jekyll and hyde

• key words:

  .p aradoxical (contrasting)

  .p rimitive

  .t ransgression

  .t ransmogrification (change in a surprising manner)

  .h ypocrisy (saying one thing, and doing another) Stevenson is critical of this

  .h einous

  .r epression

  .facade (mask)

  .m orbid curiosity (disturbing interest)

  .d ichotomy (division/contrast between two separate things)
• victorian london:

  london was founded on hypocrisy and paradoxes. Repressive and restrictive norms were evident during society, yet there was a thriving prostitution industry and drug abuse. Jack the ripper murdered 5 women on the streets of London-he was believed to have a surgical background

  .Stevenson personified this paradox and hypocrisy through jekyll and hyde. People can suppress their morbid curiosity on the public sphere, but not in private.

  .jekyll,like jack the ripper, has a respectable facade but depraved reality.
• darwinism:

  theory of evolution. This contributed to the rise in science, which left people feeling disillusioned (less good than they originally thought) with religion. religion was the foundation of morality.

  .hyde is a representation of the regression into a primal form-eliciting fear from the reader. It shows the animalistic instinct is inherent and we cannot eradicate it.
• freuds psychoanalytic theory:

  3 parts of the brain- id, ego, and superego

  id- animalistic part of man

  ego- mediator between id

  superego- does what is socially acceptable.

  . hyde is the id, Jekyll is the ego, and Utterson is the superego.

  . He also thought that man pushes their most disturbing ideas and desires far from his consciousness
• physionomy:

  . suggests that one character outwards appearance is indicative of their internal nature. The appearance of physical abnormality was an implication that there was something wrong according to God, society and nature.

  .Stevenson's portrayal of Hyde conforms to this. His evil nature is shown in his deformed figure

  .Stevenson also ridicules it through the polished and unblemished facade of jekyll.

  --> this makes his reader truly reflect upon this.
• stevenson's intentions:

  -as jekyll is microcosmic for Victorin gentleman, juxtaposing Hyde's depravity, it reveals the ambiguity and blurred lines between morality and immorality in Victorian society, as well as good and evil. This interconnection is used by STevenson to satirise how progressive society is in reality founded on hypocrisy, duality and suffering.
• stevenson's intentions:

  stevensons novella serves as a cautionary tale against the dangers of moral purification in victorian society which denies natural impulses and desires due to favouring simplistic moral absolutes. He suggests that the attempt to deny or eradicate this inherent duality is not only futile (pointless) but also detrimental to the individual and society as a whole.
• stevensons intentions:

  stevenson crititques the self-imposed rigidity encourages by Victorian societal norms. Through his presentation of Victorian gentleman, he scrutinises the suffocating austerity (sterness) ingrained in the archetype of the victorian gentleman, highlighting its role in shaping the complex relationship between personal desires and public personas.
• jekyll: "a large, well-made, smooth-faced man of fifty... every mark of capacity and kindness" (chap 3)

  paradoxical description: 50 year old man would typically be etched with wrinkles and age, so this paints him as artificial, he seems the archetype of a respectable gentleman yet almost to the extent where he is manufactured.

  "kindness" illustrates affinity with jekyll, yet "mark" next to kindness foreshadows a hidden stain on jekylls morality

  foreshadowing: jekylls sanitised appearance becomes an ironic counterpoint to the barbaric Hyde lurking beneath.
• "if i am the chief of sinners, I am the chief of sufferers also" (chap 6)

  alliteration: "sinners" and "sufferers" blurs these concepts, suggesting an intertwined relationship. As jekyll is microcosmic of Victorian gentleman, it reveals the blurred lines between morality and immorality in Victorian society.

  jekylls struggle epitomises the paradoxical and hypocritical nature of society. He battles with indulging in his sinful darker desires while undergoing the suffering imposed by societal repression in victorian society.
• "if i am the chief of sinners, I am the chief of sufferers also"

  biblical allusions: despite Jekylls religious transgressions, he acknowledges he is still subject to divine condemnation. The biblical allusion to hell shows despite his defiance and rejection of societal norms, he remains accountable to God's judgment.
• hyde: "there is something wrong with his appearance; something displeasing, something downright detestable." said by Enfield in chap 1

  physiognomy: he is holding the theory of physiognomy, + upholds the belief that physical abnormalities are a divine + natural indication of an individual's wickedness + immorality. However he mocks this with he pristene presentation of jekyll (smooth faced man..)

  alliteration: emphasises the magnitude of Hyde's physical + moral inhumanity + depravity. This juxtaposes the "smooth" unblemished facade of jekylls polished exterior symbolic of societal hypocrisy
• "with ape-like fury, he was trampling his victim" (chap 4)

  animalistic simile: regression to a primitive state, where instinctual desires are unchecked - futility (pointlessness) of relentless repression as it has encouraged his evolution towards a more barbaric state.

  darwinism: The rise of Darwinism forced Victorians to confront the unsettling concept of man's animalistic inheritance. In Hyde, they see their carefully constructed facade stripped bare. Ellicits shock and dee-rooted fear for reader.
• "with ape-like fury, he was trampling his victim"

  careless verb "trampling": echoes in chap 1, where he trampled "calmly" overa little girl, illustrates the inhumane manifestation of reckless violence. Hyde is able to reclaim the dominance relinquished by the Jekyll to his paternalistic (freedom restricting) society. Jekyll has succumbed to society. Hyde is ammoral (don't know morals)
• jekyll and hyde:

