Jekyll Flashcards
“a large, well made, smooth faced man in his fifties… every mark of capacity and kindness”
chapter 3
Duality
Appearance vs reality
Repression
Friendship and loyalty
- archetype of a typical Victorian gentleman
- ” smooth faced man of fifty” is unorthodox and also paradoxical as a man in his fifties would typically be etched with wrinkles and signs of ageing
- also portrays him as the stark anthesis of Hyde, he is “large” compared to Hyde’s “particularly small” stature and his “capacity to kindness” contrasts Hyde’s evil nature
- Context: Victorian society commonly believed in physiognomy. The fact that Jekyll seems physically flawless portrays the facade of respecitibilty and perhaps hints the falsity of physiognomy as we later learn that Jekyll has evil within him
-Foreshadowing: This flawless exterior foreshadows the bleak consequences of such repression. Jekyll’s sanitised appearance becomes an ironic counterpoint to the barbaric Hyde lurking beneath, a monstrous reflection of the darkness he seeks to control and his morbid curiosity.
The unblemished facade suggests Jekyll’s mastery of social performance symbolises the conflict between surface appearances and deeper realities. He can suppress aspects of himself deemed unacceptable, alike to his later fascination with indulging darker desires, without raising suspicion.
The noun ‘kindness’ illustrates why Utterson had such an affinity (natural liking) with Jekyll, it was Jekyll’s supposed kindness that drew Utterson in, compelling him to forge a strong bond with Jekyll. However, the placement of “mark” next to “kindness” foreshadows a hidden stain on Jekyll’s morality.
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**Foreshadowing:
Jekyll’s unblemished facade foreshadows the destructive consequences of repression. His “smooth face” becomes an ironic counterpoint to the barbarity of Hyde, exposing the Gothic theme of hidden monstrosity beneath polished surfaces.
The noun “kindness” explains Utterson’s deep loyalty to Jekyll; however, its placement near the word “mark” ominously hints at a hidden stain upon Jekyll’s morality, suggesting even the most seemingly virtuous are tainted.*
“Dr Jekyll, looking deadly sick”
chapter 5
- The battle against Hyde is dwindling as he begins to indulge more in the endeavours of Hyde
- Juxtaposes the prior chapter “ Dr Jekyll was quite at ease”, which shows the fragility of the composure and Jekyll’s powers over his inner evils
- The motif of illness is prominent throughout the novella as it is used to communicate something incredulous or something that the characters do not want to come to terms with, Jekyll is sickened by the reality of that Hyde is taking over
“If i am the chief of sinners, I am the chief of sufferers also”
chapter 6
Duality
Apparence vs reality
Repression
Good vs evil
Science vs religion
Advertises the dual nature of man
- The act of sinning itself too has a dual nature it is rewarding as it involves indulging in hedonistic desires, but sinning comes with a punishment and thus suffering.
Alliteration: The alliteration of “sinners” and “suffers” blurs the distinction between the two concepts, suggesting they are deeply intertwined. Since Jekyll is a microcosm of the Victorian gentleman, this highlights the moral ambiguity and blurred boundaries between good and evil in Victorian society. This interconnection exposes how a supposedly progressive society is in fact built on hypocrisy, repression, and suffering.
Jekyll’s internal struggle, embodying both “sinner” and “sufferer”, reflects this paradox. He is torn between indulging in his sinful, darker desires and enduring the suffering imposed by strict social expectations. His torment exemplifies the psychological toll of Victorian repression.
Biblical allusions: The phrase “chief of sinners” evokes the language of divine judgement, linking Jekyll’s guilt to a biblical understanding of sin and eternal condemnation. Despite pursuing “scientific balderdash,” Jekyll acknowledges his moral fall, reinforcing the idea that his transgressions cannot escape divine retribution.
This inner turmoil mirrors the Victorian conflict between scientific advancement and religious faith. Despite a growing disillusionment with religion due to the rise of science, the fear of God’s judgement remained a dominant force in the moral landscape of the time.
” My devil was caged up and came out roaring” (NEW)
chapter 10
Duality
Repression
Appearance vs reality
Good vs evil
Science vs religion
Freudian Interpretation (Repression): The verb “caged” refers to Jekyll’s attempt to repress his Id — the primal, unconscious part of the mind driven by desires and instincts. Freud argued that repression can only be temporary, and eventually, the repressed desires (Hyde) will break free. Jekyll’s failure to control his darker urges mirrors Freud’s theory that the Id, when suppressed, will resurface in destructive ways.
