dr jekyll and mr hyde

"he was now no less distinguished for religion"

This highlights Jekyll's complex and difficult relationship with religion. Although he has previously studied religious texts throughout his life, the phrasing suggests a past rejection or at least a struggle to reconcile his faith with his practices.

"had fallen upon his knees and lifted his clasped hands to God"

This depicts Jekyll turning to God for redemption and spiritual salvation after reaching a realization of his catastrophic mistakes.

"A fortnight later, by excellent good fortune, the doctor gave one of his pleasant dinners to some 5 or 6 old cronies, all intelligent, reputable men and all judges of good wine"

This demonstrates that Jekyll is a sociable, high-status individual who is well-respected within his elite social circle.

"charitable man"

Jekyll maintains an public image of a generous and philanthropic person.

"I concealed my pleasures"

This reveals Jekyll’s effort to suppress his sinful or base desires specifically to maintain his social respect and "propriety."

"He came out of his seclusion"

After his initial indulgence in the persona of Hyde, Jekyll attempts to re-assimilate and reintegrate into civil society.

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

The "devil" is a direct manifestation of Jekyll's repressed deep desires. The use of the word "devil" connotations suggest that these desires are in direct opposition to the Christian ideology of the Victorian era.

"He was conscious of his 'more furious propensity to ill'"

The phrase "propensity to ill" suggests that what was once a choice has become a natural, innate inclination toward immorality.

"the hand that lay on my knee was corded and hairy"

The hand, which typically serves as a symbol of honor and respectability, is here invaded by hair. This imagery insinuates ideas of unrestrained, uncontrolled freedom and animalistic nature.

"I felt younger, lighter, happier in body"

Stevenson employs a triadic structure to convey how heavily the restraints of Victorian society weigh on Jekyll

releasing them provides a physical sense of relief.

"An overdose might 'blot out that immaterial tabernacle which I looked to change'"

Use of the term "immaterial tabernacle" (lexis from the semantic field of religion) shows that Jekyll’s scientific experiments are seen as encroaching upon God's sacred territory.

"I was no more myself when I laid aside restraint and plunged in shame"

Jekyll acknowledges his failure to keep his good and bad halves distinct, instead allowing the evil side to flourish uncontrollably.

"man is not truly one but truly two"

This is his core thesis: the belief that the human psyche can and perhaps should be split into distinct entities.

"I was driven to reflect deeply and inveterately on that hard law of life which lies at the root of religion"

Through alliteration, Stevenson refers to the universal concepts of guilt, conscience, and sin. Jekyll's goal is to isolate the moral from the immoral to effectively bypass or undercut the "root of religion."

"Late one accursed night, I compounded the elements, watched them boil…with a strong glow of courage, drank off the potion"

"Late one accursed night" establishes a dark, grave atmosphere. "Strong glow of courage" illustrates Jekyll's erratic mental state and his full awareness of the life-threatening risks involved.

"Had I approached my discovery in a more noble spirit…I had come forth an angel instead of a fiend"

Jekyll admits his intent was to isolate the good in his character, but his underlying darker motives led to the emergence of Hyde.

"I bring the life of that unhappy Henry Jekyll to an end"

The novella concludes on a tragic note, intended to evoke sympathy for Jekyll's self-inflicted downfall.

"This is the last time…that Henry Jekyll can think his own thoughts"

He describes the point of absolute loss of self-control, where the Hyde persona becomes permanent.

"Smooth-faced man of 50"

Jekyll's polished external appearance fails to reflect the truth of his internal corruption and turmoil.

"strong feeling of deformity"

This relates to the Victorian pseudo-science of physiognomy, suggesting that Hyde's external appearance marks him as a criminal.

"ape-like"

Hydes is consistently attributed animalistic qualities throughout the text.

"Shrank back with a hissing intake of the breath"

Characterizes him as animalistic, specifically reptilian or predatory.

"The creature", "Into a savage laugh", "That masked thing like a monkey jumped from among the chemicals"

These descriptors emphasize his sub-human qualities. The reference to "chemicals" separates his origin from the natural, human order.

"with a flush of anger"

Highlights a highly volatile and explosive personality.

