“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 and symbolises the conflict between surface appearances and deeper realities. He is able to suppress aspects of himself deemed unacceptable, much like his later fascination with indulging darker desires, all while avoiding suspicion.
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” (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 imagery of being “caged” and “roaring” evokes an animalistic allusion, critiquing Victorian society’s repression of primal instincts. Hyde’s transformation into a “devil” symbolizes a descent into a more primitive form, where societal constraints force the suppression of desires, unleashing an uncontrollable, beastly force. This reflects the tension between civilization and instinct. Jekyll’s “devil” represents the repressed darker side of his personality, which, once unleashed, disrupts his moral integrity. The religious allusion to the devil contrasts with Christian values, emphasizing how repressing darker urges inevitably leads to their destructive eruption.
“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 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 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.
I have been doomed to such a shipwreck: that man is not truly one, but truly two”
chapter 10
The verb “doomed” alludes to pastoral judgement- he fears God and how he will be perceievd in the eyes of relegious expectation
The noun “shipwreck” is interesting as it presents the danger of his realisation , it hyperbolises the psychological suffering that he has endured
The repetition of “truly” within his statement hints that this is coming from a place of rationality - impling that his discovery is the truth
highlights Jekyll’s internal conflict, representing the theme of duality. Jekyll is not a unified self but is split between two identities: the good (Jekyll) and the evil (Hyde). Stevenson uses this to explore the complexity of human nature, where both sides coexist within one person.
The quote also reflects Jekyll’s attempt to repress his darker urges, symbolizing Victorian society’s emphasis on controlling desires. However, it shows that repression only empowers Hyde, critiquing the societal moral constraints that stifle true expression.
The irony is that in trying to separate his identities, Jekyll ultimately strengthens Hyde’s power. This demonstrates the danger of repressing one’s darker nature, with Stevenson critiquing the destructive consequences of attempting to control and deny parts of oneself.
pious work annotated with startling blasphemies
Religion vs science
The phrase underscores the stark contrast between Dr. Jekyll’s outward moral respectability and the hidden immorality of his actions. “Pious work” suggests Jekyll’s public persona of virtue, while “startling blasphemies” exposes the violent, sinful urges he secretly harbors. The juxtaposition highlights the central theme of duality in the novella, showing how Jekyll’s repressed darker desires corrupt his otherwise moral life. The use of “blasphemies” also critiques the Victorian obsession with outward decorum, suggesting the dangers of repressing one’s true nature.
