Jekyll and Hyde, Good and Evil
Step 1:
Chapter 1, Mr. Hyde
"He is not easy to describe. There is something wrong with his appearance; something displeasing, something downright detestable. I never saw a man I so disliked, and yet I scarce know why. He must be deformed somewhere; he gives a strong feeling of deformity, although I couldn’t specify the point. He’s an extraordinary-looking man, and yet I really can name nothing out of the way."
Chapter 3, Dr. Jekyll
To this rule, Dr. Jekyll was no exception; and as he now sat on the opposite side of the fire — a large, well-made, smooth-faced man of fifty, with something of a slyish cast perhaps, but every mark of capacity and kindness — you could see by his looks that he cherished for Mr. Utterson a sincere and warm affection.
Chapter 1, Mr. Hyde
"He is not easy to describe. There is something wrong with his appearance; something displeasing, something downright detestable. I never saw a man I so disliked, and yet I scarce know why. He must be deformed somewhere; he gives a strong feeling of deformity, although I couldn’t specify the point. He’s an extraordinary-looking man, and yet I really can name nothing out of the way."
Chapter 3, Dr. Jekyll
To this rule, Dr. Jekyll was no exception; and as he now sat on the opposite side of the fire — a large, well-made, smooth-faced man of fifty, with something of a slyish cast perhaps, but every mark of capacity and kindness — you could see by his looks that he cherished for Mr. Utterson a sincere and warm affection.
"I have been wanting to speak to you, Jekyll," began the latter. "You know that will of yours?"
A close observer might have gathered that the topic was distasteful; but the doctor carried it off gaily. "My poor Utterson," said he, "you are unfortunate in such a client. I never saw a man so distressed as you were by my will; unless it were that hide-bound pedant, Lanyon, at what he called my scientific heresies. Oh, I know he's a good fellow — you needn't frown — an excellent fellow, and I always mean to see more of him; but a hide-bound pedant for all that; an ignorant, blatant pedant. I was never more disappointed in any man than Lanyon."
"You know I never approved of it," pursued Utterson, ruthlessly disregarding the fresh topic.
"My will? Yes, certainly, I know that," said the doctor, a trifle sharply. "You have told me so."
"Well, I tell you so again," continued the lawyer. "I have been learning something of young Hyde."
The large handsome face of Dr. Jekyll grew pale to the very lips, and there came a blackness about his eyes. "I do not care to hear more," said he. "This is a matter I thought we had agreed to drop."
Analysis:
These two excerpts regarding Hyde contrast significantly. One of the ways they do this is by appearance. Mr. Enfield describes Hyde as displeasing, detestable, and giving off the feeling of deformity in his appearance. He states that he has trouble describing him, as he looks extraordinary. When Utterson brings up the topic of Hyde to Dr. Jekyll, he immediately shuts it down. In this excerpt, we see a change in Dr. Jekyll's appearance, as he goes from a warm, kind nature to pale in the face. It also mentions that "there came a blackness about his eyes". By this reaction to Hyde, we can tell that Jekyll is clearly affected by the topic and feels uncomfortable speaking about it. This probably brings suspicion to Utterson, as he does not get any answers from Jekyll on the relation or thoughts regarding Hyde. Utterson's reaction to the two individuals in these excerpts eventually leaves him in confusion and reflection. After Enfield's vague description of Hyde, Utterson is not so sure how to perceive it. Then, after speaking with Jekyll, Utterson is left in the same state of reflection as he was before.
A poem for two voices:
"What did you so kindly stay to speak about Mr. Utterson?"
Please in God's name do not say, Hyde
"Oh, what is it you have learned of Hyde?"
We cannot speak of this, shut it down
"I do not care to hear more."
You didn't have to be so harsh
"This is a matter I thought we had agreed to drop."
Doesn't he realize I do not wish to speak of Hyde?
"It can make no change. You do not understand my position."
That will not help him understand, your incoherency is skeptical
"It is one of those affairs that cannot be mended by talking."
Well, at least I'm not lying... Did I cease the conversation?
"Thank you" (together)
In this poem, Dr. Jekyll is battling with his inner thoughts in order to not jeopardize his outward appearance. This conversation between Jekyll and Utterson is part of the second excerpt (above), where Utterson brings up his curiosity about Hyde. The text written in italics is Jekyll's inner voice, driving him to respond in the way he does to Mr. Utterson. This poem is intended to show Jekyll's struggle between preserving his positive appearance, and covering up Hyde.
Hey Emi! I liked your blogpost this week. I enjoyed that you chose the two excerpts to analyze since you chose one that I chose not to analyze. I thought your analysis of Jekyll was really accurate and good, but I think you could have elaborated more on the aspect of Mr. Hyde and how they are similar and different from one another. I also really enjoyed your poem and how you chose to set it up like a conversation. I did something very different. Good job!
ReplyDeleteHi Emi! First up, you chose the same two excerpts that I picked, so your analysis was particularly interesting as I got to see our deviance in perspectives. I liked your focus on the transition of Jekyll's face from, essentially, open to closed- your commentary on how his demeanor completely changed when Utterson brought Hyde into conversation was especially insightful. Additionally, I loved your poem! It felt id-driven in that it provided a facet of Jekyll's personality- his interaction with everyday, conventionally ordinary ideas at the superficial level of conversation- was a notion that hadn't even crossed my mind. Wonderfully written! Much love!
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