Jekyll and Hyde Quotes (Highlights)

⭐ "The man trampled calmly over the child's body and left her screaming on the ground"

Violence and Mystery \ Enfield

1 - Story of the Door

Oxymoron of the trampled calmly shows how sadistic Hyde is and already sets him out to be pure evil.

⭐ "Let us make a bargain never to refer to this again."

Victorian Gentlemen and Mystery \ Enfield

1 - Story of the Door

Creates an air of mystery around the whole affair. This makes the reader intrigued about the whole circumstance, but also shows how, at the time, it was frowned upon to become embroiled in such affairs as a gentleman.

⭐ "Such unscientific balderdash"

Science vs Religion \ Lanyon

2 - Search for Mr Hyde

Hints that Jekyll's experiments are darker than conventional science.

⭐ "If ever I read Satan's signature upon a face, it is on that of our new friend."

Mystery, Duality of Men \ Narrator

2 - Search for Mr Hyde

Reemphasises the evilness of Hyde, creates more tension surrounding him, and heightens the mystery.

⭐ "something of a slyish cast perhaps, but every mark of capacity and kindness"

Victorian Gentlemen and Duality of Men \ Narrator

3 - Dr Jekyll was Quite at Ease

Shows that he is a good person, but also has hints of secrecy and a darker side to his personality. This is an early sign of Jekyll's dual personality.

⭐ "Lanyon, at what he called my scientific heresies ... [is] a hidebound pedant for all that; an ignorant, blatant pedant"

Science vs Religion, Conflict within characters \ Dr Jekyll

3 - Dr Jekyll was Quite at Ease

This desire to shift from the previous subject to this shows that Jekyll does not wish to talk about Hyde and shows that Jekyll believes that what he is doing is good, even though he is going against God.

⭐ "the moment I choose, I can be rid of Mr Hyde."

Foreshadowing, Mystery \ Dr Jekyll

3 - Dr Jekyll was Quite at Ease

This is found out to be untrue later and foreshadows future events.

⭐ "[Carew's face] seemed to breathe such an innocent and old-world kindness of disposition,"

Innocence, Goodness of Men, Victorian Gentlemen \ Narrator

4 - The Carew Murder Case

In Jekyll and Hyde, the personality can be seen on the face, and since his face is wonderful, he is wonderful, therefore emphasising his innocence.

⭐ "with ape-like fury, he was trampling his victim under foot"

Violence, Murder, Duality and Evilness of Men \ Narrator

4 - The Carew Murder Case

The animalistic description of Hyde's actions showcases his savagery and primality.

⭐ "the bones were audibly shattered"

Violence, Murder \ Narrator

4 - The Carew Murder Case

By appealing to the readers sense of hearing as well as sight, the attack is made to be even more gruesome and vivid.

⭐ "there lay his victim in the middle of the lane, incredibly mangled."

Violence, Murder \ Narrator

4 - The Carew Murder Case

The fact that the victim is "incredibly mangled" showcases the brutality of the crime.

⭐ "The dismal quarter of Soho ... with its muddy ways, and slatternly passengers"

Victorian Gentlemen and Duality of Men. Utterson \ Narrator

4 - The Carew Murder Case

This vivid description of Soho offers a good comparison of how the worst and best of humanity live side by side (Cavendish Square and Soho). Soho was poor and a place of disrepute, so the fact that Hyde lives here further associates him with maligned purpose. This combines with the pathetic fallacy of the fog to make London appear nightmarish. There is also more symbolism in the fact that Soho was in the wealthy West End, like the immoral Hyde is located within Jekyll.

⭐ "She had an evil face, smoothed by hypocrisy; but her manners were excellent."

Duality of Men \ Narrator

4 - The Carew Murder Case

This juxtaposition develops the idea that human nature does its upmost to conceal our faults, as she puts on a mask of respectability.

⭐ "he eyed the dingy, windowless structure"

Duality of Men, Symbolism \ Narrator

5 - Incident of the Letter

This is the first time Utterson has been to the laboratory. The "dingy" laboratory is associated with Hyde, as it is closest to his part of the house.

⭐ "Now that that evil influence had been withdrawn, a new life began for Dr. Jekyll."

Duality of Men, Calm before the storm, Suspense \ Narrator

6 - Remarkable Incident of Dr Lanyon

This showcases how Dr Jekyll has tried his upmost to leave the past of Hyde behind him and shows that he is a better man for it.

⭐ "He had his death-warrant written legibly upon his face."

Mystery, Death, Horror \ Narrator

6 - Remarkable Incident of Dr Lanyon

The fact that Lanyon is so clearly so unwell, especially since we last saw him as healthy makes Utterson "shocked" and shows that this change is sudden. Mystery around what could have caused this, though what it is was unclear.

⭐ "I sometimes think if we knew all, we should be more glad to get away."

Mystery, Suspense Dr Lanyon 6 \ Remarkable Incident of Dr Lanyon

Lanyon's use of language shows how much he has changed. When we meet Lanyon first, he is an articulate man of science, but now his speech is vague and cryptic.

⭐ "If I am the chief of sinners, I am the chief of sufferers also."

Duality of Men, Mystery \ Dr Jekyll

6 - Remarkable Incident of Dr Lanyon

This quote hints at the internal conflict between Jekyll and Hyde, and suggests that the more Hyde sins, the worse Jekyll suffers.

⭐ "but professional honour and faith to his dead friend were stringent obligations; and the packet slept in the inmost corner of his private safe."

