Character- Mr Hyde

Question 1

Quotations + Analysis

Answer 1

“He is a man of a very evil reputation.” (Chapter 2)
-Analysis: The reputation of Mr Hyde precedes him, and he is immediately marked as dangerous and malevolent.
-Grade 9 Insight: Stevenson establishes Hyde’s evil nature early on, representing the dark side of human nature that refuses to conform to society’s morals.
Theme: Evil and Corruption

“I never saw a man so distressed as you were by my will; unless it were that hide-bound pedant, Lanyon, at what he called my scientific heresies.” (Chapter 10)
-Analysis: This line highlights Hyde’s uncontrolled evil, bringing out a distress that no one else can.
-Grade 9 Insight: Hyde is untamed, representing the chaotic and destructive side of Jekyll’s personality that defies rational or moral boundaries.
Theme: Evil and Corruption

“He is not a man; he is an animal.” (Chapter 2)
-Analysis: Hyde’s behaviour is so shocking and uncontrolled that he is equated with an animal, which contrasts sharply with Jekyll’s respectable persona.
-Grade 9 Insight: Stevenson explores the dual nature of humanity—Hyde is a literal manifestation of Jekyll’s darker side that Jekyll himself cannot fully control.
Theme: Duality

“He is very much like a criminal.” (Chapter 2)
-Analysis: This perception shows how Hyde’s evil side makes him act in ways that society immediately recognises as immoral.
-Grade 9 Insight: Hyde is the external manifestation of the repressed dark side that Jekyll wishes to conceal but cannot control.
Theme: Duality

“I am very low, I am not well.” (Chapter 10)
-Analysis: Jekyll’s admission shows how his duality has caused him deep psychological and physical stress.
-Grade 9 Insight: The constant switching between Jekyll and Hyde illustrates the psychological toll of living with a divided self and the danger of unchecked impulses.
Theme: Duality

“His every act and thought seemed to be his own, and yet he was at the mercy of his transformation.” (Chapter 10)
-Analysis: Hyde is caught between self-control and monstrous impulse, showing the contrast between what he appears to be (a man) and what he truly is (a vessel for evil).
-Grade 9 Insight: This is a key moment showing dualism—Hyde seems like an independent person, but is in fact a product of Jekyll’s hidden, repressed desires.
Theme: Appearance vs Reality

“He must have been a man of some point of excellence, but he is utterly ruined.” (Chapter 2)
-Analysis: Hyde’s evil is so complete that it ruins Jekyll’s reputation, even though Jekyll started as a respected man.
-Grade 9 Insight: Stevenson uses appearance vs reality here—outward respectability can conceal hidden evil, and the loss of reputation symbolizes the destructive nature of repression and secrets.
Theme: Appearance vs Reality

“He was a small man, but had a terrifying, twisted countenance.” (Chapter 2)
-Analysis: Hyde’s physical appearance reveals the true nature of his character, where evil is written on his body.
-Grade 9 Insight: Stevenson uses physical deformity to represent how inner evil can manifest in outwardly grotesque ways, blending appearance vs reality.
Theme: Appearance vs Reality