Hyde

• Stevenson creates a hyperbolic physical manifestation of the dangers of repression through Hyde. He allows his reader to see their carefully constructed facade get destroyed, revealing the savage lurking beneath the surface of even the most respectable gentleman.
• Jekyll is microcosmic for Victorian gentleman, juxtaposing Hyde's depravity, it reveals the blurred lines between morality and immorality in Victorian society, as well as good and evil. This interconnection is used by Stevenson to satirise how this 'progressive' society is in reality founded on hypocrisy, duality and suffering.
• "something displeasing, something downright detestable" - Enfield - Chapter 1 - appearance vs reality, duality, repression, science vs religion, good vs evil


  • displays the Victorians upholding the theory of physiognomy, that a person's character was revealed through their looks
  • mocks the idea of physiognomy through the pristine presentation of Jekyll
  • Hyde's appearance is crucial to his character, symbolising the societal belief that physical abnormalities are a divine natural indication of an individual's wickedness and immorality.
• "something displeasing, something downright detestable" - Enfield - Chapter 1 - appearance vs reality, duality, repression, science vs religion, good vs evil



  • The alliterative "d" sounds emphasises Hyde's physical and moral inhumanity and depravity. This monstrous depiction is used to juxtapose the "smooth" unblemished facade of Dr Jekyll's. Thus, Jekyll's polished exterior becomes a symbol of societal hypocrisy
  • The unacknowledged desires repressed within Victorian society explodes in the form of Hyde, a monstrous embodiment of the darkness Victorians tried so desperately to suppress
• "with ape-like fury" - Chapter 4 - duality, repression, appearance vs reality, science vs religion, good vs evil


  • anthropomorphism - portrays Hyde's regression to a primitive state, emphasising his savagery and lack of human restraint
  • physical description is deliberately grotesque and deformed, further distancing him from the human norm and highlighting his monstrous nature
  • Stevenson is able to symbolize the primitive, untamed aspects of the human psyche that Jekyll tries to suppress.
• • The ambiguity in which Hyde is repeatedly described ("he is not easy to describe [... ] I scarce know why […]I can't specify the point") is unsettling, adding to the Gothic horror literary aesthetic and suspense. Stevenson uses repetition of this ambiguity to increasing the suspense and tension within the novel
• "damned Juggernaut" - Chapter 1 


  • "Damned" alludes to Hell, again evoking strong gothic aesthetic and creating fear, whilst"Juggernaut" is a powerful and overwhelming force that can trample over something
  • May reference the sacrifice Jekyll makes to Hyde in exchange for indulging in decadent and inappropriate behaviour - suggest Hyde is controlled by impulses
• • Additionally, the motif of a "mask", repeated within chapter 8, symbolises the dual existence of inner feelings in contrast with the outer life. Dr Jekyll is hiding behind the mask of Hyde, where he can express his true feelings of barbarity and immorality which he usually keeps hidden
  • The direct juxtaposition of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde's appearances are used to personify the contrast between good/evil and to demonstrate his abnormality
• • the fact that a "simple crystalline salt of white colour" could cause so much harm in the man's life would have been shocking to the Victorian audience and yet close to the reality of other drugs in use at the time.
  • Other drugs that have a similar appearance, such as cocaine, have a deceivingly 'pure' appearance (the colour white is connotated with purity) but can bring out terrible behaviour in people, particularly aggression, and is highly addictive thus leading to symptoms of withdrawal, which are similar to those displayed by Mr. Hyde when he is begging for the drug from Lanyon.
• • Lanyon expresses "disgustful curiosity" at the scene; the juxtaposition of these two words aims to emphasise Stevenson's moral for the story - that the pursuit of scientific advancement and discovery can have horrific consequences. This is reflected not only in the life and death of Henry Jekyll in the novel, but also by Lanyon's desire to observe the scene, out of scientific curiosity, which shocks him so much that he shortly dies thereafter.
• • Dr Lanyon describes Dr Hyde's behaviour as "on fire with sombre excitement". The oxymoron "sombre excitement" is used to symbolise the internal battle between Jekyll and Hyde
  • The use of natural elements, such as "fire" are used to symbolise Hyde's unstoppable nature, as well as having literary significance of hell - useful tool but also unstoppable and destructive force