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Jekyll and Hyde
A COMPLETE ANALYSIS OF THE NOVELLA
CHAPTER ONE: STORY OF THE DOOR
Utterson: “Cold, scanty and embarrassed
...
This could imply some form of mystery and
perplexity around Utterson to begin with – there is maybe more to the ‘scanty’ gentleman that the
reader initially meets
...
The introduction
to the novel with the character of Utterson is also important as it introduces the key theme of duality of
the novel within Utterson himself – Utterson may almost be a character representation of the ideals of
Victorian society
...
He also needs to
be somewhat uninteresting so he doesn’t distract from the story
Utterson: “eminently human beaconed from his eye” – The word ‘beacon’ is usually a bright light in a
high or prominent position used as a signal
...
His kind, human side is clearly evident and perhaps shows
that even though it may not be apparent from his exterior, it is noticed by all
...
Additionally, the fact that Utterson’s kindness can be felt just through his eyes suggests that it is
not fake and that he does have genuine feeling
...
“Never” is a final adverb which also
highlights his good-hearted nature as his concern for his friend is evident when he is involved, and he
has ‘never’ been changed by anything in this way before
...

Utterson: “His affections, like ivy, were the growth of time” – ‘Ivy’ is a plant that can be poisonous,
implying that Utterson was a sensible man and recognises the harmful nature of certain relationships
...
Stevenson, by using
the simile to liken his affections to ‘ivy’ may perhaps suggest Utterson’s respectability amongst his
peers – he has the power to end all of his relationships
...

Setting: “surplus of their grains in coquetry” – This imagery describes how the shops on the street
would adorn their displays with advertisements
...
Additionally, the term ‘coquetry’ literally means something flirtatious, which
suggests that both charming and unpleasant things reside in London
Setting: “like rows of smiling saleswomen” – Stevenson likens shopfronts to ‘smiling saleswomen’
using a simile
...
The sinister mood is supported by the use of sibilance with the ‘smiling saleswomen’,
which sounds threatening as the repeated use of ‘s’ is like a hissing sound
...
Additionally, this incredibly positive image is very important in order for the next paragraph to
have more shocking impact
...
like a fire in a forest” “instantly caught and pleased the eye of the
passenger” – Again, the simile of the street on the surface presents it as a cheerful and bright town
through the use of the verb ‘shone’, which connotes something perhaps heavenly or glistening
...
This may suggest that the town is merely an illusion of perfection and not what it
seems at all
...
The repetition of the subtle juxtapositions could give the
reader the overall impression that the town had something to hide and was not all it seemed
...
The idea that a house
‘thrust forward’ it’s gable not only suggests that it doesn’t fit in with the other houses and literally sticks
out compared to the other houses, symbolic of the house’s impression not fitting into the town, but
also suggests that the building is drawing attention to itself – all these ideas highlight how much this
house stands out
...
This immediately creates a tense atmosphere as it makes
the house seem uninviting and extremely secretive which directly opposes the ‘air of invitation’ of the
street itself
...
It also suggests that the building has been scarred, there is no
fixing it
...

Enfield: “some place at the end of the world” “black winter morning” – The idea that Enfield felt as
though he was at the end of the world is a striking image that suggests how unsafe and alone he felt
...
It also implies the unknown, suggesting that Enfield was lost and felt on edge – possibility of
even death
...

“Winter” depicts a scene of cold, danger and discomfort emphasising his discomfort
...
“Black” is also the absence of light, and this could be
inferred to suggest that there was an absence of anything positive foreshadowing imminent threat
...
– street after street” “where a man listens and listens and begins to long”
– The repetition of the phrase and the word emphasises Enfield’s desperation to be in the presence of
a policeman, the repetition not only elongates the phrase implying how far away Enfield feels from
safety but it gives the reader an impression of Enfield’s panicked state of mind – all he can see are
never-ending streets
...
Enfield doesn’t even say ‘he’, but instead
detaches himself by saying ‘where a man’
...

The consonance and sibilance created through the repetition of the threatening ‘s’ sound and the
elongated consonant ‘l’ build the tension even more, the ‘l’ backing up the idea of Enfield feeling
distant from any safety
...
Note that Hyde
makes his appearance long before Jekyll does – which could suggest his position of superiority over
the character of Jekyll
...

