murder he says to Jekyll, ‘If it came to a trial, your name might appear’
this shows homosocial behaviour from Utterson trying to protect Jekyll’s reputation
What is Stevenson’s message about reputation?
Stevenson’s message is that reputations cannot be trusted because they are based on appearances
they are the version of a person that he or she wants the world to see
Why was it hard for the Victorians to know what someone was really like?
when a society values reputation as highly as the Victorians did, it makes it difficult to know what people are really like
this causes Utterson problems as he cannot fully understand Jekyll’s situation because he only sees Jekyll’s reputation as important
this means he holds onto the idea of blackmail until the very last moment (he finds it hard to looks beyond his concern for reputation)
How does Jekyll protect his reputation?
Jekyll has to hide his sins to protect his reputation
he struggles with this so he creates Hyde to rid himself of the ‘disgrace’ of sin
Is Jekyll more concerned about his reputation or sins?
his reputation
What does Utterson want to maintain?
respectability, order and propriety
Why doesn’t Utterson read Lanyon’s letter out of ‘professional honour’?
he doesn’t want to find out something that will harm Jekyll’s reputation
homosocial behaviour
Why is the truth about Jekyll and Hyde more shocking than Utterson expects?
because it means that the appearance of respectability hides a much darker truth about the reality of human nature
How does Utterson play be society’s rules but also is understanding when people fall foul of them?
he tells Jekyll that, ‘Carew was my client, but so are you’ which shows his human side and his tolerance
If Victorian society was more tolerant of human behaviour, like Utterson, what would change?
there would be less need to hide immoral desires
Has Utterson sinned before?
he’s been tempted to sin and feels a strange ‘envy’ for those who can indulge in their misdeeds
he doesn’t want to harm his reputation so he feels grateful to have avoided committing more sins
What are Utterson’s favourite 3 R’s?
reason, reputation and respectability
How does Jekyll behave in society?
Jekyll behaves in a socially acceptable way as he is very aware of how people see him
he carries his ‘head high’ in public and is ‘fond of the respect’ people give him
therefore he has a good reputation
Why does Jekyll think that his hidden desires are far worse than they are?
he thinks they’re far worse than they are because he’s obsessed with appearing respectable
How does Stevenson create a suspicious atmosphere in the novel?
Stevenson creates a suspicious atmosphere in which characters are forced to keep secrets out of fear of their reputation being ruined
it is clear that the characters in the novel hold their reputation dear to them and fear for it being tarnished
How do Victorian gentlemen see gossip?
they see gossip as a great destroyer of reputation
How can the fog be compared to events in the novel?
descriptions of the fog are used to create an atmosphere of concealment just like Victorian gentlemen concealing their sins
What does Stevenson try to convey through the theme of reputation?
Stevenson conveys how reputation is based merely on one’s appearance to society, rather than one’s actual conduct and this leads to ideas about hypocrisy
Stevenson demonstrates the extent to which the characters place reputation and respectability above responsibility
What does Lanyon refusing to tell Utterson about his and Jekyll’s disagreement and Enfield avoiding saying what he was doing out late at night show and do?
this heightens the sense of secrecy and suspicion within the novel, as characters withhold information in order to protect their reputation or the reputation of others
In what ways does Utterson protect Jekyll’s reputation?
when he suspects Hyde’s letter has been forged or believes Jekyll is hiding Hyde, he keeps it a secret in order to shield Jekyll from any public disgrace
Utterson is motivated to maintain the appearance of respectability and propriety even though he is aware of the depravity of Hyde’s actions
even at the conclusion of the novella, Utterson remains steadfast in his belief that Jekyll’s reputation must be upheld: for example, “I would say nothing of this paper. If your master has fled or is dead, we may at least save his credit”
What could the word ‘smooth’ in ‘smooth-faced man of fifty’ be interpreted as when describing Jekyll?
could be seen as smoothing down his reputation and ensuring its kept well
(describing Jekyll’s home)
‘great air of…and…’
wealth
comfort
(describing Jekyll)
‘…-faced man of fifty’
smooth
‘rows of smiling…’ and how could it be interpreted?
saleswomen
reinforces the idea of sexual temptation and can act as personification of shops as women
How does the contrast between Jekyll’s reputation and his true self affect Lanyon in the middle of the novel?
the contrast between Jekyll’s reputation and his true self results in Lanyon’s death
‘…man had grown pale’
rosy
‘He had his…written legibly upon his face’
death-warrant
‘…physical decay’
swift
‘Lanyon declared himself a…man’
doomed
(about Jekyll’s handwriting and Hyde’s handwriting)
‘the two hands are in many points…’
identical
‘flesh had…away’
fallen
What does Jekyll’s need to maintain a perfect reputation lead to at the end of the novel?
Jekyll’s desperation to maintain a perfect Victorian reputation ultimately leads to his tragic downfall and death
‘…of my disposition’ and what does it mean?
prisonhouse
Jekyll’s belief that his inherent nature, both good and evil, was confined within him
‘man is not…one, but truly…’
truly
two
‘He was…with himself; drank gin when he was alone’ and what does this say about Utterson?
austere
Utterson does not drink his favourite beverage and he restricts himself to gin as a way of repressing himself in order to protect his reputation
Utterson deliberately suppresses his own desires and enjoyments, reflecting the theme of repression and reputation in the novel
‘he had always been known for…, he was now no less…for religion’ and what does this say about Jekyll?
charities
distinguished
Jekyll ensures that he ‘had always been known’ for good works, suggesting that he is mindful of keeping up the appearance of a philanthropist and maintaining his reputation
Jekyll is striving so hard to uncover and release his darker side
‘We may at least save his…’
credit
Utterson is loyal to the last, and also, perhaps, more interested in protecting Jekyll’s reputation rather than allowing the truth to come out
this shows again how important reputation was in the Victorian era
we do not hear from Utterson again so we have no idea whether he does publicly declare the letters or whether he suppresses them
Stevenson leaves us guessing
‘the…of my other self’
horror
Jekyll is a broken man at the end of the novel, destroyed by his unrepressed dark side and shows the consequences of trying so hard to maintain a socially accepted reputation
