Explore how Hyde is presented in the text as a whole and the extract
My teacher said it was good but wouldn't get the top, top marks due to limited language analysis. Do you think an examiner would agree?
Hello Diego. In a 30 mark question, examiners can disagree with a senior examiner by 3 marks either way! So, your teacher is both correct, and incorrect.
There are lots of brilliant ideas in your essay which students can steal. And some advice to use in writing their own essays.
Let’s look at the essay:
In Stevenson’s novella, the motif of animal imagery is used to depict Mr Hyde as the bestial side of human nature which is present in all humans (even those who are well respected). This could be done to highlight the evil of Victorian society which unjustly vilified natural human desires present in Mr Hyde and restricted Dr Jekyll’s freedom making him create an alternate being.
Strong thesis statement.
Also, Mr Hyde is used as a contrast to Dr Jekyll to emphasise the theme of duality of human nature which means “Man is not truly one but truly two”.
Is there somewhere this would fit better?
Hyde is described with animal imagery throughout the text such as when he is “Hissing” and this suggests that he is like an animal rather than a human. We see in the extract that he is described as “troglodytic” which has connotations to a caveman or human ancestor. Perhaps, Stevenson is showing the reader that Mr Hyde is a symbol of the bestial nature present in all humans. This may be a view that Stevenson held due to the theory of evolution which had recently emerged and possibly caused Stevenson to question whether humans were actually superior to their animal ancestors. When Hyde's “ape-like fury” is presented, this could be seen as an allusion to the theory of evolution due to the reference to the ape.
You’ve made the context relevant to your interpretation, so have a clear explanation for at least level 4.
One interpretation is that by constructing Dr Jekyll as a typical, well respected Victorian gentleman, Stevenson is sending a message to the contemporary readers that everyone has this bestial side and they should be careful to subdue their evil desires so they do not become uncontrollable such as in the character of Mr Hyde who seems to have no morals.
Strong use of context linking it to an interpretation, so your AO3 mark is going up.
Alternatively, Stevenson may be subtly hinting throughout the novella that society is to blame for the creation of Mr Hyde because the Victorians viewed natural desires as evil and their restrictive society limited Dr Jekyll’s freedom and made him want to create Mr Hyde to experience what he couldn’t. When Jekyll describes the “Innocent freedom” of Hyde, Stevenson influences the reader to feel sympathy for Hyde who, rather than being a completely evil character, may just be someone who frees himself from society’s restrictions.
This is a very ‘thoughtful’ alternative interpretation, which brings the answer up to Level 5 AO2.
Mr Utterson could be constructed as a contrast to Mr Hyde to show the detrimental effects of repressing your desires. This is because Mr Utterson is a typical reserved Victorian gentleman who feels “Envy” towards those with less moral restrictions such as Mr Hyde. It could be argued that Stevenson constructs a juxtaposition between Hyde, an outcast who is looked down upon, and Utterson, a typical symbol of a Victorian man to demonstrate that repressing your desires fully can lead to jealousy and therefore, society’s attitudes towards what is evil should change to become more accepting of people fulfilling their natural desires.
Brilliant idea, but you need more evidence to show that Utterson is jealous of Hyde, and that the readers are invited to disapprove of Utterson. First you have to prove he is repressed. (My guide can do that for you if you get stuck).
A superficial interpretation is that Mr Hyde is presented as a deeply evil and unnatural character with no morals. This is seen in the extract where the religious imagery with the reference to “Satan” addresses the religious Victorian readers and suggests that Mr Hyde is a morally horrific character. Also, at the start of the novella, the typical Victorian gentleman Enfield expresses his anger towards this man who remorselessly “Trampled ” over an innocent girl and this creates a sense in the readers that Mr Hyde must be completely evil.
This is a strong analysis of quotations, but unless you link it to which interpretation Stevenson wants us to have, it isn’t ‘convincing’, for level 6.
However, the novella can be interpreted as a lesson about prejudice because the hatred of Hyde (which is a motif in the text as a whole) may simply be a product of Victorians’ prejudice towards a character who is shunned by society. When Mr Hyde is described as a “Damned juggernaut” the biblical allusion indicates the view held by the deeply religious society that Mr Hyde is destined to go to hell. Therefore, Stevenson may be criticising the judgemental Christian attitude held by many.
This is much better, and starts to be convincing, but for the small matter that he tramples on the girl. You need to show how this is not an evil act before you make this claim.
It could be that Stevenson establishes the location of Mr Hyde’s house in Soho to hint at the fact that there was a heavy prejudice against working class people living in poorer parts of London just like Mr Hyde. Therefore, by using present-day London as the setting of his text, Stevenson may be highlighting the reality of society’s prejudice which the reader should be aware of.
The “Hatred” of Hyde among many people in chapter 1 could indicate that Mr Hyde is actually a victim of society’s prejudice. Therefore, Stevenson might be commenting that the Victorians, just like the characters in the novella, are too judgemental and hold prejudices against people who don’t conform to their conventions just like Mr Hyde.
This is a good argument - but it would be more convincing once you have dealt with my previous comment.