The fact that something so small possesses so much power however, highlights his strength even
more
...
To “trample” something
“calmly” is pretty much impossible, suggesting that Hyde was perhaps something more than human
...
The idea of the ‘body’ supports this, it is almost as if Hyde doesn’t see the human side
of the child, but sees her as merely a detached ‘body’ that he can do as he likes with – immoral
...

The formality of the language used to describe this shocking event is reflective of the story
Hyde: “It was hellish to see
...
The repeated use of the impersonal pronoun at the beginning of each clause
emphasises the fact that Hyde seems like a thing and not a human – he’s more than human, or
perhaps less than human, linking to the prominent role Darwin’s theory of evolution had in the
Victorian era
...
“Juggernaut” also directly contrasts to him being “small”, once again emphasising his
strength,
Hyde: “I had taken a loathing to my gentleman at first sight” – Interesting that Enfield is consistently
referring to Hyde as a gentlemen, almost mocking him? “loath” is an intense feeling of hatred – his
looks alone have the power to generate ‘loathing’ from a reputable man, implying the scale of Hyde’s
deformity and the impression he left on others
...
the very pink of the proprieties” – Two juxtaposing characters
within the same sentence – links to the theme of duality
Enfield: “You start a question, and it’s like starting a stone
...
It also may imply that maintaining your reputation has knock on effects
which are damaging and destructive, which could foreshadow danger following the story of the door
...
The harsh,
plosive consonants used in “bland” and “bird” suggests that perhaps the people that were seemingly
boring and ‘bland’ had a hidden side to them, once again a reflection of duality as well as suggesting
that maintaining your reputation was a burden and difficult
...

Setting: “It’s hard to say where one door ends and another begins” – People have hidden ‘doors’ or
secrets
Utterson: “If he shall be Mr Hyde, then I shall be Mr Seek” – Drawing attention to importance of
names not only in the novel, but in the Victorian ear
...
The idea of divinity reflects the strong belief in religion at the time
...


3

Utterson: “to study it’s contents” – Utterson is thorough and precise man – he’s not only going to look
at it’s contents but he will ‘study’ them, implying how much this case meant to him and suggesting that
there was a kind streak in Utterson despite outer appearances as he does care about his friend Jekyll
...

Utterson: “out of the shifting, insubstantial mists that had so long baffled his eye” – the metaphor of
‘mists’ describes the unknown, suggesting secrecy and things that have been hidden
...

However, although the idea of the mists being ‘insubstantial’ could reflect how there’s nothing on the
surface that reveals anything, it could also suggest that the mists are just a metaphor or an illusion for
Utterson – there is nothing there at all of any use
...

Lanyon: “Hearty, healthy, dapper, red-faced gentleman” – The description of Lanyon presents him as
a very happy and healthy man with nothing remotely mysterious or unknown about him
...

Jekyll: “I have seen devilish little of the man
...
“devilish” suggests that perhaps Lanyon feels as
though there is some sinister reason that Lanyon hasn’t seen him recently, suggesting Lanyon’s
feelings of naivety towards Jekyll – almost as if he has to keep constant watch over him and his
scientific discoveries
...
It also suggests that his mind has gone into turmoil over this – he’s
unable to sleep or let his mind rest
...
“besieged” suggests that he is surrounded by questions
and is unable to escape them – Utterson is trapped under the burden of everything unanswered
...

Utterson: “Digging at the problem” – Suggests that there is both a physical and mental struggle for the
truth
...
However, there is a marked change in personality as wr
see him taken over, almost victimised by the case in front of him that he now felt trapped and stuck in
...

Utterson: “wider labyrinths” – Reflective of Utterson’s state of mind
...
It could also imply how
there’s no way out – he’s in the middle of this problem and is trapped there until he can figure it out
...
Alternatively, it has
implications of danger and threat, suggesting that although Utterson was determined, he may also
have been scared
...


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Setting: “low growl of London” – The personification of this big town presents it as some big predator
against everyone, creating a very threatening and tense atmosphere
...
There may be subtle recognition of the industrialisation of
London here
...
Definition is to deprive people of their liberty, so if his
attention is personified as ‘arrested’, then perhaps all freedom of his thoughts and mind disappeared
in that instant of seeing Hyde
...

Hyde: “shrank back with a hissing intake of breath” – This incredibly powerful and striking image is
describing something more animalistic and bestial than a human with very primitive characteristics –
not fully formed and evil
...
This
particular description likens Hyde to a snake – an animal that is associated with being threatening and
incredibly dangerous – not only presenting Hyde as cold but as savage as well
...