"He leaves Carew's body 'incredibly mangled'"

Emphasizes the intentional, focused nature of his extreme violence.

"Damned Juggernaut"

Defines Hyde as an overwhelmingly powerful and destructive force that cannot be stopped.

"A man who was without bowels of mercy"

The alliteration of "w" underscores the difficulty characters have in defining Hyde, as he lacks standard human morals.

"So ugly that it brought out the sweat on me like running"

Hyde is a physical embodiment of evil that triggers a visceral physical reaction in those who see him.

"His every act and thought centered on self"

His total selfishness further distinguishes him from humans and aligns him with primal animals.

"Drinking pleasure with bestial avidity from any degree of torture to another

relentless like a man of stone"

Uses hedonistic connotations of excessive drinking to illustrate his self-indulgence and complete lack of empathy.

"He is not easy to describe. There is something wrong with his appearance

something pleasing, something downright detestable. I never saw a man I so disliked, and yet I scarce know why. He must be deformed somewhere, he gives a strong feeling of deformity"

The vagueness of Hyde makes him more terrifying. Stevenson uses ambiguity to allow the reader to project their own worst fears onto the character. The alliterative "d" adds a pulse of repulsion, while the anaphoric repetition of "something" suggests he is intangible and beyond words.

"The other snarled aloud into a savage laugh

and the next moment, with extraordinary quickness, he had unlocked the door and disappeared into the house"

Words like "savage" and "snarled" reinforce his status as a degenerate. The sibilance in the description hints at a sinister nature, while "extraordinary quickness" suggests supernatural capabilities.

"There was something abnormal and misbegotten in the very essence of the creature"

The word "abnormal" sets him apart from humanity. By mentioning "essence," Stevenson suggests Hyde is the distilled version of evil or perhaps Jekyll's true, unfiltered self.

"In the ranks of mankind was pure evil"

Suggests that a concentrated form of evil has successfully infiltrated civil society.

"It wasn't like a man"

A final summary of his inhumanity.

"the clock of the neighbouring church rang out the hour of 12, when he would go soberly and gratefully to bed"

This suggests that religion exerts a subtle but extremely rigid and disciplining influence over Utterson's life.

"A rugged countenance that was never lighted by a smile"

He is portrayed as reserved and emotionally stoic.

"you could see by his looks that he cherished for Mr. Utterson a sincere and warm affection"

Establishes Utterson as a loyal and trustworthy friend.

"If he be Mr Hyde…I shall be Mr Seek"

Demonstrates the innate curiosity that drives the plot and plays on the theme of dual opposites.

"The last good influence in the lives of down-going men"

Utterson is a man of high moral grounding, acting as a final tether for those falling into criminality.

"I shall consider it my duty to break in that door"

He is a rational and reasoned investigator who acts out of a sense of obligation to protect his friend.

"professional honour and faith to his dead friend were stringent obligations

and the packet slept in the inmost corner of his private safe"

He prioritizes friendship and professional ethics over personal curiosity, making him a highly reliable narrator.

"The lawyer put it in his pocket. 'I would say nothing of this paper. If your master has fled or is dead, we may at least save his credit'"

Shows Utterson's deep bond with Jekyll and his primary goal of protecting Jekyll's social reputation even in the face of death.

"They have only differed on some points of science"

Since science does not interest Utterson, he remains an objective observer without a conflict of scientific interest.

"Besieged by questions"

Warlike imagery is used to portray the overwhelming nature of his curiosity.

"Hyde sat heavy on his memory"

This alliterative metaphor emphasizes the physical weight and persistent impact of Utterson's obsession with the Hyde mystery.

"I was coming home from some place at the end of the world, about 3 o'clock of a black winter morning"

Hints at a duality in Enfield's own character

he may not be as morally rigid as he appears if he is out at that hour.

"a girl of maybe 8 or 10 who was running as hard as she was able down a cross street"

Portrays him as an observant but passive witness.

"I make it a rule of mine: the more it looks like Queer street, the less I ask."

While appearing to mind his own business, it suggests a policy of inaction that would have left Jekyll isolated if Utterson had followed suit. Enfield serves as a foil to Utterson's investigative nature.