Animalistic Imagery: The verb “roaring” represents Hyde’s uncontrolled, primal nature, aligning with Freud’s notion of the Id — a force of unrestrained desire. The roaring suggests Hyde’s wild, instinctive power, uncontrollable by the more rational, socially-acceptable Ego (Jekyll), and reinforces the idea of Jekyll’s inability to balance his repressed desires.
Duality of Human Nature (Id vs. Superego): The struggle between Jekyll (Ego) and Hyde (Id) reflects the constant tension between rational control and repressed desires. Jekyll’s attempt to cage his darker self and his eventual loss of control speaks to the Freudian concept of repression, showing how the Superego (the moral conscience) can’t fully suppress the Id.
Social and Religious Context: The term “devil” links to Jekyll’s inner struggle between his societal role and his deeper, sinful desires. Freud would argue that Jekyll’s repression of these desires causes internal conflict, manifesting as the external transformation into Hyde. This also reflects the Victorian society that repressed individual desires in favor of maintaining an image of respectability, leading to Jekyll’s psychological breakdown.
” My devil was caged up and came out roaring”
chapter 10
Duality
Repression
Appearance vs reality
Good vs evil
Science vs religion
- references to the inner “devil” which is a manifestation of Jekyll’s darkest desires in the form of Hyde.
- the notion of “devil” is a religion allusion denotes a stark contrast with Christian ideas of morality
- the verb “roaring” has connation of an animalistic, uncontrolled, agitated and deadly expression of his repressed elements in Hyde
- the verb “caged” depicts the repression of Victorian society, there is a perputated theme of suffering and and toxic austerity. Also has feral, animalistic allusions
- ” a prosperity to ill” indicates a deeper and more natural tendency and inclination to morality
- Verb caged: The use of the verb “caged not only signifies societal and religious repression but also perpetuates the theme of suffering and toxic austerity (stern/strictness).
- The idea of being “caged” and “roaring” carries animalistic allusions linking with Darwinism (see context). This critiques the suppression of these primal and hedonistic (pursuit of pleasure) urges by societal norms and religious dogma (principles), reflecting the digoing battle between civilization and primal instincts.
Jekyll’s degenerate (corrupt and debased) desires are explosive forces, fighting against the strict societal constraints that compel him to suppress them, leading to the emergence of a beastly, animalistic force, personified through Hyde.”
His transmogrification (change in a surprising way) into the evil “devil” of Hyde, was because of his indulgence into pleasure was incoherent with the expectations of his society thus he was forced to resort to secrecy- this in itself is an oxymoron as dishonesty is incompatible with the blueprint of a respectable gentleman.
” My devil was caged up and came out roaring” (NEWW)
chapter 10
Duality
Repression
Appearance vs reality
Good vs evil
Science vs religion
Freudian Repression:
The verb “caged” represents Jekyll’s repression of his Id (his primal desires). Freud suggests that repression is temporary, and eventually, these suppressed desires break free. Jekyll’s inability to control Hyde shows how repressed urges, when not addressed, will emerge destructively. Hyde is the consequence of Jekyll trying to suppress his darker side, and it demonstrates how repression ultimately leads to chaos
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• Verb caged: The use of the verb “caged” not only signifies societal and religious repression but also perpetuates the theme of suffering and toxic austerity (stern/strictness).
•The idea of being “caged” and “roaring” carries animalistic allusions, linking to Darwinism, and critiques the suppression of primal urges by societal norms and religious dogma. This reflects the ongoing battle between civilization and primitive instincts. Hyde’s transformation symbolizes a descent into a more primitive form, where societal constraints force the suppression of desires, unleashing a beastly, animalistic force.
His transmogrification (change in a surprising way) into the evil “devil” of Hyde, was because of his indulgence into pleasure was incoherent with the expectations of his society thus he was forced to resort to secrecy- this in itself is an oxymoron as dishonesty is incompatible with the blueprint of a respectable gentleman.
Jekyll’s “devil” symbolizes the uncontrollable darker side of his personality, brought to life through Hyde’s violent actions. The term “devil” is a religious allusion, contrasting with Christian morality, where the devil represents evil, temptation, and the antithesis of virtue. Hyde’s emergence as Jekyll’s “devil” reveals how repressing one’s darker urges leads to their unavoidable and destructive eruption, undermining the moral integrity Jekyll attempts to maintain.
“Clothes of the doctors bigness”
Chapter 8
Duality
Repression
Appearance vs reality
science vs religion
Metaphor – “doctor’s bigness”: The metaphor of “doctor’s bigness” serves as a reminder of how Dr Jekyll was once the more developed aspect of his nature, although we now mourn the loss of this respectable individual as all that is left of him is his clothes - he has been replaced by his callous (cruel) and depraved (evil) counterpart.
