“damned juggernaut”
chapter 1
Stevenson uses implicit conventions to reflect Victorian society and comment on the weaknessess of his demeanour in contrast with with such merciless savageness. This contrasts with how the Victorian audience’s view of how a man should behave.
- Highlights Hyde as an uncontrollable force whose evil gathers in strength and leads him to become unstoppabke
- links Hyde’s actions to those of the devil, emphasising his depraved behaviour. This introduces a recurring motif of links between Hyde and the devil, whcih suggest that Jekyll has been tempted into releasing his innermost evil desires through his transformation into Hyde.
- ‘The noun “juggernaut” emphasises Hyde’s relentless cruelty and complete absence of mercy, particularly as his most vulnerable victims are a young girl and an elderly man — further highlighting his inhumanity and indifference to suffering.
- The word comes from Jagannath, a Hindu deity — in colonial British usage, a “juggernaut” was a large cart carrying the god’s image, which people would throw themselves under in devotion.Stevenson could be ironising this — instead of religious devotion, Hyde’s “juggernaut” moment is pure destruction. Could also link to the idea of blind faith or submission to evil — Jekyll “throws himself” under the force of Hyde by creating him.
- The metaphor is ambiguous and dehumanises Hyde, making him appear devoid of human emotions and sympathy, but shrouding him in mystery. This contributes to a key motif: the difficulty people have in describing or defining Hyde, which heightens the sense of enigma surrounding him and suggests that he exists beyond societal norms.
- The adjective “damned” carries religious connotations, linking Hyde to hell and the idea of eternal punishment. Stevenson uses this religious imagery to highlight Hyde’s lack of a God-fearing nature, emphasising his complete moral corruption. In a Victorian society where fear of damnation was prevalent, Hyde’s godless character would have been particularly terrifying to a religious audience.
” Mr Hyde shrank back with a hissing intake of breath”
chapter 2
duality of human nature
good vs evil
science vs religion
appearence vs reality
Onomatopoeia & Anthropomorphism: The use of “hissing” mimics the sound of a serpent, evoking biblical imagery — particularly the serpent in Genesis, symbolizing the Devil. This aligns Hyde with satanic qualities, presenting him as a manifestation of evil.
• Sibilance: The repeated “s” sound (sibilance) enhances the hissing effect, further associating Hyde with serpentine, devilish traits. This mirrors the idea of Hyde being a “satanic signature” — a clear representation of sin and moral corruption.
Duality & Repression:
Hyde’s serpent-like qualities highlight the novella’s theme of duality, representing the repressed darker side of human nature. Stevenson critiques Victorian society’s suppression of desires, suggesting that Hyde acts on what society forces others to repress.
Irony:
Though Hyde embodies devilish traits, Stevenson critiques Victorian morality by showing how he acts on forbidden urges. This suggests that everyone harbors these darker impulses, but they are suppressed due to societal and moral expectations.
“Something troglodytic”
chapter 2
duality
repression
good vs evil
appearnece vs reality
Troglodyte: A troglodyte refers to an early, cave-dwelling human, suggesting Hyde’s rejection of modern societal norms. This description conveys his primitive nature, positioning him as the embodiment of savagery and inhumanity.
Victorian Disgust & Repression: Hyde’s troglodytic qualities contrast sharply with the respectability and order of Victorian society. Utterson’s disgust serves as a microcosm for the wider societal reaction to anything or anyone that challenges the rigid, repressive norms of the time. Victorians valued social conformity, and anything perceived as primitive or deviant was met with contempt.
Critique of Society: Stevenson uses the characterization of Hyde to critique Victorian moral and social standards, particularly how the period’s moral rigidity led to the repression of natural human desires, which Hyde embodies without restraint.
Contextual Link: The term “troglodytic” aligns with Darwinian theory gaining traction during the period, hinting at Hyde’s connection to the animalistic, undermining the Victorian belief in human superiority and moral ascendancy.
Dr Jekyll describing Hyde as “that ugly idol”
chapter 10
Duality of Human Nature
Repression
Good vs. Evil
Science vs. Religion
Moral Retribution
Oxymoron: The phrase “ugly idol” contrasts two opposites, “idol” (something revered) and “ugly” (something repellent), highlighting the duality at the heart of Jekyll’s creation. It shows the paradox of Jekyll’s experiment: his attempt to separate good and evil results in the creation of something grotesque yet central to his internal conflict.
Religious Connotations: “Idol” suggests idolatry, a sin in religious contexts, underscoring Jekyll’s attempt to play god. By creating Hyde, he oversteps moral boundaries, leading to his downfall. This reflects Victorian concerns about the dangers of scientific hubris and tampering with nature.
Moral Retribution: The “ugly idol” symbolizes the consequences of Jekyll’s pride and his decision to separate his darker impulses. His attempt to control both good and evil leads to inevitable retribution, as his experiment backfires and exposes the dangers of unchecked ambition.
Duality of Man: The contrast between “ugly” and “idol” highlights Jekyll’s inner conflict, torn between his respectable persona and his darker desires. It critiques the danger of separating the human psyche and indulging in suppressed instincts
“With ape like fury, he was trampling his victim”
Chapter 4
Duality
Repression
Appearance vs reality
Science vs religion
Good vs evil
Animalistic simile: The animalistic simile “ape-like fury” portrays Hyde’s regression to a primitive state, where instinctual desires are unchecked. This violent eruption reveals how repression only intensifies Hyde’s savagery, exposing the fragility of Victorian civility.
• Victorian Anxiety: Hyde embodies Victorian fears — the collapse of their moral structure and the return of man’s animalistic nature. He is the physical manifestation of what society desperately tries to suppress.
• Darwinism: The reference to an “ape” aligns with Darwinian theory, challenging the belief in human superiority. Stevenson uses Hyde to expose the uncomfortable truth that beneath the surface, man remains driven by primal urges.
• Careless verb “trampling”: The repeated verb “trampling,” first used when he “trampled calmly” over a girl, emphasises Hyde’s escalating brutality and lack of empathy. His violence is thoughtless and instinctive, not calculated.
• Power & Repression: Hyde’s dominance reflects the darker self Victorian men were forced to repress. Jekyll’s surrender to Hyde symbolises a rejection of societal control, revealing the cost of denying natural human impulses.