Hyde: “the picture of disquietude” – “disquietude” is a metaphysical feeling rather than a tangible one
and cannot be seen
...
It also suggests that he was the
embodiment of uneasiness rather than anything human, suggesting how inhuman he was and his lack
of any humanity
...

Hyde: “murderous mixture of timidity and boldness” – an oxymoron between two completely different
ideas
...
This suggests that Hyde is something more than human, he has surpassed the
limits of humanity
...
This link could be a symbol and a reminder to the audience of the
abundance of duality in every aspect of life – not only in Hyde but in London as a whole, something
that was common in the VE
...

Jekyll/Utterson: “The ghost of some old sin, the cancer of some concealed disgrace” – ghost suggests
something is haunting Jekyll, as well as something supernatural happening
...

Utterson: “the strange clauses of his will” – There is a cyclic nature within this chapter – it starts and
ends on a reflection of Jekyll’s will, which implies that nothing has been achieved – possible reflection
of how Utterson has gone round in circles, confused and puzzled?
CHAPTER 3 – DR JEKYLL WAS QUITE AT EASE
Introduction of Jekyll – Dr Jekyll is one of the last characters to be introduced, but yet has been the
main character of what has come before
...

Utterson: “sobering their minds in the man’s rich silence after the expense and strain of gaity”

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Jekyll: “well-made, smooth-faced man
...
“Well-made” also suggests that Jekyll’s persona has been made or created, and was perhaps
unrealistic
...
The “cast” again gives the impression that Jekyll has been
manufactured and developed to appear this way
...

Jekyll: “grew pale to the very lips, and there came a blackness about his eye” – “blackness” suggests
Jekyll’s evil side taking over
...
It is one of
those affairs that cannot be mended by talking” – The repetition of “very strange” suggests that panic
has set in for Jekyll, it’s almost as if he’s stumbling over his words leading to the repetition – this may
suggest his extreme nerves and fear – it is noticeable by Utterson and indeed the readers as well
...

Jekyll: ‘when I am no longer here” – foreshadowing the imminence of Jekyll’s demise – he knows at
this point that the end is near
...
This could foreshadow the extreme level of what
will happen next, as even London, a huge, intimidating predator was scared of what had happened –
the strength previously seen has been completely undermined by this act
...
London is also the capital city of
England, supposed to be great and impressive,
Setting: “a fog rolled over the city” – this pathetic fallacy immediately foreshadows imminent danger
and secrecy – the “fog” is a setting description that is constantly referred to during the novella and
could be a symbol of secrecy as it is always present where there is something unknown or the truth
has been veiled
...

“Never had she felt more at peace with all men or thought more kindly of the world”
Carew: “such an innocent and old-world kindness” – established upper class
Hyde: “great flame of anger, stamping with his foot, brandishing his cane”
Hyde: “broke out of all bounds and clubbed him to the earth”
Hyde: “ape-like fury, he was trampling his victim under foot and haling down a storm of blows” – the
metaphorical imagery of Hyde’s blows as a storm suggests the danger Hyde’s actions had on others
and the immense power he possessed
...
The description of
Hyde is once again extremely primitive, suggesting that Hyde may be a reflection of the primitive side
of all humans
...

Setting: “A great, chocolate coloured pall lowered over heaven” – metaphorical image, pathetic
fallacy?
...
The fog
usually appears whenever Utterson is investigating the case of J and H, suggesting how much

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mystery and secrecy there was surrounding the case – it was hidden from the investigation of
Utterson as well as the community of London
...
The fact that this “pall” is “lowered over heaven” foreshadows that
the hidden secrets were indeed dark and sinister if they are hidden from God – who was believed by
most at the time and to sin against God was deemed as the greatest sin
...
This sinister mood is
heightened with the use of the noun “pall”, which is a funeral cloth that is laid over deceased bodies
...
Additionally, the fact that this “pall”
covered London and was above them suggests the extremity of the powers involved in this and may
even be a subtle message from Stevenson that such secrets lie within the depths of all of us
...

Setting: “cab crawled from street to street” – use of alliteration and sibilance – the harsh “C” sound
contrasts to the soft, threatening “S” sound which again may reflect the difference between what
Utterson is about to find out and the life he’s known
...
The personification of the cab that
“crawled” is strikingly placed in the fast paced, “swirling” weather, creating the impression that time
seems to have slowed down amongst the raging weather
...

