Jekyll and Hyde - Characters

A quote that has themes of religion and is used to describe Hyde.

"O my poor old Harry Jekyll, if ever I read Satan's signature upon a face, it is on that of your new friend." - Utterson

Utterson views hyde as a creation of Satan. Hyde is portrayed as a creature who has satan's approval. This emphasises the level of evil required to be associated with the devil.

A quote which has religious context and devillish imagery.

"I incline to Cain's heresy," … "I let my brother go to the devil in his own way." - Utterson

Foreshadows Utterson's role in the gothic novel. As a narrator, he neglects Dr Jekyll's decline . This quote even suggests Utterson endorses evil behaviour as Cain in religious mythology killed Abel.

A quote to describe Jekyll's transformation

"I felt younger, lighter, happier in body."

Contrasts with people in society. Normal people have a moral compass and feel disgusted with evil thoughts whereas Jekyll feels free when he lets out Hyde.

A quote which describes hyde as evil

"All human beings, as we meet them, are commingled out of good and evil: and Edward Hyde alone in the ranks of mankind, was pure evil."

It suggests to the audience the way we should balance our good and evil thoughts and actions. Hyde is implied to be a slave to sin whereas Jekyll is resisting the urge to become evil.

A quote to show the animalistic desire for brutality

"I sat in the sun on a bench; the animal within me licking the chops of memory."

Pathetic fallacy and a metaphor. It implies to what extent Hyde is desperate to unleash his fury. Constant battle between Hyde and Jekyll.

A quote which shows Jekyll's suffering

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

Jekyll in most of the play, is hated by the audience. In the pursuit of freedom, jekyll is described to be suffering alongside his indulgence in sin.

A quote to show how violence is presented

"The man trampled calmly over the child's body and left her screaming on the ground. It sounds nothing to hear, but it was hellish to see."

Oxymoron - Explicit example of Id. His violence towards an innocent girl

A quote to show the divide between the rich and the poor

"The street shone out in contrast to its dingy neighbourhood, like a fire in a forest."

Demonstration of the divide between the wealthy and the poor. The symbolism of a fire in a forest is a vivid image which suggests that the poor sections stood out clearly.

A quote which illustrates Jekyll's lack of control.

"I swear to God I will never set eyes on him again..."

jekyll claims he will never interact with Hyde again but the audience know he is lying. This is an accurate representation of Jekyll's lack of control over hyde. He feels inclined to manipulate utterson in order to protect Hyde because he craves that animalistic feeling to wreak havoc.

A quote that has connotations to primitive species

"With ape-like fury, he was trampling his victim under foot and hailing down a storm of blows, under which the bones were audibly shattered."

Links to the theory of evolution. Hyde is like an unevolved creature who acts upon primitive instincts. This results in violent brutality.

A quote that shows Jekyll was too much to handle

‘It has been more than 10 years since Henry Jekyll became too fanciful for me’ - Lanyon

The argument offended him that he lost count of how long it has been going on for. Jekyll was too much to handle

Fanciful - over imaginative and unrealistic

A quote to show Jekyll’s deception

‘smooth faced man of fifty’ seems typical for a Victorian Gentleman which juxtaposes the end description of him. shows he has been able to keep a strong facade. Alternatively, shows how repressed his evil alter ego has been.

A quote to show mystery and secrecy

‘slyish cast’ metaphor suggests he is trying to cover up his evil desires with a respectable appearance

A quote to show Lanyon’s horror

“O God!” I screamed, and “O God!” again and again; for there before my eyes—pale and shaken, and half fainting, and groping before him with his hands, like a man restored from death—there stood Henry Jekyll!” - Dr lanyon’s words and recollection serve as the climax of the story

A quote to show Lanyon’s resistance to immorality

“I wish to see or hear no more of Dr. Jekyll,” he said in a loud, unsteady voice. “I am quite done with that person; and I beg that you will spare me any allusion to one whom I regard as dead.”

A quote to show Utterson’s strong mentality?

‘It is one thing to mortify curiosity, another to conquer it

A quote to show Utterson’s unbreakable loyalty?

‘He condemned the fear as a disloyalty and broke the seal’ - willing to go against his friends word to protect them