Jekyll and Hyde Flashcards
(33 cards)
Jekyll’s dual nature: The struggle between good and evil
Jekyll says he is “two souls…like two natures that contend in the field of my consciousness.” Shows duality of humans, Victorian belief of suppressing darker impulses. Appears in Preface, Chapter 3, Chapter 10. Symbolizes internal conflict between respectable self and repressed evil.
Hyde as the physical embodiment of evil and animalistic urges
Described as “troglodytic”, “ape-like” (Chapter 1), “something wrong with his appearance” (Chapter 2). Roaring like a beast (Chapter 10). Hyde is primal, uncivilized, representing humanity’s dark base instincts. Animalistic imagery contrasts Jekyll’s civilized facade.
Reputation and social respectability in Victorian society
Jekyll highly concerned with “good name”, “honourable” reputation (Chapters 3, 5, 10). Wealthy men hire “bravos” to do their crimes (Chapter 10). Shows hypocrisy: public facade vs hidden immorality. Society’s harsh judgment forces repression of desires, creating duality.
Transformation pain—physical and psychological
Jekyll’s “grinding in the bones”, “racking pains” (Chapter 10), and his spirit is tortured during transformations. Symbolizes how evil corrupts both body and soul. Crossing moral boundaries is unnatural and painful.
Hyde’s deformity and size symbolism
Hyde is “smaller and slighter” than Jekyll (Chapter 10), symbolizing regression and devolution. Smaller stature suggests a more primitive, less evolved, and less constrained being—free but monstrous. His “face” visibly evil, “the other” dehumanizes him.
The ‘sea of liberty’ and Hyde’s freedom
Jekyll describes springing into “sea of liberty” like a “schoolboy” (Chapter 10). Symbolizes exhilaration and carefree joy of abandoning societal rules—Hyde embodies freedom from repression.
Persistence and takeover of evil
Hyde “passes away” physically but continues to influence Jekyll (Chapter 10). The pronoun shift from “I” to “him” shows loss of identity and control. Jekyll surrenders to Hyde in tragic defeat.
Violence and cruelty without reason
Hyde’s “mauling” of the “unresisting” body (Chapter 10) shows brutal violence. Hyde acts with pure malice, “hates without reason.” Symbolizes irrational, evil impulses unchecked by morality.
Religious and Gothic imagery
“Hell”, “devil”, “slime of the pit” (Chapter 10), “steps of the avenger” suggest divine judgment and damnation. Gothic atmosphere externalizes Jekyll’s internal corruption and Victorian fears of sin.
Hyde as ‘ugly idol’ and outsider
Hyde called “it” and “ugly idol” (Chapter 10), showing dehumanization and isolation. Hyde is repellent and unfit within society. His outsider status symbolizes rejection of social norms and morality.
Jekyll’s addiction and pleasure in evil
“Delight from every blow”, “transport of glee”, “lust” (Chapter 10) show evil is actively desired, not just accidental. Jekyll addicted to freedom and power Hyde gives him, reflecting human temptation toward sin.
Paranoia and consequences of evil
“Steps of the avenger” and “crowd” imagery (Chapter 10) show paranoia, foreshadowing inevitable punishment. Jekyll’s guilt is a form of psychological torment. Evil cannot be hidden forever.
Sensory overload and invasion of evil
Hyde’s influence described as “crowd” and “insects swarm” (Chapter 10). Shows evil as intrusive, overwhelming, and corrupting Jekyll’s mind and soul.
Final attempt to suppress evil
“Ground the key under my heel” (Chapter 10) symbolizes desperate effort to regain control. Shows tragedy of Jekyll’s failed fight against his darker nature.
Duality reflected in setting and atmosphere
Foggy London streets, dark alleys, “sinister block” (Chapters 1, 4, 9) represent moral ambiguity and hidden evil lurking beneath the surface. Setting reflects inner corruption and Victorian anxieties.
Hyde’s physical deformity as symbolic
“Something displeasing, something downright detestable” about Hyde’s face (Chapter 2). Reflects his moral corruption and inhumanity. Physical appearance acts as external sign of internal evil.
Jekyll’s confession and self-awareness
Chapter 10 is Jekyll’s full confession. Shows internal horror, guilt, and rationalization of his actions. Jekyll tries to justify suppression of Hyde as a means of escape.
Transformation as loss of identity
Shift from “I” to “him” shows Jekyll’s fragmented self. Transformation erodes personality, blurring lines between good and evil, man and monster (Chapter 10).
Power and control illusions
Jekyll’s belief he can control “devil” Hyde (Chapter 10) is an overconfidence. Hyde’s roaring and animalistic nature reveals real loss of control.
Morality as social construct and natural law
Jekyll’s pain during transformation (Chapter 10) suggests giving into evil goes against natural and spiritual laws. Stevenson critiques Victorian moral repression and the dangerous consequences of denying human nature.
Hyde’s impact on Jekyll’s health
Jekyll’s physical sickness after transformations (multiple chapters) symbolizes evil’s corrupting power, linking body and soul.
Hyde’s role as symbol of Victorian fears
Hyde represents the hidden dark desires and hypocrisy in Victorian society, showing the struggle between public respectability and private vice.
Wealth as shield and enabler
Jekyll’s ability to “afford to laugh at suspicion” and hire “bravos” (Chapter 10) critiques how wealth allows immorality to go unpunished.
Animalistic roar as symbol of primal chaos
Hyde “roaring” like a beast (Chapter 10) evokes chaos, danger, and loss of human rationality.