Setting: “a haggard shaft of daylight would glance in between the swirling wreaths” – could reflect how
close Utterson is to uncovering the hidden truths – the “light” is symbolic of goodness and the
unveiling of truth within the physical representation of dark secrets, the “fog”
...
This once again paints a very sinister picture of London – even the light looks unwell
...

Setting: “to combat this mournful reinvasion of darkness” – There is a multitude of imagery relating to
war and battles (also see above), personifying darkness as attacking London – reflective of the evil
mood that has washed over London at the time
...
Interesting image of “impressed” contrasting “haunting” may suggest that Jekyll
feels as though he is impressing others by being his savage self
...
This creates instant tension and fear as it
reflects the attitudes the reader has previously seen in Hyde
...

Setting: “Tables laden with chemical apparatus, the floor strewn with crates and littered with packng
straw” – the tables were “laden”, almost as if they have been burdened with the task of holding the
chemical apparatus – linking to the power that science can hold
...
Suggests science gone wrong
...
This really shows the monstrous power that Hyde has – he has
had to be locked away within this prison-like house
...

Also suggests that Jekyll is trapped with no means of escape by his situation – his need to protect his

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reputation has isolated and confined him through his act to conform to society whilst staying true to
himself
...

Jekyll: “held out a cold hand and bade him welcome in a changed voice”
Jekyll: “feverish” – complete juxtaposition to the “cold” hand, feverish implies someone who is unwell
and extremely hot
...
It is also physically impossible for you to be cold and hot
at exactly the same time, suggesting that something unnatural and perhaps inhuman was occurring
...

Setting: “The fog still slept on the wing above the drowned city” – fog image again referred to
...
The “drowned” city is incredibly powerful – “drowned”
suggesting that London was burdened and weighed down
...
This powerful personification
may suggest that London is so damaged by what has happened that it is suffering the consequences
...
This may
suggest that there are always secrets in everyone
...
LANYON
Lanyon: “He had his death-warrant written legibly upon his face” – Shows the huge impacts of
meddling with science, it’s not just emotional but is physical as well
...

Lanyon: “The rosy man had grown pale” – this image contracts to the “happy, healthy, dapper”
gentleman that was seen at the beginning of the story
...

Lanyon: “Tokens of swift physical decay” – “Decay” and “Growth” are both natural, slow and gradual
processes which contrast to the idea of the deterioration being “swift”
...

Lanyon: “deap-seated terror of the mind” – “deep” suggests that it’s not just a passing fear; there is
more to what happened to Lanyon than can be shown in his physical deterioration, it has been
embedded deep within his brain and will not be able to be removed or mitigated against
...
The fact that he is so scared about what has happened shows how
terrible it must have been, fear for readers
...
This climax
leading up to the discovery of Jekyll’s secret increases the tension
...
God
was very significant in the Victorian Era and through the repetition of references to God we see the
significance of what has just happened, despite not being aware
...

Lanyon: “Incurable” – for a doctor to be so sure of the fact that what has happened is incurable raelly
highlights the damage it must have done
...
Sibilance in the “S” sound – threatening, scared
...
Even when in
the middle of a case that has been bothering him immensely “toiling” and causing him nightmares, he
would sacrifice his own pain and confusion to follow the commands of his friend
...

Utterson: “It is one thing to mortify curiosity, another to conquer it” – this emphasises the need for
Utterson to understand what has happened
...


CHAPTER 7 – INCIDENT AT THE WINDOW
Jekyll: “Taking the air with an infinite sadness of mien, like some disconsolate prisoner” – again
alludes to prison imagery suggesting that he is trapped and confined by what he has done and cannot
escape his actions – literally trapped as he cannot leave his house for fear of turning into Hyde and
emotionally as well, he cannot change or leave his situation and is now trapped by what he has done
...
“succeeded” suggests that this new expression was
overpowering and superior to the last – evil predominant side to Jekyll, taking over
...
However, just before it was to be revealed that Hyde and Jekyll are in fact the same
person and the secrets are coming to light, the fog disappears and in its place lies the storm –
creating a sense of foreboding using pathetic fallacy very cleverly for the readers
...
Since the
wind cannot tilt the moon, this simile presents the winds on this night as especially strong and
powerful – as if they were powerful enough to travel through the vacuum of space
...
This
pathetic fallacy just adds to the sense of foreboding
...
This may foreshadow something not quite right
occurring on this stormy night, as well as reflect this ‘crushing’ feeling that he felt
...

