An example of personification is when the shops are described, “shop fronts stood along that thoroughfare with an air of invitation, like rows of smiling saleswomen.” This gives the shops the characteristics of a saleswoman.
The atmosphere in chapter 1 of, ‘The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde,’ is mysterious. This is shown when RL Stevenson describes how Hyde goes into the door and comes out with the £90 cheque and £10 in gold coins, “walk into a cellar at four in the morning and come out of it with another man’s cheque for close upon a hundred pounds.” This makes the reader think how Hyde got the money from this mysterious door. Also, how could the cheque be genuine with a name of a well known name printed on it, not Hydes. This keeps the reader’s interest with how he got this mysterious cheque.
The sentence structure in chapter 1 is varied throughout the chapter. RL Stevenson uses short, simple sentences when creating tension and longer, complex sentences when describing something. An example of a complex sentence is when Utterson is described at the start of chapter 1, “At friendly meetings, and when the wine was to his taste, something eminently human beaconed from his eye; something indeed which never found its way into his talk, but which spoke not only in these silent symbols of the after-dinner face.” This quote describes how Utterson acts at parties.
An example of a simple sentence is when Enfield describes the doctor after Hyde tramples over the young child, “But the doctor’s case was what struck me.” This quote creates tension as all the people around Hyde start to get a hate for him.
Next this essay will analyse the imagery in chapter 1 of, ‘The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.’ Firstly it will cover the motif.
The motif in chapter 1 of, ‘The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde,’ is violence against innocents. This is shown when Hyde tramples over the young child, “the man tramples calmly over the child’s body and left her screaming on the ground.” This makes an image in the reader’s head of a steam-roller like person running over a young child.
The symbols in chapter 1 of, ‘The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde,’ are locked doors and night and dark. Locked doors is shown when Hyde opens this mysterious door, “whipped out a key, went in.” This makes the reader think how can Hyde open this door that has always been locked? The locked door leaves unanswered questions showing there would be more unanswered questions showing that there would be more unanswered questions through the novella, making the reader read on.
Night and dark is shown in chapter 1 of, ‘The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and My Hyde,’ when Enfield describes the situation before he meets Hyde. “Black winter morning,” this shows the darkness and night and a situation like this makes you think something is going to happened. Also that Enfield was alone, “nothing to be seen but lamps,” gives the feeling of darkness as he is alone.
Victorian London, urban terror is shown in chapter 1 of, ‘The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde,’ when Enfield is walking home on his own at 3 am. “Long for the sight of a policeman,” this shows how he felt uneasy walking through London and wanted help. Also, it is around the same time as Jack the Ripper so he could be worried about being attacked.
Next the essay will analyse the settings in chapter 1 of, ‘The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.’
In chapter 1 of, ‘The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde,’ Hyde’s house is described as being dull and boring compared to the other houses on the street. “Bore in every feature,” the quote gives the house the image of being boring. The house is made seem dull by RL Stevenson describing it as a, “blind forehead of discoloured wall.” Something being discoloured gives a dull impression. Also a “blind forehead” gives the house a scene of being dark.
The first encounter the reader has with Hyde is early morning. Before Hyde is introduced it is described as a, “black winter morning.” Having Enfield describe the morning like this, already gives the presence of evil in the setting, and makes the reader want to read on, to see if there is any evil.
The door is described as being old, blank and left for ravages. It is described as being old and black 2when RL Stevenson says that the door is, “blistered and distained,” and also that is has, “neither bell nor knocker.” The door being left for ravages is described when RL Stevenson describes the door, “Tramps slouched into the recess and struck matches on the panels; children kept shop upon the steps; the schoolboy had tried his knife on the mouldings.” Having the door described like this makes the reader think what does this door have to do with the story, and the reader read on to see what part in this story does the door play.
Now this essay will describe the structure and form in chapter 1 of, ‘The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.’
In chapter 1 of, ‘The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde,’ the account of when Hyde walks over the young child is told like a police case, like an eye witness account, “for the man trampled calmly over the, child’s body and left her screaming on the ground.” Enfield is telling the story and the way he tells it makes it seem like a true account and this makes the reader believe it. This form of writing is repeated throughout the novella with diary accounts and personal letter.
Chapter 1 of, ‘The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde,’ is told in a few perspectives. The first part of the chapter is told by the narrator while describing Utterson and Enfield, “He was austere with himself.” The next part of the chapter is told by Enfield describing the first encounter with Hyde, “I was coming home from some place at the end of the world.” The rest of the chapter is told by Utterson and Enfield discussing Enfield’s
encounter with Hyde, “”You are sure he used a key?” he inquired at last. “My dear sire…” began Enfield, surprised out of himself.” Using this form of writing is effective because the reader doesn’t get bored of always having to have the same person tell the whole story.
