Ch 9 Quotes Flashcards
“I sometimes think if we knew all…we should be more glad to get away”
We should be cautious about the exploration of our own personal desires.
“my life is shaken to its roots”
This metaphor shows that Lanyon’s grasp on life has been fatally disturbed; the shock of witnessing Hyde turn into Jekyll has caused such a shock that he will not survive it. Hyde’s transformation has also blown apart all of Lanyon’s beliefs; the foundation to his world has been rocked as he sees how Jekyll, a respectable educated scientist, has such an evil side to him. For a gentleman to have a solid, respectable reputation was seen as incredibly important in Victorian Britain and, without this good reputation, a man could be ruined and rejected by society.
Here, Lanyon sees Jekyll as a man exposed; his reputation has been stripped away and his dark side unleashed. Lanyon’s shock is understandable at such clear evidence of an alter ego which indulges in violent murder in the constrained world of Victorian society.
“reeled, staggered, clutched…staring with injected eyes…the features seemed to melt and alter”
The transformation is described as painful to mirror the battle taking place between the 2 sides of Jekyll’s identity. The gothic image of injected eyes instigates fear, whilst the “melting” of his face could suggest the loss of his respected reputation through the Victorian pseudoscience belief of physiognomy
