Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde Quote Close Reading

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. No, sir; I can make no hand of it; I can’t describe him.

And it’s not want of memory; for I declare I can see him this moment.

Evolutionary theory of Darwin was unsettling to the people of the Victorian era because it dissolved the boundary between human beings and animals. Followers of Darwin also believed in the opposite of evolution, “degeneration,” basically, going from a higher being to a lower life-form. This idea influences Victorian ideas of criminality in that the brains of criminals are visibly different, more primitive, and hold a higher tendency for violence than those of others.

It inspired many well-known characters, including that of Mr.

Get quality help now
writer-marian
writer-marian
checked Verified writer

Proficient in: Philosophy

star star star star 4.8 (309)

“ Writer-marian did a very good job with my paper, she got straight to the point, she made it clear and organized ”

avatar avatar avatar
+84 relevant experts are online
Hire writer

Hyde. This influence shows in the Chapter 1 quote above, where Mr. Enfield is describing to Mr. Utterson the hideous, seemingly sub-human, appearance of Mr. Hyde. The quote shows that Mr. Enfield can’t come up with a clear description of Mr. Hyde’s appearance other than the fact that he is horribly deformed in some unclear way, and no one else throughout the novel can offer a clear description of his deformity either.

Perhaps Stevenson does not offer a clear description of Hyde from the beginning of the novel so it becomes up to the reader’s imagination to conjure up their own depiction of a misshapen monster.

Get to Know The Price Estimate For Your Paper
Topic
Number of pages
Email Invalid email

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy. We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

"You must agree to out terms of services and privacy policy"
Write my paper

You won’t be charged yet!

Since this novel is so well-known, it is understood that Hyde represents evil, but before this is established in the story, what makes him so scary and unlikeable to the other characters and readers? Hyde is unanimously and immediately disliked by all who set eyes on him due to his exterior. The physical appearance of Mr. Hyde is one of the major themes of the novel.

His ugly exterior parallels his moral foulness. Readers during Stevenson’s time probably immediately caught on to the idea that Mr. Hyde is meant to be a representation of evil due solely to the way his appearance is described because during this time period, many people were strong believers in the science of physiognomy, which is the assessment of a person’s character from his or her outer appearance. By this logic, a deformed person is more likely to be a criminal, and implies the idea that evil is something that is physically visible.

Updated: Nov 01, 2022
Cite this page

Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde Quote Close Reading. (2020, Jun 02). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/dr-jekyll-mr-hyde-quote-close-reading-new-essay

Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde Quote Close Reading essay
Live chat  with support 24/7

👋 Hi! I’m your smart assistant Amy!

Don’t know where to start? Type your requirements and I’ll connect you to an academic expert within 3 minutes.

get help with your assignment