violence Flashcards
(13 cards)
“Edward Hyde, alone in the ranks of mankind, was pure evil”
By describing Hyde as “alone in the ranks of mankind” and “pure evil”, Stevenson removes Hyde of any semblance of humanity. The stark isolation implied in the adjective “alone” contrasts with the structured idea of “ranks,” reinforcing Hyde’s exclusion from conventional morality and civilized society, emphasising how unique and isolated he was. In some ways, this creates a similar sympathy for Hyde as we might feel for Frankenstein’s Monster, since neither asked to be created. However, Frankenstein’s Monster seeks acceptance, whereas in contrast Hyde actively revels in his evil. This highlights how his “evil” is not imposed- it is chosen, reinforcing his moral depravity. Furthermore, Stevenson’s description of Hyde as “pure evil” removes any possibility of redemption, presenting him as the embodiment of innate sin- an entity entirely beyond moral rehabilitation. This highlights his separation from “mankind” as he doesn’t fit into the “ranks” that define humanity, thus alienating him. This links to Victorian fears of degeneration, perhaps suggesting that Hyde is not just feared, but is entirely incompatible with humanity.
“clubbed/ trampling/ like a madman”
When Hyde attacks Sir Danvers, Stevenson uses a range of verbs that make his attack sound violent and out of control. “Clubbed” relates him to cavemen – or “troglodytes” – who used to carry clubs around to batter their prey. “Trampling” highlights Hyde’s indifference to human life, showing that he doesn’t just hurt his victim—he destroys him without thought or remorse. It is also a behaviour often associated with animals, particularly those that stampede or move without consideration, which further emphasises his animalistic qualities. He is described as doing this “like a madman,” a simile that makes it clear that Hyde has lost control. Here, Hyde’s unchecked violence starkly contrasts with Jekyll’s vision of himself as a refined gentleman, reinforcing Stevenson’s critique of Victorian repression. Madness was also still a loosely defined concept in Victorian society, so this description would have evoked fear to the reader due to its association with unpredictability and loss of rational control.
“ape-like fury”
Hyde’s “ape-like fury” can be seen as a reflection of Victorian fears of degeneration (atavism)- the idea that humans could regress or revert back to more primitive and less evolved forms. This is because the adjective “ape-like” aligns Hyde with Darwin’s evolutionary theory, presenting him as less evolved, and therefore, more dangerous This simile emphasises his animalistic nature, suggesting that Hyde’s violence is driven by raw, untamed impulses. His “fury” also infers an explosive and uncontrollable energy- one that isn’t premeditated but instead brutal and spontaneous, just like the behaviour of a wild animal.
“it wasn’t like a man; it was like some damned juggernaut”
Hyde is consistently dehumanised, which suggests that his physical and moral presence is so different from humanity that he cannot be identified as a “man”, only “some damned juggernaut”. A “juggernaut” refers to an unstoppable, destructive force, so comparing Hyde to one (through the use of a simile) conveys that Hyde is ruthless and brutal. Yet beyond this savagery, Hyde is also cold and mechanical- an unfeeling force of devastation that further strips him of any trace of humanity, almost as if destruction is his sole function.
“my devil had been long caged, he came out roaring”
The “devil” represents the darker, primal side of human nature. It isn’t just evil, but embodies all suppressed desires and forbidden urges that a Victorian society would look down upon. Here, Jekyll views Hyde as the personification of everything he has repressed. The fact that it had been “long caged” highlights Jekyll’s lifelong struggle to maintain a respectable facade- he had metaphorically locked away his instincts to meet these social expectations. This provides an image of forced restraint and denial. Finally, it “came out roaring” which evokes imagery of an animal or a monster, emphasising that Hyde, like an untamed creature acts impulsively. The adjective “roaring” has connotations of aggression and an explosive release, thus inferring how unnatural it is to “cage” one’s true identity.
“Agonised womb of consciousness, these polar twins should be continuously struggling”
This metaphor intensifies Jekyll’s psychological torment, comparing his internal conflict to a painful, unnatural birth- suggesting that Hyde is not a liberation, but a violent, parasitic creation. The phrase ‘polar twins’ reinforces duality, yet the fact that they ‘continuously struggle’ suggests a ceaseless, irreconcilable battle, stripping away any illusion that good and evil can coexist harmoniously. Stevenson destroys the notion of balance, instead portraying Jekyll’s inevitable descent into chaos.
“There was borne in upon his mind a crushing anticipation of calamity”
The passive phrasing “borne in upon his mind” suggests that the thought of catastrophe is inescapable, almost as if fate itself has imposed it upon him. “Crushing anticipation” evokes paralyzing dread, reinforcing Gothic themes of inevitability and psychological torment. This line encapsulates the fear of scientific overreach- once Jekyll’s descent begins, disaster is not just possible but predestined.
“The smile was struck out of his face and succeeded by an expression of such abject terror and despair”
The abrupt shift from a ‘smile’ to ‘abject terror’ visualizes the horrifying cost of self-revelation. The violent verb ‘struck’ implies sudden punishment, almost like a force of divine retribution. This moment is not just fear- it is the realization of inescapable doom, where Hyde’s mask of pleasure is violently torn away to expose his true horror beneath. Stevenson’s use of visceral imagery reinforces the Gothic idea that confronting one’s true nature brings unbearable psychological torment, making self-awareness more terrifying than external punishment.
He began to go wrong, wrong in mind
Lanyon’s repetition in “he began to go wrong, wrong in mind” underscores his escalating disgust at Jekyll’s descent into moral and scientific transgressions. The echoing “wrong” amplifies the growing divergence between the two, reflecting not just a philosophical divide, but Lanyon’s belief that Jekyll’s experimentation has led him into madness and irreversible corruption.
3x key ideas for violence?
- Stevenson presents Hyde’s violence as primitive, uncontrollable, and dehumanized, reflecting Victorian fears of moral degeneration.
- While Hyde embodies physical brutality, Jekyll’s psychological torment reveals how repression breeds self-destruction, making violence not just external but deeply personal.
- Throughout the novella, Stevenson suggests that violence is not merely a choice but an inescapable consequence of unchecked desires and scientific ambition.
quotes to use for key idea 1 (Hyde’s unchecked violence)
“Clubbed/trampling/like a madman.”
“Ape-like fury.”
“It wasn’t like a man; it was like some damned juggernaut.”
quotes to use for key idea 2 (psychological and internal violence)
“My devil had been long caged, he came out roaring.”
“Agonised womb of consciousness, these polar twins should be continuously struggling.”
“The smile was struck out of his face and succeeded by an expression of such abject terror and despair.”
example conclusion sentence?
Ultimately, Stevenson presents violence as an intrinsic and inescapable force, warning that attempts to suppress human nature only lead to greater destruction.
