Chapter 8

Question 1

“clothes of the Doctor’s bigness”

Answer 1

poole and Utterson sees Hyde dressed in “clothes of the doctor’s bigness”
-The imagery of the Doctor’s bigness in contrast to the “little” troglodytic”form of Hyde serves as a symbol of the incompatibility of Dr Jekyll’s public persona to Mr Hyde-arguably his id
-perhaps Stephenson highlights the chasm between the characters of Dr Jekyll and Hyde in order to further dramatise the reveal of their aberrant connection in chapter 10
-this intesifying suspense is characteristic of Victorian Gothic Novellas which utilise this literary tool in order to create anticipation and keep the reader engaged with the unfolding mystery

Question 2

“copies of pious work….annotated ,in his own hands, with startling blasphemies”

Answer 2

-the violent juxtaposition between the “pious works” representing religious virtue and societal respectability (the values that Dr Jekyll adopts in public settings) and the “startling blasphemies” written in his own hand which symbolise inner corruption and irreverence to God embodies the reoccurring theme of duality as both good and Evil reside in Dr Jekyll
-In addition, Dr Jekyll being the annotator underscores his internal conflict as it is implied them blasphemous inscriptions stem from Dr Jekyll’s himself
-Jekyll’s public appreciation of religion but private desecration of religion works is a striking example of the the pervasive hypocrisy throughout Victorian England
-in addition, it is implicit that the evil he tried to separate into Hyde was intrinsic as shown through the handwriting
-regardless of whether or not Jekyll or Mr Hyde-the man who Dr Jekyll proclaimed as his “Devil” and the vehicle for his deepest desires- who defaced the works, Jekyll’s contempt for religion is evident