J+H - Women and Femininity

Question 1

“Never (she used to say, with streaming tears, when she narrated that experience), never had she felt more at peace will all men”

Answer 1

• Cynical , satirical description
• She loved to tell the story of the Carew Murder
• Undermines her as it suggests she is delighted by the murder
• Stevenson makes fun of female readers - accusing them of being bloodthirsty, gothic

Question 2

“under which the bones were audibly shattered and the body jumped upon the roadway. At the horror of these sights and sounds, the maid fainted”

Answer 2

• Typical of victorian literature
• The maid didn’t really faint
• Not realistic
• Making fun of gothic traditions for female readers - addiction to violence

Question 3

“and many women of different nationalities passing out, key in hand, to have a morning glass”

Answer 3

• Alcoholics
• All women in Soho are like this
• Uses humour
• Is this misogynistic?

Question 4

“An ivory-faced and silvery-haired old woman opened the door. She had an evil face, smoothed by hypocrisy; but her manners were excellent.”

Answer 4

• Women are just like men - excellent manners on the surface, they are hypocritical underneath.
• The woman’s evil can be seen on her face whereas Jekyll’s evil can only be seen on Hyde

Question 5

“A flash of odious joy appeared upon the woman’s face. Ah, said she, he is in trouble! What has he done?”

Answer 5

• Female Reader is personified as this is what they are doing