Jekyll and Hyde - Symbols

The back of Jekyll's second house - "showed no window"

this is because Jekyll doesn't want anyone to see what he's doing as he's been working on transcendental medicine (splitting his soul) which would be frowned upon by Victorian society 

When the cane shatters - murder of Danvers Carew

it symbolises how Hyde has lost his status as a gentleman. Victorian society would have been appalled that a gentleman would firstly attack someone else in broad daylight but also attack someone so important. It makes society feel afraid. 

"Jack-in-the-Box"

Ch. 2 - Utterson describes Hyde's presence as like a children's wind-up toy. At any minute Hyde might pop out and exert this malicious, malevolent influence on Jekyll. This emphasises Hyde's duplicity. 

 

"Cheval-glass mirror"

Ch.8 - once Utterson and Poole break into Jekyll's private cabinet they find a mirror there. This mirror disturbs Utterson particularly as it's possibly been used to study himself (this is not a bedroom so the mirror is not for dressing) and the transformation that he's going through. It also symbolises Hyde's consciousness growing as he begins to recognise himself as a distinct person from Jekyll and starts to exert control

Symbolism of "fog"

often when Hyde appears there is a change in the weather. This is a form of pathetic fallacy (weather reflecting the mood of the characters) and suggests that just like fog hides things and makes them hard to see, so too is there some secret of Hyde.

Symbolism of the “red baize” door

this is the door which marks the divide between the public and private and hence it’s red to serve as a warning not to come inside but it might also represent the danger that Hyde has for Jekyll and gentlemen in general. The baize also soundproofs the part of the house which shows that Jekyll does not want anyone interfering in his business. 

ekyll describes Hyde’s body to be “like a thick cloak”.

Here he compares being in Hyde’s body to putting on a disguise. Impact is it shows he knows he needs to hide his desires as they will be critiqued by Victorian society