His repression and denial of his true desires ultimately led to the bleak scientific discovery of his dual identity as Mr. Hyde. This discovery shatters the illusion of his respectability and exposes the depths of his inner conflict.
Symbolism of clothes: Clothes are superficial, highlighting how it was only the superficial aspects of his personality left to survive, everything else was too fragile as it was contrived and false from the start.
This superficiality reinforces the motif (recurring symbol/theme) of appearance versus reality, as it becomes evident that the virtuous (moral) Dr. Jekyll was merely a disguise, concealing the darker reality of his inner turmoil as Hyde.
Good vs evil: The emphasis on the physical “bigness” of Jekyll’s clothes showcases his former dominance over the internal conflict between his dual natures of good and evil. However as he succumbed (gave in) to the temptation of his repressed desires, he diminished both morally and physically, transforming into the malevolent Hyde.
“Agonised womb of consciousness, these polar twins should be continuously suffering”
Chapter 10
Duality
Repression
Good vs evil
Painful verb agonised: The painful verb “agonised” suggests Jekyll made an egregious (shocking) mistake in attempting to separate the two aspects of his nature. It illustrates the perpetual pain between the dichotomy of moral duty and personal pleasure.
As this agony ocurs in the “womb”, the place of origin and creation, illustrates the inherent and inextricable (closely linked) duality of human nature. Thus, Stevenson satirises Victorian society’s desire to “sterilise” or remove humanity’s flaws, suggesting that the duality of human nature is innate and unchangeable — it has existed from the moment of creation and cannot be erased.
- Metaphor: The noun “womb” is a provocative metaphor, in one sense it could suggest that the two aspects of human nature are never finished developing, they are perpetually in an embryonic state and thus engaging in a power struggle as they both try to grow within the same gild.
- Jekyll’s character, described as concealing “polar twins” of good and evil, serves as a powerful allegory (intended to teach) in Stevensons novella. Stevenson challenges the Victorian notion that duality is synonymous with evil, instead suggesting that it is an intrinsic aspect of the human condition.
- Friendship and loyalty: An alternative perspective on Jekyll’s loyalty to his polar twin can be considered: despite outwardly aligning himself with morality and Victorian societal norms, Jekyll’s true loyalties lie in indulging his deepest desires in private - the desires of Hyde. While he presents himselt as loyal to the expectations of society and his fellow Victorian gentlemen, his innermost loyalties are devoted to satisfying his personal indulgent cravings.
- Science and religion: This Biblical reference is then shown by the metaphor of the “womb” and “twins”,alluding to the story of Jacob and Esau - opposite twins in the Bible who fought for their birthright using deception, even from within the womb, ultimately leading to a war between nations. This follows the Calvinist beliefs of the time that every person is enslaved to sin’ and that God predetermines who achieves salvation.
“for man is not truly one, but truly two”
chapter 10
Theme of Duality:
Jekyll’s assertion summarises the central theme of the novella: the inherent dual nature of humanity. Stevenson argues that every individual possesses a divided self — a tension between moral righteousness and primal desires.
Context - Victorian Repression:
Victorian society outwardly promoted strict morality but inwardly repressed natural impulses. Stevenson critiques this hypocrisy by showing that division is not a corruption of man but a fundamental truth of existence.
Biblical Allusion:
The struggle between good and evil echos the biblical allusionof the “fallen” human - a battle between virtue and sin that Jekyll ultimately cannot control. This casts Jekyll as a tragic figure attempting — and failing — to master his own flawed nature.
Scientific Context:
The idea of man being “truly two” also reflects 19th-century scientific ideas, such as Darwinism, where human nature is viewed as a mix of civilised rationality and primal instincts. Jekyll’s experiment to separate these two sides symbolises the limits of scientific ambition — even science cannot overcome the innate duality of the human soul.
Structural Significance:
This duality is most powerfully revealed in Chapter 10 (“Henry Jekyll’s Full Statement of the Case”), where Jekyll’s confession highlights his internal division. The structure mirrors the confession of guilt: just as Jekyll’s two identities are revealed, Stevenson unveils the split nature of Victorian society, where outward respectability masks darker, repressed desires.
Alternative Interpretation:
Jekyll’s claim that “man is truly two” might also serve as a self-justification. Rather than taking full responsibility for his actions, he blames his darker nature on the fundamental split of humanity. This offers an escape from moral responsibility, allowing him to absolve himself of the consequences of his actions.