Stevenson might emphasise that, rather than being completely evil, Mr Hyde is a victim of society’s problems through the depiction of Utterson’s reasonable acceptance of Mr Hyde at the start of the novella. Utterson is portrayed as a rational, inquisitive Victorian gentleman who perhaps should be admired by the reader due to his high status. He is presented as non judgemental due to his willingness to work with criminals and investigate more about Mr Hyde.
Some quotations would really help here, both about going to the devil in their own way, which is easy to find, and the more difficult one - proof that Utterson accepts Hyde, rather than judges him. I can’t think of one.
Therefore, Stevenson might contrast Utterson’s tolerant attitudes with the prejudiced views held by the other characters to emphasise that Mr Hyde is a victim of what others think of him and the reader should possibly aim to be like Mr Utterson in order for society to become more tolerant and less restrictive.
It could be that the reason that people immediately hate Mr Hyde throughout the text is that they want to distance themselves from the animalistic characteristics (reflected by Mr Hyde) which are present in themselves. Therefore, we could see Stevenson’s novella as a message that Mr Hyde is not innately evil but instead, the Victorian society around him places evil restrictions on Dr Jekyll and is prejudiced against an outcast in society.
This is a fantastic idea. Again, you need a quotation to back it up, or you need to come up with a theory how he can kill Carew, but yet not be evil.
Mr Hyde is juxtaposed to Dr Jekyll so that when it is revealed that they are actually the same person, the duality of human nature is emphasised. In the extract, the “Deformity” of Hyde can be seen as a physical manifestation of his perceived evil nature as well as a symbol of how he is ostracised from society because he is seen as an unnatural character. In contrast, Dr Jekyll is surrounded by “Intelligent, reputable” people which establishes him as a character who is respected by the Victorian upper classes. The dichotomy in setting is used to emphasise the theme of duality because the “Pleasant” house of Dr Jekyll and the “Well polished” Victorian homes juxtapose Mr Hyde’s house which is described as a gothic building through the imagery of decay. Therefore, Stevenson deliberately emphasises the stark contrast between Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (who are actually one person) to indicate his main message that “Man is not truly one but truly two”.
This is fabulous analysis, but how is it linked to your thesis statement and your argument about animalistic imagery?
The theme of duality is also established by showing contrasting aspects within the character of Mr Hyde. In the extract, the word “Mixture” connotes science. This could foreshadow that Mr Hyde is an artificial creation of Dr Jekyll. On the other hand, we also see religious imagery when there is a reference to Satan. Therefore, the opposing lexical fields may be used by Stevenson to demonstrate the duality of Mr Hyde. One reason for this is that the writer could be showing that even though Mr Hyde is seen as fully evil, there are still some positive characteristics of his personality because he has dual characteristics.
Another brilliant idea - but can you show that Hyde is ‘positive’ in any of his behaviours? And, how what is Stevenson’s point about duality. Yes, we are all capable of good and evil. So what? …
The oxymoron of “Timidity and boldness” also emphasises the duality of Mr Hyde which is established at the start of the novella with the oxymoron “Trampled calmly”. Therefore, the contrast within the character of Mr Hyde as well as how he juxtaposes other characters could be used by Stevenson to construct the theme of duality and show the readers that all people have conflicting good natures and evil natures.
The uncanny gothic character Mr Hyde may also be used to show the dangers of scientific advancements taken out of control because Dr Jekyll creates a character who is seen to have “Deformity” in the extract. Perhaps, Stevenson constructs Mr Hyde to show the hubris of scientists like Dr Jekyll who carry out experiments beyond human control. It could be that the more reserved science of Dr Lanyon is seen as more suitable. Therefore, despite showing that Victorians should not be completely repressive like the characters that have prejudice against Hyde, Stevenson may also be indicating that some restrictions such as in science are necessary and society should find a middle ground to avoid being too restrictive like Victorian gentlemen as well as too careless like Jekyll.
Great idea. But tell us why Stevenson or his readers care about science?
In conclusion, animal imagery establishes the bestial nature of Mr Hyde which Stevenson indicates is present in all humans and possibly should be subdued. It could be said that Hyde is constructed as an evil, unnatural character to show the dangers of hubristic science and a lack of control.
However, these are simplistic interpretations. In reality, it is probable that Stevenson depicted the prejudice that other characters hold against Hyde to show that Mr Hyde, just like real people in poor areas of London like Soho, is a victim of society. The novella is a message about avoiding the repressive nature of Victorians established by gentlemen like Utterson.
A great conclusion if you had shown that Utterson is dislikable because of his repressive nature. The theme of duality also needs to fit your argument about acceptance and avoiding repression.
Also, Hyde is used to establish the central theme of duality of human nature.
So, this is definitely a thoughtful answer. It is mostly developed (though as we have seen there are gaps). Because you have written so many words, it would probably be treated as developed. However, it is not yet convincing.
Would having more quotations make it more convincing? Definitely, especially if you used them to prove your argument. So, I agree with your teacher. I hope this helps, and look forward to your rewrite when you have finished the novel. You will easily get grade 9.