Poole: “in spite of the biting weather, took off his hat and mopped his brow”
Poole: “these were not the dews of exertion that he wiped away, but the moisture of some strangling
anguish”
“stood huddled together like a flock of sheep”
Utterson: “at this unlooked-for termination, gave a jerk that nearly threw him from his balance”
Jekyll: “with a sudden splutter of pen, the writer’s emotion had broken loose”

9

Utterson: “plain and natural” – Utterson is so desparate for an answer to his many months of
confusion that he will take any answer that seems logical to him – he also cares about Jekyll and
doesn’t want to accept any truth worse than what he thinks
...

[Hyde: “that masked thing like a monkey jumped from among the chemicals”
Setting: “the wind tossed the light of the candle to and fro” – throughout the novel, the wind and
weather has played a huge part in being a representation of the actions occurring throughout
...
Now, as they are about to reach the end of their
discoveries, the powerful wind has appeared
...
Could also reflect the scared, tense atmosphere –
even the great city of London is scared
Utterson: “If not by fair means, then by foul” – Utterson is always seen as a very reserved,
respectable man, but when his friend’s safety is concerned, he will break out of his respectable
personality in an outburst such as this one
...
Stevenson’s message about society’s moral
ideals preventing anyone from showing their true feelings
...
The door at the beginning was firmly shut, but was now wide open
...
However, at the end the door has been opened
just before Utterson discovers Hyde dead and reads Jekyll’s narrative
...
Before they enter the room, the kettle is still “singing”, representing the
existing life of Jekyll/Hyde
...
This
image is particularly poignant as really drives home what’s happened to Jekyll
...
This is interesting as Hyde would never feel the distress that Jekyll does, suggesting
that whilst Hyde has overall control there is still an element of worry that Jekyll possesses
...
This is interesting, as it suggests that whatever
Jekyll does he can’t seem to win – if he remains the respectable Jekyll he has to “labour”, and if he
attempts to change he once again has to “labour” – this powerful idea really represents how Jekyll
has been trapped from the beginning of his life with no way out – there’s nothing he can do about it
...

Lanyon: “till that was proved beyond the possibility of doubt” – representative of the complete care
and caution Lanyon took
...

Hyde: “great muscular activity and great apparent debility of constitution” – this complete contrast
between the apparent strength of Hyde and the lack of intelligence reflects again the duality in Hyde,
as well as the duality between Jekyll and Hyde, Jekyll being a highly intelligent member of society, the
“pink of the proprieties”
Hyde: “incipient rigour, and was accompanied by a marked sinking of the pulse” – “sinking of the
pulse” is interesting as readers at this point would have a high pulse due to the sustained suspense
throughout the novella and the imminence of a final revelation of the peculiar actions of Hyde
...
It also once again presents Hyde as
making an effort with Lanyon, and the idea that Hyde had recognised Lanyon’s ways – representative
of the duality within Jekyll
...
This could reflect the duality within Jekyll – his respectable side was “sombre” and
his more evil side was “excited”, however it could also be symbolic of how Hyde is once again trying
to sustain himself from being his savage, dangerous self
...
However, this may suggest that there was a spark
of Jekyll still within Hyde – he wanted to remain on Lanyon’s good side and did not want Lanyon to
experience the “roaring” side to Hyde
...
It could also reflect the two sides to becoming Hyde and a certain revelation of
the damage it had done, the “dreadful” evil side coming before the “smile”, the good side, reflecting
how the evil had begun to take over the good
...

Jekyll/Hyde: “a new province of knowledge and new avenues to fame and power” – “province” has
implications of some extremely large area that cannot be fully explored, suggesting that perhaps
Jekyll was going into the experiment with some areas still not complete or worked on
...
There’s a semantic field of maps and discovery present in this sentence,
suggesting to Jekyll that his search to find a way to separate his personalities was of similar nature to
some sort of hunt or expedition
...

Jekyll/Hyde: “he reeled, staggered, clutched at the table and held on, staring with injected eyes,
gasping with open mouth” – “held on” suggests that Jekyll is battling with the extreme powers of
science – despite having converted to the form of Jekyll many times science here is presented as
taking complete control of what is happening and causing a strong, powerful man such as Hyde to
experience such a striking metamorphosis
...

