Jekyll and Hyde quotes analysis

“If I am the chief of sinners, I am the chief of sufferers also.” Chapter 6

ANAPHORA

Stevenson’s use of anaphora (repeating “I am the chief” creates a rhythmic tone which reinforces the duplicitous life he leads. Highlights his inner struggle when dealing with the actions of his depraved actions. 

By mirroring the structure of the two clauses Stevenson reinforces that the consequences of sinning in this way are inevitable and his torment is a direct consequence of his actions. 

Critiques Victorian society’s hypocrisy. Jekyll’s suffering embodies the conflict between his desires and what aligns him with the ideal persona of Victorian gentleman.  

Creates a feeling of suffocation and almost a if his struggle is eternal- shows his inner turmoil

JUXTAPOSITION 

Juxtaposition between sinners and sufferers reveals that although he has indulged in this morally corrupt pleasures he only feels deep remorse for his actions and not the liberation he had hoped for.

The contrast connotes Jekyll’s psychological instability as his descent into sin only worsens his guilt for not repressing unrespectable behaviour. Shows the divide in his mind.

His struggle represents Vic societies overall duplicity because it reveals how enforcing restrictive moral ideals on a society will only lead to guilt when indulging in these pleasures secretly. 

“Agonised womb of consciousness, these polar twins should be continuously struggling” Chapter 10

ANATOMICAL METAPHOR

Womb has connotations of labour and birth which compares the creation of Hyde to the painful process of birthing a child however is it “agonised” which is a powerful but dark image linking to the turmoil and suffering Hyde brings as Jekyll fights between his respectable outward image and his sinful interior.  

“Polar twins” reveals his two sides as opposite, however united and both equally important. Although his two sides are opposing, they make him up as a person. Twins are born at the same time which indicates that although his sinful nature has been repressed, it has always been there along with his moral side. This reveals that we all as humans are inherently evil in some way.

DYNAMIC VERB

Dynamic verb “struggling” connotes a back and forth conflict, reinforcing the divergence between J and H. Suggests their opposition is constant, reinforcing the risk J took in separating his bad from his good side because in doing this he has only made H stronger because he is now a legitimate person.

Endless battle signifies the universal human struggle when repressing morbid curiosity to align yourself with societal expectations

“I have been doomed to such a shipwreck: that man is not truly one, but truly two”

Chapter 10

CALAMITOUS METAPHOR

Compares J’s suffering to a shipwreck which evoked a sense of helplessness and being subjected to powers beyond your control. Much like an uncontrollable natural disaster Jekyll’s repression of devious desires results in an unruly outburst of heinous behaviour.

RHETORICAL REPETITION

Suggests duality rather than unity is the innate truth of all human existence by comparing what Jekyll genuinely is and what he appears to be. This subverts traditional ideals of the human as one singular identity that chooses to follow a moral life by presenting man as a dichotomy of good and evil also. The emphatic repetition reinforces the turmoil of Jekyll’s inner conflict as he realises Hyde is the embodiment of his repressed self and not a mere separate entity.

“He had borne himself to the lawyer with a sort of murderous mixture of timidity and boldness” Chapter 2

ALLITERATION & JUXTAPOSITION/OXYMORON

Phonetically uncomfortable plosive “m” mirrors the dichotomy of Hyde’s “timidity” and “boldness”. Creates an unsettling feeling that highlights Hyde’s  destructive, chaotic nature. His actions aren't a choice but a result of his internal disarray. Opposite concepts of “timidity” and “boldness” emphasises Hyde’s character as intangible and enigmatic. “Borne himself” has an otherworldly connotation and implies Hyde has more power over Jekyll than jekyll had intended.

“That masked thing like a monkey jumped from among the chemicals” Chapter 8 (Poole describes Hyde)

ZOOMORPHIC SIMILE

Dehumanises Hyde and reveals the fear Poole must have felt witnessing this display of animalistic, primitive qualities in Hyde . Creates an image that Hyde has the strength of another animal, intimidating. Reveals the speed and chaos and recklessness of his character. Link to Darwin's theory. Immoral behaviour can cause devolution.

Hyde is emblematic of the Victorian fear that science can lead to monstrosities rather than progress

”THAT MASKED THING” CONNOTATIONS

Noun “thing”= hyde isn’t human, doesn’t deserve to be addressed as a human because of how he is acting

“masked”= concealment, unspeakable

Determinor “that”= emotional distance, disgust, apprehension

Apprehension towards Hyde due to his “chemical” creation through science and not God given life. Shows that science has created this abomination and isn’t the way society should go.

“My life is shaken to its roots” chapter 9 (lanyon)

METAPHOR

Suggests his whole view of life and values have been unnerved. Reveals the profound, traumatic impact the experience of seeing Jekyll turn into Hyde had on him. Emblematic of Victorian shock over Darwin’s theory of evolution.

