Jekyllin' Me, Hyde

Mr. Edward Hyde excerpt:

“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. 

Dr. Henry Jekyll excerpt:

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:

The first excerpt, given from the perspective of Mr. Enfield, establishes an evil, and mysterious, voice for Mr. Hyde. While Enfield insists that there is "something wrong" with Hyde's appearance, he is unable to say exactly what. Enfield's incapability to provide an explanation for why Hyde's appearance is "downright detestable" builds on the novella's theme of suspense and puzzlement, as well as Hyde's satanic voice. Enfield's description suggests that Hyde's peculiarity and wickedness is so extreme that Enfield himself lacks the words necessary to effectively characterize it. This pattern continues throughout the novella, as many characters, including Mr. Utterson, agree that while something is off about Hyde, they cannot accurately describe it. 

Stevenson's characterization of Dr. Jekyll in the second excerpt gives a much different voice to him than the one he assigns to Hyde. In contrast to the many questions that are raised by Hyde's image, Jekyll's description leaves the audience with a straightforward understanding of his character's appearance and good intentions. By Jekyll's looks, anyone could see "that he cherished for Mr. Utterson a sincere and warm affection." Stevenson bridges Jekyll's morally-straight voice to Hyde's evil one in order to emphasize the striking dissimilarity between the two characters. When Utterson mentions Hyde to Jekyll, "there came a blackness about his eyes" and Jekyll suddenly responds that he would not like to discuss the matter. Using the word "blackness" implies a dark, unpleasant view of Hyde by Jekyll. Moreover, Jekyll's strange reaction to the subject of Hyde adds to the skepticism surrounding Hyde and further builds on the distinction between Jekyll and Hyde's respective voices.

Step 2: This poem is intended to demonstrate the differences and similarities between Jekyll and Hyde’s characters. The intended effect of this poem is to reveal society’s views of the characters as well as their internal motivations. Jekyll’s part is written by Kayla Robinson and Hyde’s by Zack Thomas. All creative genius and physical labor that went into this poem is the work of Zack Thomas, exclusively.

Jekyll and Hyde: Two-Voice Poem

J: I am Henry Jekyll.

H: I'm Edward Hyde.

J: I am quite a renowned scientist.

H: I'm a notorious murderer.

J: Without my potion, Hyde is nothing.

H: Without me, Jekyll is deeply troubled.

J: Smooth-faced and kind,

H: Despicable and detestable,

J: People respect me and my wishes.

H: The London police want me in custody.

J & H: We are polar opposites.

J: Mr. Utterson is my loyal friend.

H: Mr. Utterson is trying to expose me.

J & H: Yet we are one in the same.

This a selfie featuring the authors of the above poem: