Jekyll and Hyde

• “Man is not truly one, but truly two.”

  • This highlights duality, a key theme in the novella. The repetition of “truly” emphasizes the inevitability of human duality.
  • The use of “man” (rather than "I") suggests universal truth, reflecting Victorian anxieties about human nature and morality.
  • It aligns with Freudian psychology (Id, Ego, Superego), showing that everyone has a repressed, darker side.
  • Links to Darwinism—Hyde represents the primitive part of human nature.
• "The moment I choose, I can be rid of Mr. Hyde."

  • This is dramatic irony—Jekyll believes he controls Hyde, but later Hyde dominates him
  • The phrase "moment I choose" conveys hubris—Jekyll’s arrogance in thinking he can control his dark side.
  • This foreshadows Jekyll’s downfall and the idea that once a person indulges in evil, they cannot simply return to goodness.
  • Context: Reflects the Victorian fear of losing control over repressed desires
• "Ape-like fury"

  • Animalistic imagery dehumanizes Hyde, linking him to Darwin’s theory of evolution (fear of regressing into savagery).
  • "Ape" suggests Hyde is primal, instinctive, lacking morality—a stark contrast to the rational, civilised Victorians.
  • "Fury" conveys intense, uncontrollable violence, reinforcing Hyde’s unrestrained evil.
  • Context: The Victorian fear of atavism (reverting to a primitive state).
• "If I am the chief of sinners, I am the chief of sufferers also."

  • The antithesis (opposite ideas of "sinners" and "sufferers") highlights Jekyll’s internal conflict.
  • It suggests that indulging in evil leads to self-destruction—Hyde may be the villain, but Jekyll suffers the consequences.
  • Links to Christian morality—sin leads to punishment, even in life.
  • Context: Reflects the Victorian fear of moral corruption.
• "Satan's signature upon a face."

  • Religious imagery—Hyde is inherently evil, as if marked by the devil.
  • The idea of a “signature” suggests Hyde is irredeemable—his evil is permanently written onto him.
  • The phrase reflects Victorian religious fears that moral corruption is physically visible.
  • Context: At the time, criminals were thought to have deformed features (Lombroso’s theory).
• "The street shone out in contrast to its dingy neighbourhood, like a fire in a forest."

  • Imagery—"fire in a forest" suggests light (goodness) surrounded by darkness (evil).
  • Highlights the theme of appearance vs reality—just as London has dark alleys, Jekyll has a dark side.
  • The contrast between bright/dingy foreshadows the tension between Jekyll and Hyde.
  • Context: Reflects Victorian London's divide between the wealthy West End and the crime-ridden East End.
• "I let my brother go to the devil in his own way."

  • Biblical reference—suggests people are responsible for their own moral choices.
  • Reflects Victorian morality—people were expected to uphold virtue but often ignored sin in others.
  • Foreshadows Jekyll’s own downfall—he, too, will “go to the devil.”
• "My devil had been long caged, he came out roaring."

  • Metaphor of the caged devil suggests repression—Jekyll had suppressed his desires for too long.
  • "Roaring" shows Hyde’s uncontrollable, bestial nature.
  • Links to Freud’s theory—repressing desires only makes them stronger.
  • Context: Victorian society was obsessed with controlling immoral urges.
• Themes:

  • Duality of Man – Jekyll vs Hyde, Victorian respectability vs hidden sin.
  • Repression & Victorian Morality – Jekyll hides his desires, but they resurface violently.
  • Science vs Religion – Jekyll plays God; Hyde is described in religious terms.
  • Gothic Horror & Fear – Hyde embodies Victorian fears of atavism and losing control.
  • Good vs Evil – Hyde is pure evil, but Jekyll’s goodness is weak.
• Verbs (to Analyse Stevenson’s Methods)

  • Juxtaposes

  Places two contrasting ideas side by side

  • Subverts

  Challenges traditional ideas or expectations

  • Mirrors

  Reflects a similar idea elsewhere in the text

  • Evokes

  Brings a strong image or feeling to mind
• Adjectives (for Describing Themes & Characters)

  • Atavistic

  Primitive, linked to evolutionary regression

  • Insidious

  Hidden but dangerous

  • Malignant

  Evil and harmful

  • Pernicious

  Subtly harmful and destructive
• Nouns (for Thematic Analysis)

  • Duplicity

  Deception, having two contradictory sides

  • Degeneration

  Moral or physical decline

  • Transgression

  Breaking a moral or legal boundary

  • Ambiguity

  Having multiple possible meanings or interpretations
• Power Words for Structure and Setting

  • Epistolary

  A story told through letters or documents

  • Ominous

  Giving the impression that something bad is going to happen