CONNOTATION OF ROOTS

roots= origin, birth. shows his whole what he stands for has been turned on its head. Detrimental impact of Jekyll’s scientific endeavours

“It is more than ten years since Henry Jekyll became too fanciful for me” Chapter 3 (Lanyon about Jekyll)

EUPHEMISTIC DISTANCING

Lanyon’s explanation that jekyll became too “fanciful” for him demonstrates euphemistic distancing to subtly explain what really was a profound ideological and scientific dispute between him and Jekyll.

Frames his rejection of Jekyll in milder terms instead of outwardly declaring Jekyll’s experiments as heretical and immoral. Polite detachment rather than a violent disagreement.

Understatement is significant because it reflects broader V anxieties surrounding transgressive endeavours such as eccentric scientific advancements that were often seen as blasphemous. Lanyon = ambivalence

Lanyon embodies scientific rationalism while Jekyll is more adventurous. The rift in their friendship is symbolic that friendship in these times was often on condition of your social status and beliefs. 

TEMPORAL STRUCTURE

“More than ten years” situates their conflict a long time in the past, as Lanyon views his split from Jekyll from a retrospective perspective. This temporal structure is significant in the novel's repeated use of framed narratives and flashbacks to previous events. By structuring this novel around delayed disclosures, Stevensons reinforces the theme of repressed desire emerging over time and showing the dangers of unchecked scientific ambition.

“A rugged countenance that was never lighted by a smile” Chapter 1 (Utterson)

LIGHT IMAGERY

Verb “lighted” is light imagery, often related to joy or morality. The absence of this illumination implies emotional barranness, revealing Utterson as an unexpressive, vacant character detached from joy. This use of light imagery enforces the theme of emotional repression that Stevensons uses to explore the duality in Utterson’s character. On one hand he is a respected lawyer and moral figure, however he is also a man devoid of deep emotion and human warmth. Utterson’s unlit nature serves as an epitome of the Victorian gentleman; a man repressed by rigid decorum and hidden suffering in a society that values outward composure over authentic emotion.

SYNECDOCHE

“Countenance” acts as a synecdoche, limiting U’s identity to his emotionlessness.

Reflects V physiognomy that stated you could read someone’s morality through their outward appearance. His “rugged countenance” is his focal point, representing his sealed emotional state.

This synecdoche also undermines Utterson’s persona as a moral adjudicator because Stevenson persuades the reader to question his morality and whether he himself has a dual layer or whether he has a secret morbid curiosity (eg Hyde)

”I shall consider it my duty to break in that door” Chapter 8 (Utterson)

MODAL VERB

Modal verb “shall” reveals U’s certainty and motivation to break the door. Reveals his sense of moral obligation and need to uncover the truth. Reinforces his opposition to secrecy, especially when finding the truth about Jekyll. His assertion of duty aligns with VG, but his willingness to break into Jekyll’s blocked off lab reveals his deeper morbid curiosity about the truth. His friendship with Jekyll is overridden by his need to uncover the truth.

This passage marks a transgression where friendship and duty become mutually important. U’s insistence on breaking in shows his care for J’s wellbeing however it also highlights his hypocrisy in v friendships where repression leads to dramatic actions rather than healthy communication. 

SYMBOLISM OF DOOR

The closed “door” which Utterson is attempting to “break” through, symbolises the themes of repression and secrecy within the novel. Forceful revelation of hidden truths and the final reveal of who was under Jekyll’s facade. Reaffirms U’s commitment to his friendship with J because without his need to uncover the truth Hyde wouldn’t have been uncovered.

Utterson’s violent break in mirrors the reality of V friendships as rigid, restrained and led by duty rather than emotional authenticity. As soon as he breaks through the door the truth is out, symbolising that V friendships were often limited by extreme repression and social conduct.

“It’s one thing to mortify curiosity, another to conquer it” chapter 6 (utterson)

CONNOTATIONS OF CONQUER

Evokes imagery of a war or a battlefield suggesting Utterson’s inner metaphorical struggle against his own morbid curiosity. Enforces Utterson as a hardworking, established Victoirian gentleman because of his clear opposition to his natural curiosities and his seemingly triumphed reaction to overcoming them. 

JUXTAPOSITION

The juxtaposition between “mortify” and “conquer” establishes the difference between merely suppressing your curiosities and fully denying them as a part of yourself and killing them. Utterson’s extreme repression is emblematic of the strict social conditioning he is familiar with where overcoming curiosities and temptations is seen as a highly respected achievement.

“There was borne in upon his mind a crushing anticipation of calamity” chapter 8 (utterson)

BIBLICAL ALLUSIONS 

The verb “borne” alludes to the creation story and aligns U’s “crushing anticipation of calamity” to higher, uncontrollable powers, at this time typically God. However in this instance it is also linked to science, recounting how through science Jekyll has created life and this has brought about an insane disaster due to religion being disrupted and opposed. 

ALLITERATION OF C

Emphasises the destructive events that will occur because of the creation of Hyde and Utterson’s firm dread. Moment of anagnorisis for U as he realises that science has started to replace religion which has brought utmost chaos and threatens to disrupt Victorian’s carefully crafted moral system.