Top Ten Theme Quotes (plus analysis...) – Higher English SQA Revision

Top Ten Theme Quotes (plus analysis…)

“That part of town which bore so great a resemblance to a district of some city in a nightmare”. This quote reflects the dark and uncanny London where Jekyll’s story unfolds, suggesting ill-at-ease and foreboding settings.
“A certain sinister block of building … marked with no name or number, bore in every feature, the marks of profound and sordid negligence.” This quote is speaking of Hyde’s residence and marks a correlation between Hyde and decay.

Beginning with Mr. Utterson, the narrative is from an objective, third person viewpoint, keeping us, like Utterson, in the dark about many mysteries.
Dr. Lanyon’s narrative account provides an eye-witness account of the transformation from Hyde to Jekyll, revealing the dual nature of the titular character.
Dr. Jekyll’s full confession, finally unravels the narrative tension and mystery about the connection between Jekyll and Hyde.

The phrase “the city in a nightmare” and more, create a haunting atmosphere, emphasizing the nightmarish quality of Jekyll’s double existence.
The use of “foggy evenings”, “dismal scenery”, contribute to the grim, mysterious and menacing atmosphere.

Hyde’s speech is described as “hardly human”, emphasizing his monstrous nature

The novel uses multiple narrative perspectives, including Utterson and Lanyon, allowing readers to piece together the full story of Jekyll and Hyde.
The final reveal of Hyde’s nature and his relationship to Jekyll through Dr Jekyll’s own narrative in ‘Dr. Jekyll Was Quite at Ease’ and ‘Henry Jekyll’s Full Statement of the Case’.

Jekyll and Hyde are often associated with “light” and “dark” respectively, a clear symbol of good versus evil.
Hyde is frequently referred to as “animalistic”, emphasizing his uncivilized, wicked nature.

The door to Hyde’s home can be interpreted to symbolize the boundary between the socially acceptable Dr Jekyll and the monstrous Mr Hyde.
London’s foggy weather, symbolizes the clouded and obscured reality where true evil hides in plain sight.

“Edward Hyde, alone in the ranks of mankind, was pure evil.” This points out the nature of Hyde as the embodiment of pure maliciousness.
“I knew myself, at the first breath of this new life, to be more wicked, tenfold more wicked, sold a slave to my original evil; and the thought, in that moment, braced and delighted me like wine.” This quote by Jekyll tells us about his initial feelings / reaction to becoming Hyde.