Now this essay will cover the second part of essay title on the key ideas. There will be a section on characters where the key ideas surrounding Hyde and Utterson are analysed. A section on duality of human nature where the difference between Enfield and Utterson and foreshadowing of clues that Hyde is Jekyll is analysed. The other section covered is reputation, analysed in this section is how Victorian upper class society avoid gossip, the threat to Hyde to damage his reputation and Hypocrisy or Enfield prepared to blackmail Hyde as he fears Jekyll is being blackmailed.
First in this section of the essay on the key ideas, it will analyse the characters.
In chapter 1 of, ‘The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde,’ the key ideas of the beast in man and contradiction of human nature are shown through the characters on Hyde and Utterson. Mr Hyde shows the key idea of the beast in man. This is shown when Enfield describes Hyde as, 2some damned Juggernaut.” Also, he is described as being, “like Satan.” These quotations show the beast in man as both a “Juggernaut” and “Satan” and both things that are inhuman and overpower normal people. Also, being, “like Satan” brings religion into the novella.
The key idea of contradiction of human nature is shown through Utterson. This shows as him being a perfect Victorian gentleman but he keeps secrets and gossips.
Next this essay will cover the reputation section in chapter 1 of, ‘The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.’
In chapter 1 of ‘The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde,’ reputation plays an important factor. This is important for people to keep their reputation in Victorian times because it was everything for their social life.
The threat to damage Hyde’s reputation is shown as being extremely important to him. He tells them to, “name your figure,” as he would have been willing to pay any price for his reputation to not be ruined, Hyde does this, as he is not sure if he would be suck as Jekyll or Hyde if anything happened, and wanted to keep both reputations clean.
The Victorian upper class society tried to avoid gossip. This is shown through Utterson as he keeps to himself and chooses who he would be acquainted with. “His friends were those of his own blood or those whom he had known the longest,” having Utterson choose his friends like this makes sure he stays away from gossip and keep a good reputation.
How Enfield is prepared to blackmail Hyde is risking the reputation of both himself and Hyde. This seems appropriate as Enfield believes Hyde is also blackmailing Jekyll at the same time. He could use Hyde blackmailing Jekyll as an excuse, if found out about blackmailing Hyde, to clear his name and reputation.
Next this essay will cover the key idea of duality of human nature in chapter 1 of, ‘The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.’
Enfield and Utterson in chapter 1 of, ‘The strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde,’ are both different. Utterson is described as, “a man of a rugged countenance,” not “lighted by a smile” and, “cold, scanty and embarrassed in discourse.” He “enjoyed the theatre” but hadn’t been to one for 20 years. The way Utterson is described here makes him seem like an old man that is to busy or lazy to go out somewhere he likes. Having Utterson described like this makes the reader think why does a character like this have such a big influence to the story when he is described as being to busy or lazy to do anything. However, Enfield is described as being completely different to Utterson. It was said top be, “a nut to crack for many” what they saw in each other. People do not understand why they are friends.
As Utterson and Enfield are described as being different to one another, Enfield can be said to be Utterson’s Doppelgänger. A man’s double self. “What subject they could find in common,” this quote shows how they were different. They were both from a posh back ground but were both different.
Clues such as foreshadowing are place around chapter 1 of, ‘The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde,’ to show that Hyde and Jekyll are the same person. The first clue comes when Enfield and Utterson are discussing the mysterious house and door that Hyde goes into. “Did you ever remark that door?” this is a clue as later on in the story you find out that it is the back door of Jekyll’s home.
The other clue is when Hyde comes out with the cheque with, “a name at least very well known and often printed,” and as you find out last in the novella this was Jekyll’s name on the cheque. This would make the reader want to read, to see how Hyde got this cheque with another mans name on it.
This essay title was answered by first covering the literary devices used in chapter 1 of, ‘The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde,’ these literary devices were language, imagery, settings and structure and form. The second part of this essay covered the key ideas in introduced in chapter 1; the key ideas used were duality of human nature, reputation and beast in man.
this is a great novella with a fantastic twist at the end, but the problem for the modern reader is that as this novella is so well known, they cannot read it as a mystery, as they already know Jekyll and Hyde are the same person. It is a mystery story that is no longer a mystery.
