APPEARANCE V REALITY
the disparity between appearance and reality is clear in the novella and is present in both
characters and environment. this can be seen as another form of duality within the text. for
something to be in fitting with the theme of ‘appearance vs reality’ something must project an
outward image that is very different from the truth.
the first chapter “the story of the door” introduces the idea of a door being able to prevent the
realities of one’s nature from being revealed. Enfield states that “the fellow had a key” in
reference to Hyde, this shows the way in which Hyde is able to transcend the balance between
appearance and reality. doors become a metaphor of transition in the novel, and the theme of
transition is closely linked to that of appearance and reality.
the theme is present in the oxymoron “shady lawyers” which is ironic as they should be
delivering justice but in fact are exploitative criminals themselves. when applied to the novel,
this phrase has greater depth as utterson defies this stereotype by being the moral compass of
the novella. the overall form of the novella acts as an extended metaphor for the theme of
appearance vs reality.
the chapter titles are all relatively understated, and do not provoke emotion in the reader
whereas their contents are composed of mystery and fear. this juxtaposition further emphasises
the dual themes.
DUALITY
Stevenson utilises the two contrasting personas -one who is courteous whilst another
inhumane- of one man to highlight the concealed sides of Victorian London. Stevenson presents
a Victorian London divided between strictly defined ‘reputable’ areas which are in close
proximity to areas of poverty. Through his use of the theme of duality, Stevenson manipulates
growing contemporary fears of human nature’s capacity for evil.
There is conflict between Dr Jekyll’s innermost desires and his outward presentation of himself.
This duality results in the creation of a different person: Mr Hyde. The term “duality of purpose”
shows that Jekyll is divided between his duties as an upstanding member of society and his
basal instincts. Stevensons uses juxtaposing imagery to emphasise the disparity between the
morals of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
Mr Hyde is described as “that child of Hell had nothing human; nothing lived in him but fear and
hatred”. Here, “child” has connotations of innocence which is juxtaposed with the idea of “hell”
which is a cess-pit of sin and is symbolic of corruption and evil. The observation that Mr Hyde
“had nothing human” evokes fear and hatred in a contemporary reader who would have been
terrified of the idea of ‘devolution’.
, Stevenson shows that the duality of human nature cannot be isolated through his use of
antithesis in “Even as good shone upon the countenance of the one, evil was written broadly
and plainly on the face of the other”. The juxtaposition between good and evil implies that the
two elements are in a delicate equilibrium
The use of setting and literary techniques further emphasise the main theme of duality
Stevenson’s description of London (which is reminiscent of his contemporary Edinburgh)
heightens the sense of duality within the text. At the beginning of the novella, there are
alternating descriptions of the city. The juxtaposition between the city having “an air of invitation”
to buildings being “sinister” creates a backdrop for the conflict between good and evil in the
characters
In the opening chapter he juxtaposes the ‘sinister’ door that is ‘blistered’ and ‘distained’ against
a very pleasant street. The adjectives used imply that the door is a place of pain and is a
menacing and threatening residence. Of course, this is mysterious to the reader (as they do not
know that the stained door of Jekyll’s home parallels that Hyde is a stain on Jekyll’s life) and so
they are left to wonder why it looks like this, especially as the street it is on is compared to
‘smiling saleswomen.’ This alliteration suggests that the street is inviting and welcoming and
filled with friendly faces – a complete contrast to the door.
Stevenson uses a third person narrator as well as Jekyll and Lanyon’s perspective to tell the
story. The multiple narratives due to the text’s epistolary form not only adds to the horror of the
text but also shows the reader how there are multiple ways at looking at everything. Phrases
such as “double dose” and “double dealer” point out to the reader that there is duality in
everything. This is emphasised by the alliterative consonants used.
VIOLENCE
Through duality
We first encounter Hyde in Chapter One, ‘Story of the Door’, where Richard Enfield describes
the horrific event which he witnessed, of Hyde trampling a young girl and leaving her screaming,
while Hyde marched on ‘like some damned Juggernaut’, completely unconcerned about the
pain he had inflicted on the helpless child. Immediately the reader, like Enfield, perceives Hyde
as utterly evil and repulsive. A ‘Juggernaut’ is a large chariot which bears a pagan god, linking
him to a world outside of Western civilisation, and implying that he is savage and barbaric. This
frightening impression is built further when Enfield describes his reaction to Hyde. Enfield
describes how he, as well as a ‘cut and dry apothecary’, who would not normally be emotionally
affected, felt ‘sick and white with desire to kill’ Hyde. This violent, emotional, physical reaction to
Hyde marks him out as a horrifying creature. Enfield describes him as being ‘like Satan’ and as
the disparity between appearance and reality is clear in the novella and is present in both
characters and environment. this can be seen as another form of duality within the text. for
something to be in fitting with the theme of ‘appearance vs reality’ something must project an
outward image that is very different from the truth.
