Mr. Hyde: He is associated with evil powers multiple times throughout the novella. This reflects
the Victorian attitudes towards crime. They would look at it from a religious point of view and
associate it to satan and hell. His physical appearance is so horrid that it brings out the evil in
other people. He is younger than Jekyll which suggests that the evil side of Jekyll developed
later in life, due to all the repression. He is linked to the theory of evolution as well. He is
described to be a monkey and deformed. Stevenson uses animal imagery quite often when
describing or talking about Hyde. he does this to show Hyde as a dangerous and wild
character, as well as address the theory of evolution and people’s fears towards the idea going
against religion, or the fact that coming from an animal could mean evolving back into an
animalistic state. With his appearance and manners, he is an outsider in Victorian society. He
doesn’t fit in and doesn’t try to fit in, in fact he tries to do the opposite. He is surrounded by a
cloud of mystery and secrecy, people never fully see him or know what he does. He goes out at
night to conceal his acts, uses the back door to the house, and his house is in Soho, which is
an unpleasant area in London, that is famous for its crimes. He represents this unpleasant area
of London, which was a no go area for the wealthy. There’s a play on words with his name:
Hyde sounds like Hide which is pointed out by Utterson at one point. He initially isn't in control
and can only come out with the help of the potion. But eventually, he becomes stronger and
takes control of the body, transforming whenever he wants and losing the ability to transform
back to Jekyll later. Another approach to Hyde’s character is that he could be representing the
repressed sides of the upper class men, as he is referred to as a “gentleman” by himself as
well as others. Also, his house in Soho adds to this idea along the theme of duality considering
it is furnished with luxurious items although it is located in a poor area and owned by himself;
an unpleasant looking man. This also hints that people that appear to be living in wealthy
homes and are respectable, could be hiding secrets.
“Dwarfish and pale”
“Ape like fury”
“Troglodytic”
“Strong feeling of deformity”
“Hardly human”
“Great flame of anger”
Satan’s signature upon a face”
“My evil had been long caged, he came out roaring”
“Shrank back with a hissing intake of breath”
“That child of hell had nothing human”
“Bones were audibly shattered”
“The man trampled calmly over the child’s body”
“This too was myself. It seemed natural and human”
“Nothing lived in him but fear and hatred”
the Victorian attitudes towards crime. They would look at it from a religious point of view and
associate it to satan and hell. His physical appearance is so horrid that it brings out the evil in
other people. He is younger than Jekyll which suggests that the evil side of Jekyll developed
later in life, due to all the repression. He is linked to the theory of evolution as well. He is
described to be a monkey and deformed. Stevenson uses animal imagery quite often when
describing or talking about Hyde. he does this to show Hyde as a dangerous and wild
character, as well as address the theory of evolution and people’s fears towards the idea going
against religion, or the fact that coming from an animal could mean evolving back into an
animalistic state. With his appearance and manners, he is an outsider in Victorian society. He
doesn’t fit in and doesn’t try to fit in, in fact he tries to do the opposite. He is surrounded by a
cloud of mystery and secrecy, people never fully see him or know what he does. He goes out at
night to conceal his acts, uses the back door to the house, and his house is in Soho, which is
an unpleasant area in London, that is famous for its crimes. He represents this unpleasant area
of London, which was a no go area for the wealthy. There’s a play on words with his name:
Hyde sounds like Hide which is pointed out by Utterson at one point. He initially isn't in control
and can only come out with the help of the potion. But eventually, he becomes stronger and
takes control of the body, transforming whenever he wants and losing the ability to transform
back to Jekyll later. Another approach to Hyde’s character is that he could be representing the
repressed sides of the upper class men, as he is referred to as a “gentleman” by himself as
well as others. Also, his house in Soho adds to this idea along the theme of duality considering
it is furnished with luxurious items although it is located in a poor area and owned by himself;
an unpleasant looking man. This also hints that people that appear to be living in wealthy
homes and are respectable, could be hiding secrets.
“Dwarfish and pale”
“Ape like fury”
“Troglodytic”
“Strong feeling of deformity”
“Hardly human”
“Great flame of anger”
Satan’s signature upon a face”
“My evil had been long caged, he came out roaring”
“Shrank back with a hissing intake of breath”
“That child of hell had nothing human”
“Bones were audibly shattered”
“The man trampled calmly over the child’s body”
“This too was myself. It seemed natural and human”
“Nothing lived in him but fear and hatred”
