Questions and Answers
What does the quote 'No gentleman but wishes to avoid a scene...Name your figure' reflect about Victorian society?
In the quote 'Blackmail I suppose; an honest man paying through the nose for some of the capers of his youth', the honest man is truly honest.
False
What does the quote 'If he be Mr. Hyde...I shall be Mr. Seek' signify about Mr. Utterson's intentions?
It signifies his determination to uncover the truth about Hyde and Jekyll.
What does 'windows barred with iron' symbolize in Jekyll's lab?
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How does the description of 'He dingy windowless structure' reflect the theme of secrecy?
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What does the quote 'On the hearth there lay a pile of grey ashes, as though many papers had been burned' imply about Mr. Hyde?
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What does the quote 'I burned it' reveal about Mr. Hyde's character?
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What does the description of 'The door was very strong, the lock excellent' signify in the context of Lanyon's chapter?
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What does the phrase 'This document had long been the lawyer's eyesore' imply about Utterson's feelings?
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Study Notes
Secrecy in Jekyll and Hyde
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The phrase "No gentleman but wishes to avoid a scene... Name your figure" reveals the societal pressure and hypocrisy in Victorian society, where reputation is often prioritized over morality; even after wrongdoing, Hyde is still considered a gentleman.
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The quote "Blackmail I suppose; an honest man paying through the nose for some of the capers of his youth" suggests that the 'honest man' is not truthful, as he pays to conceal his past, hinting at Jekyll's potentially scandalous secrets using euphemistic language.
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Utterson's statement "If he be Mr.Hyde...I shall be Mr.Seek" cleverly plays on the homophonic relationship between Hyde and 'hide', emphasizing Utterson's relentless pursuit of truth and highlighting the theme of secrecy.
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The imagery of "Windows barred with iron" in Jekyll's lab symbolizes isolation and the desire to hide his true self, with 'barred' suggesting imprisonment for his sins, while 'window' represents the concealment of one's innermost thoughts.
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The description of "He dingy windowless structure" emphasizes a recurring motif of secrecy, where the absence of windows indicates a hidden life, with 'dingy' connoting moral degradation and madness within.
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The line "On the hearth there lay a pile of grey ashes, as though many papers had been burned" indicates Mr. Hyde's drastic measures to eliminate evidence, showcasing his commitment to secrecy and the extent of his concealment.
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Jekyll's admission "I burned it" reflects a shared tendency toward destruction between him and Hyde, symbolizing the duality of their existence and the lengths they go to keep their secrets hidden.
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Lanyon observes "The door was very strong, the lock excellent", reinforcing the recurring motif of doors as barriers to knowledge and secrecy, implying resistance against revealing deeper truths.
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The phrase "This document had long been the lawyer's eyesore" reveals Utterson's inner turmoil regarding Jekyll’s will, highlighting his discomfort at the idea of evil inheriting Jekyll’s fortune, and the overall sense of dread related to hidden truths.
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Description
Explore the themes of secrecy and societal hypocrisy in Robert Louis Stevenson's 'Jekyll and Hyde'. This quiz examines key quotes and their implications on reputation, morality, and the struggle for identity within Victorian society.