Mystery, Secrecy, Victorian Gentlemen \ Narrator

6 - Remarkable Incident of Dr Lanyon

Even though he can learn the truth from the documents (which act as a symbolism for answers to the mystery), Utterson shows us that he values moral principle over his curiosity. It also perhaps shows his unwillingness to confront the mystery, preferring to lock it away.

⭐ "[his smile was] succeeded by an expression of such abject terror and despair,"

Mystery, Horror \ Narrator

7 - Incident at the Window

Suddenness of change makes us concerned for Jekyll, makes us fear for his safety, and increases the sense of mystery.

⭐ "[Utterson was] a good deal frightened and rather inclined to be irritated in consequence."

Character of Utterson \ Narrator

8 - The Last Night

This quote shows us a lot about Utterson's character, since he is a deeply rational man who is not used to dealing with things he cannot comprehend. This further suggests something supernatural has happened.

⭐ "Very irregular, very unseemly; your master would be far from pleased."

Victorian Gentlemen \ Utterson

8 - The Last Night

This quote shows that even in the face of horror, he still believes in the importance of respectability and decorum.

⭐ "Your master, Poole, is plainly seized with one of those maladies that both torture and deform the sufferer;"

Victorian Gentlemen, Science versus Supernatural \ Utterson

8 - The Last Night

Utterson desperately wishes to find a rational explanation for the events that Poole has described, saying that his version of events is a "wild" tale.

⭐ "'Oh, I know it's not evidence, Mr. Utterson ... but a man has his feelings' ...

'Ay, ay,' said the lawyer. 'My fears incline to the same point'"

Science versus Supernatural \ Poole/Utterson

8 - The Last Night

This is unusual for the rational Utterson, as he feels there should always be an explanation, so this shows how all normal convention has broken down.

⭐ "the blow shook the building, and the red baize door leaped against the lock and hinges. A dismal screech, as of mere animal terror, rang from the cabinet."

Mystery, Suspense, Tension \ Narrator

8 - The Last Night

The use of "animal terror" confirms that it is Hyde, but the entire little scene operates as the climatic end to the plot, as the mystery is about to be revealed. The lock door symbolises the barriers to finding and accepting the truth of man's dual nature.

⭐ "but the wood was tough and the fittings were of excellent workmanship; and it was not until the fifth, that the lock burst in sunder and the wreck of the door fell inwards on the carpet."

Mystery, Suspense, Tension \ Narrator

8 - The Last Night

This is symbolic of how the truth about Jekyll's relationship with Hyde has been kept a robust secret, and has been difficult to break down and uncover.

⭐ "a pious work, ... annotated, in his own hand, with startling blasphemies."

Duality of man, character of Hyde \ Narrator

8 - The Last Night

This shows that Hyde took pleasure in undermining the good side of Jekyll's personality.

⭐ "At the other ingredients I could make no guess."

Science versus Religion \ Dr Lanyon

9 - Dr Lanyon's Narrative

The fact that Lanyon cannot make a guess at the contents of the mixture shows how far Jekyll has veered away from traditional science.

⭐ "My life is shaken to its roots ... I feel that my days are numbered, and that I must die"

Science vs Religion \ Dr Lanyon

9 - Dr Lanyon's Narrative

This quote shows how Lanyon's entire world view has been shattered; his death is symbolic of the victory of transcendental science over common, traditional science.

⭐ "I concealed my pleasures;"

Secrecy, Victorian Gentlemen \ Dr Jekyll

10 - Henry Jekyll's Full Statement of the Case

He is so worried about his pleasures, that he hides them.

⭐ "Many a man would have even blazoned such irregularities as I was guilty of; but from the high views that I had set before me, I regarded and hid them with an almost morbid sense of shame."

Duality of Men, Secrecy, Victorian Gentlemen \ Dr Jekyll

10 - Henry Jekyll's Full Statement of the Case

This shows that Jekyll wants to hide his sin because of his high standards, making us sympathise with Jekyll, as we understand and empathise with his situation.

⭐ "I knew myself, at the first breath of this new life, to be more wicked, tenfold more wicked, sold a slave to my original evil;"

Duality of Men \ Dr Jekyll

10 - Henry Jekyll's Full Statement of the Case

The language that Jekyll uses foreshadows the fate that he shall eventually have to live with, as he is now a slave to evil.

⭐ "My devil had been long caged, he came out roaring."

Duality of Men \ Dr Jekyll

10 - Henry Jekyll's Full Statement of the Case

This suggests the more you repress your desires, the more strongly they will come out in the end - Jekyll kept Hyde "long caged" but he returned eviller than ever.

⭐ "With a transport of glee, I mauled the unresisting body, tasting delight from every blow;"

Violence \ Dr Jekyll

10 - Henry Jekyll's Full Statement of the Case

It's shocking how much pleasure Hyde gets from the murder and showcases how evil he is.

⭐ "It was as an ordinary secret sinner that I at last fell before the assaults of temptation."

Duality of Men, Horror \ Dr Jekyll

10 - Henry Jekyll's Full Statement of the Case

This quote reminds that everyone does bad things, but it's the shame that is associated that causes Hyde to be created.

⭐ "I still hated and feared the thought of the brute that slept within me,"

Duality of Men \ Dr Jekyll

10 - Henry Jekyll's Full Statement of the Case

This shows the hypocritical side of Jekyll, for he cannot accept that Hyde is part of him.

⭐ "Hence the ape-like tricks that he would play me,"

Duality of Men \ Dr Jekyll

10 - Henry Jekyll's Full Statement of the Case

This shows that Hyde resents the way that Jekyll has turned against him and creates tension.