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The repression of speaking about distasteful affairs in the Victorian era is why Jekyll was “concealing my pleasures”. The struggle of keeping this “profound duplicity” is what led to Jekyll taking the potion that transforms him into Hyde and ultimately leads to his death. (wished for secrecy)
Demonstrates through Jekyll how the repression of speaking about distasteful matters in Victorian society will lead to more harm than good, illustrated by Jekyll’s downfall
Jekyll is described as a “large, well-made, smooth-faced man of fifty”. The adjective “large” shows the authority and power Dr Jekyll has with “well-made” suggesting that he is handsome. In this way, Jekyll has the appearance of an ideal Victorian gentleman. “Well-made” also implies that he is God’s creation which contrasts Hyde who was a creation of Jekyll’s science and described as “pale and dwarfish”. Stevenson demonstrates through Jekyll’s appearance that being a mixture of good and evil is what makes a person human and look healthy whereas Hyde who is a separation from good is unnatural and therefore sickly.
Hyde has no definite features - “he gave an impression of deformity without any nameable malformation”
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scientific advancement could lead to scientific hubris and people wanting to ‘play God’
scientific advancement is uncontrollable
Lanyon describes the science which is “wholly towards the mystical and transcendental” as “scientific heresy” due to its ability to shape and create life without God’s intervention.
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Stevenson explores the virtues of a perfect Christian friend through Mr Utterson = “the last good influence in the lives of down-going men” = foreshadowing how Utterson will be the last good influence on Jekyll whose curiosity and greed leads him to take the potion and ultimately leads to his downfall. After Utterson suspects Jekyll is being blackmailed by Hyde, Utterson offers to help to which Jekyll replies saying “You are good, very good.. that is downright good of you” = repetition of “good” emphasises Jekyll’s admiration of Utterson’s morality and his appreciation for Utterson = U offering help even when there is violnce, death and scandal involved, putting his reputation at stake
Stevenson goes on to describe how Utterson was ‘austere’ with himself, and he ‘drank gin when he was alone to mortify a taste for vintages’, wine. Wine was associated with lust and temptation, and something Utterson enjoyed, however the irony is that ‘gin’ is in fact more alcoholic than wine and yet that is what Utterson used to steer himself away from indulging in ‘vintages’ he enjoyed; Utterson is only refusing himself wine as he likes it, and not because he sees it as worse than gin. This reinforces how strict Utterson was required to be with himself, as a reputable gentleman, but also how society has pressured him into refusing himself any pleasure, thus restricting his desires. He also drinks the gin alone, in private showing the pressure to conform
th ‘envy’ at the ‘high pressure of spirits involved in their misdeeds’
He is almost jealous of the fact that others are able to act out their internal desires, whereas he limits his internal dual self due to his status; he still however recognises the evil present within society and within himself.
“he could not help a certain apprehension lest the good name of another should be sucked down in the eddy of scandal”
“I wouldn’t speak of this note, you know” = doesn’t want it revealed that jekyll forged for a murderer
Stevenson’s story depicts a world in which crimes are constantly being “overlooked”: witnessed and then ignored. As the story progresses, we learn that Mr Utterson’s role as a lawyer is not to seek out justice amongst his gentlemen’s network but to, ironically, strive to m⁷aintain silence about the crimes of their fellows, - constantly trying to cover up Jekyll’s crimes = “make a clean breast of this in confidence and I make no doubt I can get you out of it”
Interestingly, Stevenson ends the novel before we ever find out if Utterson does go to the police or whether in fact, he covers the whole thing up; this would mean he is covering up a murderer, Jekyll, because through Hyde, he has murdered (Sir Danvers Carew)
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Chapter 4
“wind was continually charging and routing these embattled vapours”
“some city in a nightmare” after murder , reflecting “lamplighted” city in utterson’s nightmare
Chapter 5
“the fog still slept on the wing above the drowned city” = dying
“through the muffle and smother of these fallen clouds” = hidden, dangerous = fog is killing London, fallen refers to Satan
“great arteries with a sound as of a mighty wind” = personified
Negative language contrasts other houses + the distinctness and strangeness of this house builds mystery