  "my devil had been long caged, he came out roaring"

  verb caged: animalistic allusions linking Darwinism. This critiques the repression of these primal instincts and hedonistic (pursuit of pleasure) urges by societal norms.

  zoomorphism: the zoomorphic description of Jekylls degenerate desires shows societal constraints compel him to suppress these desires, leading to the emergence of a beastly, animalistic force, personified through Hyde. Hyde is a manifestation of his desires. Illustrating pressing desires, does the opposite.
• "my devil had been long caged, he came out roaring"

  his transmogrification into the "devil" of hyde, was because he was forced to resort to secrecy -this in itself is an oxymoron as dishonesty is incompatible with the blueprint of a respectable gentleman. Reincforces hypocrisy with a Victorian society.
• "agonised womb of consciousness, these polar twins should be continuously struggling" (chap 10)

  painful vefb, agonised: Jekyll made a shocking mistake in attempting to separate the two aspects of his nature. The perpetual pain between the dichotomy of moral duty and personal pleasure is shown.

  "womb" the place of origin, illustrates the inherent duality of human nature. Stevenson satirises the Victorian want to be free from this inherent human flaw showing it as inherent to each individual from the moment of creation. Jekyll feels this pain because it is inherent and he cannot eradicate it
• "agonised womb of consciousness, there polar twins should be continuously struggling" (chapter 10)

  metaphor: two aspects of human nature are never finished developing, they are perpetually in an embryonic state and thus engaging in a power struggle as they both try to grow within the same space.
• "he was austere with himself; drank gin when he was alone, to mortify a taste for vintages" (chapter 1)

  he is drinking "gin" to restrict himself from indulging in more expensive alcohol-wine, the very act of drinking it is repressing or "mortifying" his true desires-drinking "gin" is associated with the lower classes thus why he only drinks it alone to avoid tarnishing this reputation.

  gin: has greater alcohol content than wine-drunkness is associated with withdrawing your self-csoncious. He needs a break from the austerity he faces in the public sphere
• "he was austere with himself, drank gin when he was alone, to mortify a taste for vintages" (chapter 1)

  refusing to drink the alcohol he truly desires, allows him to cling on the semblance of austerity. This suggests a complex relationship between his private desires and his public image.
• "if he shall be mr. hyde, I shall be Mr seek" (chap 2) by utterson

  symbolism of hyde and seek represents the inherent duality within humanity. Even utterson has a morbid fascination and curiosity that lurks beneath his sterilised facade.

  .utterson doesn't have the exaggerated dualism of jekyll, he has his own suppressed desires. These desires are a universal aspect of human nature, even in individuals who outwardly conform to societal norms.
• "if he shall be mr. hyde, I shall be Mr. seek"

  homophone of "hyde": introduces the concept of disguise and illusion. Stevenson utilises this to expose the limitations of Victorian physiognomy.
• "such unscientific balderdash... would hvae estranged Damon and Pythias" (chap 2) said by dr lanyon

  embodiment of rationalism: dichotomy between dr jekyyl and lanyon. stevenson explores scientific rationalism vs the allure of the unknown.

  jekyll is interested in metaphysical science. They are both doctors, lanyon embodies rationalism which separates him from jekylls morbid curiosity and exploration into uncharted territories of repressed desires.
• "such unscientific balderdash.... would have estranged Damon and Pythias" Dr Lanyon (chap 2)

  Mythological allusion: Layons allusion to the mythology ridicules him, as a scientist, revealing that his beliefs extend beyond the purely scientific realm. Stevenson may be offering a critique of how science heavily influenced by religion can become distorted and inherently flawed.
• enfield:

  he is the first person to encounter Hyde.

  "the more it looks like queer street, the less I ask" (chapter 1)

  colloquialism: accentuating the camaraderie (mutual trust and friendship) but as Enfield dismisses his curiosity, it shows the sanitised camaraderie among Victorian men, where standards and morals constantly prevents genuine connections. Shows a level of comfort. He is also being slightly critical of Utterson, implying that she shouldn't be so morbidly curious.
• "the more it looks like Queer Street, the less I ask" (chapter 1)

  victorians connections were very sansitises in order to be the quintessential Victorian gentleman. Utterson even says that "I incline to cains hearsay" suggesting that he doesn't take responsibility for others.

  Euphemism: deliberate avoidance of confronting the truth and acknowledging the gravity of the atrocities he has witnessed. This is also use of ambiguity, he should acknowledge that this exits, and that repression of morbid curiosity isn't working.
• "the more it looks like queer street, the less I ask" (chap 1)

  . Enfield subtly vilified curiosity, insinuating that utterson's, investigative nature may defy societal norms. Despite his nuanced (subtle) duality evidenced by his early morning strolls at "3 o'clock in the morning" he remains bound to uphold Victorian conventions. Stevenson, shows that no matter how much they hold up convention, have a nuanced duality, because it is inherent.

  Enfield is a foil to Utterson in terms of curiosity:

  enfield knows he should be ashamed of gossiping and says that he is "ashamed of his long tongue"