Jekyll Chapter 5

• His laboratory was a ‘dingy windowless structure‘ the adjective ‘windowless’


  • Alludes to the idea of seclusion and mystery. Stevenson built a metaphorical chasm between Jekyll private life and his public Presentation on himself
• ‘Dr. Jekyll, looking deadly sick.’


  • juxtaposes the prior chapter title ‘Dr Jekyll was quite at ease’, which shows the fragility of his composure and Jekyll power over his inner evil
  • Jekylls power in the battle against Hyde is dwindling as he begins to indulge more in the endeavours of hyde
• ‘I was thinking of my own character, which this hateful business has rather exposed’


  • There’s an overarching fear of scandal and failure to uphold a respectable reputation. Jackal is overtly preoccupied with his reputation.
• The motif of illness


  The motif of illness is pertinent throughout the text as it is used to communicate a realisation or exposure to something incredulous or something that the characters do not want to come to terms with, Jekyll is sick by the reality that hyde is taking over
• The handwriting of the letter is described as ‘

  odd’ and ‘upright’


  • This portrays jecylls concealment of his secret
  • these adjectives also portrayed the writing as awkward and orthodox, perhaps metaphorical for jekylls struggle to repress and conceal hyde, he’s fighting against nature
• ‘ there’s a rather singular resemblance; the two hands are in many points identical: only differently sloped’


  • Mr. Guest is used by Stevenson to expose jekyll and put his secret in Jeopardy
  • The two “ hands” serve as a metaphor for the two aspects of Jekyll nature, they are identical because they are implicated over each other. The phrase “differently sloped” could be for the different moral inclinations
• Jekyll “burned’ the evolope in which the letter was contained


  • this destroys any possible trace of hydes location. This is representative of jekylls desire to and his endeavours with his alter ego, and simutaneously in another act of concealment.