the first chapter “the story of the door” introduces the idea of a door being able to prevent the
realities of one’s nature from being revealed. Enfield states that “the fellow had a key” in
reference to Hyde, this shows the way in which Hyde is able to transcend the balance between
appearance and reality. doors become a metaphor of transition in the novel, and the theme of
transition is closely linked to that of appearance and reality.
the theme is present in the oxymoron “shady lawyers” which is ironic as they should be
delivering justice but in fact are exploitative criminals themselves. when applied to the novel,
this phrase has greater depth as utterson defies this stereotype by being the moral compass of
the novella. the overall form of the novella acts as an extended metaphor for the theme of
appearance vs reality.
the chapter titles are all relatively understated, and do not provoke emotion in the reader
whereas their contents are composed of mystery and fear. this juxtaposition further emphasises
the dual themes.
DUALITY
Stevenson utilises the two contrasting personas -one who is courteous whilst another
inhumane- of one man to highlight the concealed sides of Victorian London. Stevenson presents
a Victorian London divided between strictly defined ‘reputable’ areas which are in close
proximity to areas of poverty. Through his use of the theme of duality, Stevenson manipulates
growing contemporary fears of human nature’s capacity for evil.
There is conflict between Dr Jekyll’s innermost desires and his outward presentation of himself.
This duality results in the creation of a different person: Mr Hyde. The term “duality of purpose”
shows that Jekyll is divided between his duties as an upstanding member of society and his
basal instincts. Stevensons uses juxtaposing imagery to emphasise the disparity between the
morals of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
Mr Hyde is described as “that child of Hell had nothing human; nothing lived in him but fear and
hatred”. Here, “child” has connotations of innocence which is juxtaposed with the idea of “hell”
which is a cess-pit of sin and is symbolic of corruption and evil. The observation that Mr Hyde
“had nothing human” evokes fear and hatred in a contemporary reader who would have been
terrified of the idea of ‘devolution’.
, Stevenson shows that the duality of human nature cannot be isolated through his use of
antithesis in “Even as good shone upon the countenance of the one, evil was written broadly
and plainly on the face of the other”. The juxtaposition between good and evil implies that the
two elements are in a delicate equilibrium
The use of setting and literary techniques further emphasise the main theme of duality
Stevenson’s description of London (which is reminiscent of his contemporary Edinburgh)
heightens the sense of duality within the text. At the beginning of the novella, there are
alternating descriptions of the city. The juxtaposition between the city having “an air of invitation”
to buildings being “sinister” creates a backdrop for the conflict between good and evil in the
characters
In the opening chapter he juxtaposes the ‘sinister’ door that is ‘blistered’ and ‘distained’ against
a very pleasant street. The adjectives used imply that the door is a place of pain and is a
menacing and threatening residence. Of course, this is mysterious to the reader (as they do not
know that the stained door of Jekyll’s home parallels that Hyde is a stain on Jekyll’s life) and so
they are left to wonder why it looks like this, especially as the street it is on is compared to
‘smiling saleswomen.’ This alliteration suggests that the street is inviting and welcoming and
filled with friendly faces – a complete contrast to the door.
Stevenson uses a third person narrator as well as Jekyll and Lanyon’s perspective to tell the
story. The multiple narratives due to the text’s epistolary form not only adds to the horror of the
text but also shows the reader how there are multiple ways at looking at everything. Phrases
such as “double dose” and “double dealer” point out to the reader that there is duality in
everything. This is emphasised by the alliterative consonants used.
VIOLENCE
Through duality
We first encounter Hyde in Chapter One, ‘Story of the Door’, where Richard Enfield describes
the horrific event which he witnessed, of Hyde trampling a young girl and leaving her screaming,
while Hyde marched on ‘like some damned Juggernaut’, completely unconcerned about the
pain he had inflicted on the helpless child. Immediately the reader, like Enfield, perceives Hyde
as utterly evil and repulsive. A ‘Juggernaut’ is a large chariot which bears a pagan god, linking
him to a world outside of Western civilisation, and implying that he is savage and barbaric. This
frightening impression is built further when Enfield describes his reaction to Hyde. Enfield
describes how he, as well as a ‘cut and dry apothecary’, who would not normally be emotionally
affected, felt ‘sick and white with desire to kill’ Hyde. This violent, emotional, physical reaction to
Hyde marks him out as a horrifying creature. Enfield describes him as being ‘like Satan’ and as