This may imply that science, an extremely powerful force, is winning the battle against Jekyll –
foreshadowing danger
...
It also shows
the ability science contained to inhabit and destroy every part of Jekyll
...
This
may suggest that whilst Lanyon was very much afraid of what was happening, he was equally
intrigued by it
...
The metaphor of “submerged” suggests suffocation and drowning, really showing how much
this had affected him
...

Jekyll/Hyde: “Like a man restored from death” – goes against the natural laws of science and life –
seems God-like and alludes to religious imagery from when Jesus rose from the dead
...

Lanyon: “my life is shaken to its roots” “the deadliest terror sits by me at all hours of the day and night”
– Terror is again personified as a human, but this time as an overpowering, dominant force that
cannot be removed
...
This reflects how what
Jekyll has done has a huge impact on human life especially for Lanyon
...
The image of life
being “shaken to its roots” is interesting as it parallels what Jekyll says later about science having the
power to “shake and pluck back these fleshly vestments”
...
It also
suggests that what Jekyll has done has really made Lanyon think about his “roots”, perhaps the
reason he is so afraid is because he now understands a side to humanity’s “roots” that he never
realised before and a side to science more dangerous and threatening than anything he has seen
before
...

Adds to the suspense and culmination of mysterious events
...
The word “deeper” also has connotations of some hidden meaning, as
if there is more to Jekyll than meets the eye
...

Jekyll: “plentiful spring of distress” – a “spring” is usually something associated with purity or
freshness, and is a positive image
...
This idea may suggest Jekyll’s
guilt for feeling the way that he does
...
This statement of course also reflects the duality within Jekyll
Jekyll: “laboured in the eye of day” – the “eye” of the day could be a symbolism for the watchful public,
suggesting that Jekyll could not get away with doing anything remotely unrespectable in front of the
public and had to, at all times, conform to the moral codes of society
...
It also shows the difficulty for Jekyll – it was both physically and emotionally draining for him
...
The noun “war” suggests a large-scale conflict that can both
physically and emotionally drain and damage a person, suggesting to the reader the extreme scale of
his conflict
...
As well as this, war is something that is hard to prevent, suggesting the
inevitability of his internal conflict
...

Jekyll: “separation of these elements” “housed in separate identities” – the fact that the personalities
of Jekyll have been described as “elements”, an understandable term for a chemist, suggests that
both sides of Jekyll are essential to his personality – they make up a compound
...
He has discovered more about human nature
...

Jekyll: “incongruous faggots were thus bound together” – “incongruous” is usually a mathematical
term to describe two things that do not match
...
However, they are said to be “bound” together, suggesting that they have
perhaps been forced together
...

Jekyll: “that these polar twins should be continually struggling” – the oxymoron of “polar twins” reflects
how Jekyll and Hyde are separate and complete opposites, but yet they were still the same – dual
sides are of different nature but make up one being
...
His pain and suffering is also
presented as prolonged
...
The
comparison to the “wind is also an interesting simile, as the wind is a force of nature that cannot be
controlled or edited
...
This idea may also reflect how the dual personality
of Jekyll was natural and a force of nature, just as wind is a natural occurrence – a subtle message
from Stevenson about how common it was for people to lead dual lives as a result of the unsaid moral
obligations in society
...
Something so
unnatural is being compared to an everyday occurrence of curtains being blown by the wind,
suggesting that it was an effortless and completely normal transformation for Jekyll
...
This shows how even becoming Hyde won’t change Jekyll completely, instead
of complete removal, Jekyll’s outer shell has merely been “shook”
Jekyll: “dethroned from their supremacy” shook the very fortress of identity” – The semantic field of
royalty and castles suggests that becoming Hyde feels like royalty compared to being Jekyll before,
suggesting the extent of Jekyll’s distress in his former body
...

Jekyll: “immaterial tabernacle” – a “tabernacle” is the dwelling place of God, perhaps suggesting the
power Jekyll felt when he became Hyde – he felt as though he had God-like authority when turning
into Hyde
...


13

Jekyll/Hyde: “something indescribably new” “heady recklessness, a current of disordered sensual
images running like a millrace in my fancy” – The fact that becoming Hyde is “indescribable”,
suggests that he has never known anything else other than the tedious nature of being Jekyll
...
This
suggests that becoming Hyde caused him to feel a multitude of different emotions and foreshadows
potential dangers within becoming Hyde
...

