Characterisation is important in the novel Hyde is a seething maelstrom of rage and suppressed feelings beneath the façade of Jekyll, who attempts to disallow this reality to seep through. However, certain exerts from the text may indicate to the reader the truth behind such concealment. (“Jekyll was a large, well-made, smooth-faced man of fifty, which something of a slyish cast perhaps…”). This represents Victorian society and how standards had to be met despite how the people may have felt. Of course, in its historical context this would have been quite a controversial topic, which certainly would have been interesting for readers. However, it may have less resonance today as it is not so shocking to admit such things. Also, it is commonplace to liken someone’s character to “Jekyll and Hyde” if they are said to be unpredictable or “two-faced”. Therefore, the essence of the novel is quite famous whereas in the Victorian era, the unravelling plot will have been quite an excitement. It is important to keep in mind that Stevenson was writing for a particular audience and it was quite unlike that of today! This is also exemplified by another contentious topic that is portrayed: the social segregation between men and women. The only characters in the novel who are female are the maid, who witnesses the murder of Carew, and the match girl, both of which are lower class figures. This creates interest for audiences today, who can see that, despite Stevenson’s radical and audacious interpretation of Victorian society, he still may have been subconsciously influenced by such ideas as the subjugation of women as was ordinary in his time. It is possible that he may have wished to portray this in his novel as a topic that was significant of the era; though, on the other hand, it is more likely that it may simply have been a natural interpretation due to the influence of his culture and society, which is ironic and compelling.
The setting is also widely used in the craft of atmosphere and suspense throughout the novel. Simultaneously it manages to echo the personality, mood and manner of the main characters, as does the copious use of pathetic fallacy. Fog is a notable focus of this technique as used by Stevenson, particularly at the time of the murder of Carew. The fog is evident in the morning after the murder, which signifies mystery as it shrouds the city, which represents the confusion caused and reality of what has happened. The case is being addressed but the issue is very far from being resolved. Several other references to fog use it in a similar way. “The fog still slept on the wing above the drowned city…procession of the town’s life still rolling in through the…arteries with the sound as of a mighty wind” on page 37 is a good example of the dual meaning Stevenson wished to present. In context of the storyline, it shows how the city remains unaffected while Utterson attempts to fathom out the mystery presented to him, but the wider meaning shows that life went on as normal despite the issues in Victorian society. The wind is mentioned here and is a different aspect of the weather, which helps to reflect the movement of the plot and the mood of the characters. As the tension builds and the urgency of Utterson is revealed the wind can be used as a metaphorical device as it is here: “…but the wind was continually charging and routing these embattled vapours…” The lawyer is taking action despite the difficulties that he encounters as he struggles to piece together the mystery.
Pathetic fallacy is a significant device, though it is featured alongside descriptions that are fundamental to the implementation of fascination and interest in its readers. The description of the interior and exterior of both Jekyll and Hyde’s houses can be used to show the differentiation between the two. However, it also reveals some clues and hints as to the affiliation of one with the other, which the author uses to his advantage in this detective story, particularly in the case of Hyde whose personal life is not usually delved into as explicitly as this due to the nature of the story. The interior of Hyde’s house is said to be “furnished with luxury” and the “napery [is] elegant” with also a reference to “a gift…from Henry Jekyll… [who is] a connoisseur”. There is an instant connection, which allows the pieces to fall into place at the end of the novel. However, it also reveals the violent nature of Hyde, which separates him from his counterpart, as the room appears to have been ransacked, demonstrating an outright disrespect for belongings. The house of Mr Jekyll is similar to that of Hyde in that it features a dingy exterior but has lavish furnishings. The main focus is his laboratory, where he resides for most of the novella. All of these aspects demonstrate Stevenson’s portrayal of façade in a metaphorical sense, which the audience may find fascinating.
The composition of the novel also helps to create tension, which is imperative to the genre as it expresses features of a detective novel and a horror story. The plot gradually unfolds, while the reader remains as perplexed as the characters themselves due to the fact that it is a collection of accounts by them. However, the final chapter pieces together the threads of the story and serves as an explanation from Jekyll himself. It allows Jekyll to explain and analyse everything in full now that all the facts have been revealed thanks to Utterson, who has by which time served his purpose as a character. Stevenson uses many techniques here and a careful narrative style, which is profound in giving the best insight into Jekyll’s actions. It delves into the specific details of his thoughts, which are compelling for a reader of the era who would have been desperate to understand such a radical man. It also addresses the themes of religion and duality of human nature more explicitly using emotive description and language, which accentuates the significance of both issues.
It is evident that the many methods and devices that Stevenson has used and adopted throughout the novel have had a considerable effect in creating interest for readers of the era for which the novel was “designed” and also a modern audience. His techniques dovetail with one another, making it difficult to decipher which is most prominent in crafting a sense of excitement and tension in “The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde”.
