Hyde

• "clothes of the doctors bigness"[chapter8][duality,repression,appvsreality.sciencevsreligion]


  metaphor 'doctors bigness'->DrJ, once a more developed individual, has passed away, leaving only his clothes, replaced by his callous and depraved counterpart.

  repression and denial of true desires lead to Mr Hyde-shatters the illusion of his respectability + exposes depth of his inner conflict
• "clothes of the doctors bigness"[chapter8][duality,repression,appvsreality.sciencevsreligion]


  Symbolism of clothes->superficial = superficial aspects of his personality left to survive = everything else was too fragile/false from the start

  motif-appearance vs reality ->evident that moral DrJ was a disguise,hiding the darker reality of his inner turmoil as Hyde
• "My devil has been long caged,he came out roaring"[chapter10][duality,repression,appvsreality,goodvsevil,sciencevsreligion]


  verb 'caged' = signifies societal and religious prepression b also perpetuates theme of suffering and toxic austerity

  animalistic allusions-Darwinism->critiques suprression of these primal and hedonistic urges by societal norms and religious principles
• "My devil has been long caged,he came out roaring"[chapter10][duality,repression,appvsreality,goodvsevil,sciencevsreligion]

  Zoomorphism->societal constraints compel him to supress these desires-leads to beastly animalistic force personified through Hyde

  The transmorgrification into evil 'devil' of Hyde was bc of indulgence in pleasur-contradicted societal expectations & led to his secrecy.
• "Agonised womb of consciousness,these polar twins should be continously struggling"[chapter10][duality,repression,goodvsevil]

  verb "agonised" - Jekyll's significant mistake in separating his moral duty and personal pleasure, illustrating the constant struggle between these two aspects of his nature.

  Stevenson mocks Victorian desire to sterilize human traits, highlighting them as inherent and immutable traits inherent to each individual from the moment of creation.
• "Agonised womb of consciousness,these polar twins should be continously struggling"[chapter10][duality,repression,goodvsevil]

  The metaphor "womb" suggests that human nature's two aspects are perpetually developing, engaging in a power struggle within the same guild.

  Stevenson's novella, Jekyll, uses Jekyll's character to challenge Victorian notions of duality and evil, suggesting it is an inherent aspect of human nature.
• "with ape like fury,he was trampling his victim" [chapter4][duality,repression,appvsreal,sciencevsreligion,goodvsevil]

  • animalistic simile-Hydes progression to a primitive state->where instintctual desires are unchecked
  • The violent eruption reveals the futility of repression, as it only exacerbates Hyde's violent and amoral tendencies, leading to a more barbaric state.
  • Victorian society's civilized control of base instincts is undermined by Hyde's portrayal, as he becomes a monstrous embodiment of their deepest anxieties.
• "with ape like fury,he was trampling his victim" [chapter4][duality,repression,appvsreal,sciencevsreligion,goodvsevil]

  • Darwinism exposed Victorians to the savagery of man's animalistic inheritance, revealing the savagery beneath even the most respectable gentleman's facade.
  • The careless verb "trampling" in chapter 1 exemplifies reckless violence, allowing Hyde to regain dominance from Jekyll's virtuous actions, despite the inhumane manifestation of reckless aggression.
• "There is something wrong with his appearance;something displeasing,something downright detestable"[Enfield][chapter1][appvsreal,duality,repression,sciencevsreligion,goodvsevil]

  • Victorians upheld physiognomy theory, revealing character through appearances, aligning with gothic horror novels like The Picture of Dorian Grey and Jekyll's debauchery.
  • Hyde's appearance is a significant aspect of his character, representing the societal belief that physical abnormalities are a natural sign of wickedness and immorality.
• "There is something wrong with his appearance;something displeasing,something downright detestable"[Enfield][chapter1][appvsreal,duality,repression,sciencevsreligion,goodvsevil]

  • The alliteration "d" in "downright detestable" highlights Hyde's inhumanity and depravity, while Dr. Jekyll's polished exterior symbolizes societal hypocrisy.
  • Hyde, a monstrous embodiment of the darkness suppressed by Victorian society, symbolizes the potential for immorality beneath the polished surface of Victorian propriety standards and morals.