"I am ashamed of my long tongue. Let us make a bargain never to refer to this again"

The metonymy "long tongue" shows familiarity with Utterson but also reveals Enfield's hypocrisy, as he gossips despite claiming not to.

"But Mr Enfield only nodded his head very seriously, and walked on once more in silence."

His silence underscores his choice of inaction.

"We told the man we could and would make such a scandal out of this"

Suggests Enfield has a latent cruel streak.

"I took the liberty of pointing out to my gentleman that the whole business looked apocryphal"

Demonstrates Enfield's common sense in recognizing the illogical nature of the situation.

"Welcomed him with both hands"

Illustrates a warm, respectful, and kind character.

"Jekyll became too fanciful for me"

Lanyon is a foil to Jekyll

he is rooted in traditional science. Fricative sounds in "fanciful" create a harsh tone in his dismissal of Jekyll's work.

"conscious at his touch of a certain icy pang along my blood"

Even a rational scientist like Lanyon is profoundly shaken by the physical presence of Hyde.

"I wish to see or hear no more of Dr Jekyll"

A harsh rejection that ironically foreshadows the end of their relationship.

"I made sure my colleague was insane"

Shows Lanyon follows Jekyll's instructions out of professional curiosity rather than genuine care.

"doggedly disregarding the question"

Shows his loyalty to Jekyll and his desire not to harm his master's reputation.

"that thing in the mask was never Dr Jekyll"

Demonstrates his deep familiarity with Jekyll and his genuine concern for his master's safety.

"with a ferocity of accent that testified to his own jangled nerves."

This rare display of emotion shows that because Poole is lower class, he is less emotionally restricted by the societal rules of the higher classes.

"master's made away with"

The use of the word "master" reinforces the class hierarchy while his certainty about the change in Jekyll propels the plot.

"he's shut up again in the cabinet

and I don't like it, sir- I wish I may die if I like it."

Poole involves himself in the mystery out of care and acts as a device to bring Utterson into the final confrontation.

"an aged and beautiful gentleman with white hair"

"White hair" symbolizes purity and age. The description is feminized to heighten his presentation as a helpless victim.

"such an innocent and wild-world kindness"

Emphasizes extreme vulnerability, making Hyde's violence seem more heinous.

"with the air of one very much surprised and a trifle hurt"

Increases tension, suggesting Carew was totally unaware of any threat, reinforcing his role as a plot device.

"London was startled by a crime of singular ferocity and rendered all the more notable by the high position of the victim"

The word "ferocity" implies Hyde is a predator and Carew is the prey.

"she had an evil face, smoothed by hypocrisy

but her manners were excellent"

Reflects the central conflict between external expression and internal reality. This mirrors the struggle between Jekyll's desired social image and Hyde's repressed desires.

"streaming tears"

She is reduced to a stereotype of an irrational, emotional woman.

"the man trampled calmly over the child's body"

The girl is treated as a mere object, reduced in status by the lack of emotion in the assault.

"All of a sudden he broke out in a great flame of anger, stamping with his foot, brandishing the cane, and carrying on like a madman"

"Flame of anger" shows volatility. The complex, ordered sentence structure used to describe his actions contrasts with the purely irrational nature of the violence.

"A certain sinister block of building thrust forward its gable on the street"

Plosive alliteration ("block of building") and sibilance ("certain sinister") create a jarring effect. The active verb "thrust" adds to the sense of violence in the architecture.

"prolonged and sordid negligence"

Suggests that isolation from society fosters violent outcomes.

"You must suffer me to go my own dark way"

Establishes the absolute need for privacy when dealing with the dark sides of humanity.

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

Establishes the dual nature of sin: it provides a reward but carries a heavy punishment. The novella functions as a cautionary tale.

"the more it looks like Queer street, the less I ask"

Enfield's rule signifies a voluntary silence about uncomfortable truths.

"he gives a strong feeling of deformity"

Characters find themselves speechless in the face of Hyde. Language is shown to be inadequate for expressing the emotions stirred by the sub-human or the truly evil.