Jekyll/Hyde: “leap of welcome” – suggests that becoming Hyde is exciting and exhilarating
...
This is further reiterated when Jekyll is described earlier as
“the pink of the proprieties” and a very respectable man, not the kind of person one would imagine
leaping
...

Jekyll/Hyde: “ugly idol” – the oxymoron of “ugly idol” reflects how Jekyll does not value the character
traits of what would normally be considered an “idol”
...
Stevenson may
be saying that an “idol” doesn’t necessarily have to conform to the societal ideals of the time for them
to be considered correct – indeed Jekyll’s idol of Hyde is incredibly important for him and doesn’t
match idols of the time
...
“prison” also suggests somewhere extremely confining and high-security,
emphasising that no attempts to escape this would be successful
...
The prison doors were not
opened, but merely “shook”
...
Additionally, Jekyll’s guilt at feeling the way he does may also be shown as a
“prison” is a place where people who have done wrong go, suggesting that he is aware that what he
has done is not correct
...
It also presents the power of science as incredibly strong as it has the power to initiate a
huge fall from grace from someone as reputable as Jekyll
...
This implies the strength that Hyde has within him –
it’s as if Hyde controls him from the inside as Jekyll is now just a slave to him
...
The power of temptation has been personified
with the image of the devil, as it is said that Jekyll’s power “tempted” him
...
Jekyll here has already fallen victim to the consequences of
disobeying God
...
This juxtaposition may also reflect
the duality within Jekyll
...
The plosive consonants in “plod”, “load” suggest the
difficulty in maintaining said reputation, and the idea of a “load” represents not just an emotional

14

burden but a physical one as well, suggesting to the reader the extreme extent of his burden
...
This
suggests that Jekyll has painted a false picture of a man that is respectable
...
The idea of burden heavily contrasts the way Jekyll feels as Hyde
...
As
well as this, the metaphor of “sea of liberty” connotes an infinite and endless freedom that the bounds
of the “public eye” doesn’t allow for – however this lack of boundaries when Jekyll is Hyde also poses
a threat to him as the “sea” is a large expanse of water that holds many hidden dangers
...

Jekyll/Hyde: “in vain” – the anaphora of “in vain” reflects how whatever Jekyll tries, it will be in vain
...
The “crash of cymbals” is a discordant, jarring
sound itself and to hear it on its own would be a horrible sound
...
This harsh sound reflects the fear Jekyll would have
felt when he woke up
...
By personifying “terror” it presents Jekyll’s fears as
more real and imminent as they have taken on a human form that can easily be related to by readers
...

Interestingly, this powerful fear is present not within Jekyll but within Hyde when he wakes up in
Hyde’s body – but instead of Hyde’s personality, who wouldn’t feel any fear, Jekyll’s personality has
woken up alongside Hyde’s body
...

Jekyll/Hyde: “loosing hold of my original and better self” – implies that Jekyll has lost a grip of himself
and no longer feels in control – Hyde has taken over completely
...
Jekyll had more than a father’s interest; Hyde had more than a son’s
indifference” – The simile comparing Hyde’s connection with Jekyll to that of a “mountain bandit”
suggests Hyde’s primitive nature and once again reflects the idea that man’s inner evil is represented
by primitive origins
...
Through the powerful analogy of the father and son, we see that Jekyll’s
care over Hyde is completely different
...

Whilst this presents Jekyll as caring, it also presents him as older than the “child” Hyde – who
perhaps has more freedom than Jekyll does
...
This image also presents the incredibly strong link between both Jekyll and Hyde but
emphasises how they are two completely separate beings
...
Jekyll is also said to “suffer”, connoting extreme pain
and discomfort at the temptation of once again taking on the form of his evil self
...
Additionally, Jekyll is referring to himself in third person, showing
how detached he was from him and the power of Hyde for doing so
...
Additionally, the fact that Jekyll needed “strength” to be able
to hold on to his original self suggests how difficult it was for him to remain reputable – it took
everything he had
...

Jekyll/Hyde: “that stirred in my soul the tempest of impatience” – a “tempest” is a huge, destructive
storm, this metaphor suggesting how Hyde’s need to be unleashed was astronomical, and how Jekyll
was a victim of his own dual nature – he couldn’t resist the urge to become Hyde once more
...
The
fact that this impatience is embedded in Jekyll’s “soul” is a clear reminder of the deep connection
between Jekyll and Hyde – they are bound together inside
...

Jekyll/Hyde: “struck through the heart by a cold thrill of terror” – The fact that Jekyll has been ‘struck’
through the heart suggests that it has penetrated the multiple façades that Jekyll’s true personality
takes refuge in – the implications of his murder have set in
...
This shows how much Jekyll felt about his murder
...
It presents
him as overwhelmingly more powerful – his excitement can overcome the cold, upset Jekyll
...

Jekyll/Hyde: “my memory swarmed against me” – Hyde’s memory is being personified as a swarm of
bees – overwhelming memories of the actions of Hyde
Jekyll/Hyde: “the veil of self-indulgence” - The “veil of self-indulgence” is another allusion to religion
from just after the death of Jesus when Matthew says “the veil of the temple was torn in two”, which
symbolises how humanity could be in connection with God due to Jesus bridging the gap between
God and Humanity
...
”veil” suggests that there is something to hide
...
This backs up the idea of humanity being made up of
not one, but two parts
...
This undermines
Hyde’s act, perhaps suggesting that he felt validated enough to commit the murder, as if it was no
more damaging than playing an instrument
...
This really highlights Hyde’s animalistic and
vengeful nature – he shows no mercy and has no regard for others
...
Additionally, murder being linked with a pitch, or an audible note, can help the
reader to feel more acutely the extreme level Hyde is on as it is something we may be able to
associate with in our minds
...

Jekyll/Hyde: “He, I say – I cannot say I” – Jekyll is unable to refer to his evil self as him anymore,
detaching himself from his inner self that at one point gave him “freedom”, suggesting a realisation for

16

the dangers that he has imposed on himself and a regret for his actions – leaving the reader to feel
sympathy for him
...

Jekyll/Hyde: “hunted by his fears” – By personifying Jekyll’s fears in such a powerful way Stevenson
has caused the readers, and indeed the character of Jekyll himself, feel as though his “fears” are
imminent threats – and present them as all the more powerful and real
...
It also presents Jekyll as vulnerable and
alone as a result of this – perhaps invoking sympathy with the reader
...
By victimising Jekyll with this personification
Stevenson presents Jekyll as suffocating and suffering under the control of his evil
...

Jekyll/Hyde: “raging and freezing with the passions of Hyde” – This oxymoron presents Hyde as
perhaps artificial or more than human once again
...
The
fluctuation between these polarities is something that is pretty much impossible without breaking the
natural bounds of science, implying that Hyde is created and inhuman, as well as incredibly powerful
and strong – he possesses the ability to go from one extreme to another
...
This in itself is interesting as Stevenson
has contradicted the idea of Hyde being emotionless and inhuman – possibly emphasising that Hyde
has broken all laws of science as something as inhuman as Hyde seems to be seemingly has the
ability to show human emotions
...
Alternatively, the ordering of the words in the phrase “passions of Hyde” makes out
that Hyde’s “passions” are what he is made up of – pure anger and human evil
...
This may be Stevenson’s view – that the
restrictive nature and confinements of Victorian Society have led to dire and severe consequences
that we see in this incredibly powerful image of Hyde
...

Jekyll/Hyde :”continually impending doom” – perhaps the fact that Jekyll’s “doom” was “continually
impending” could prolong his suffering even more – something that is impending is something that is
about to happen and this quote suggests that his ‘doom’ was continually happening
...
Shows the damage that
science has on people
...
Additionally, fear is again personified here – implying it’s imminence and
closeness – but the powerful way in which it has been personified by Stevenson shows the sheer
strength Jekyll’s presumed guilt and fears have and the power they have to dominate and completely
destroy his life
...
This contrasts to the earlier
image of Jekyll “well-made”, suggesting how science has altered him until there was nothing left
...

Jekyll/Hyde: “commit temporary suicide, and return to his subordinate station of a part instead of a
person” – Jekyll is no longer his main embodiment, he is merely a “subordinate station” – someone, or
something, whom is lower in rank and inferior to the other
...
This word is coupled with “station”, which connotes
something fleeting and momentary as like a transport station rather than fixed
...
Ultimately, this image heightens our sympathy for Jekyll, who is no
longer a man, but just a “part” of who he used to be
...

Jekyll/Hyde: “this is the true hour of death” – the last line alludes to the religious prayer, where the
words “pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death” are said
...
This suggests that despite all he has done throughout,
Jekyll is still a human who respects and worships God and that, even though Hyde has taken over,
there is still a lingering element of goodness left` inside of him, leading the reader to feel a pang of
sympathy for him in his last hour

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