Fog and Repression

Stevenson uses the motif of fog throughout the novel to represent hidden desires and Victorian repression. The fog obscures vision, just as respectable gentlemen attempted to obscure their secret vices.

Quote: "chocolate-coloured pall"

This evocative phrase connects ideas of temptation (chocolate) with concealment (pall), reflecting how Victorian society attempted to hide its darker impulses.

Vocabulary: Pall - A cloth spread over a coffin, hearse, or tomb

The fog creates mystery by limiting what the reader and characters can perceive, heightening tension and suspense.

Definition: Victorian gentleman - A man expected to uphold strict moral standards and repress "improper" desires in 19th century British society

Stevenson uses the contrast between foggy, concealing environments and clear, respectable areas to highlight the duality of human nature and Victorian hypocrisy.

Analysis of Setting and Atmosphere

Stevenson's use of setting is crucial in creating the novel's atmosphere of mystery and fear. The vivid descriptions and contrasts between locations mirror the internal conflicts of the characters.

Key techniques:

• Personification of buildings to create a threatening mood
• Motifs like fog and locked doors to represent secrets and repression
• Contrasting descriptions of respectable and sinister locations

Highlight: The "dingy neighbourhood" hidden behind the respectable facade represents the hidden desires of Victorian gentlemen, creating intrigue and tension.

These techniques combine to create a rich, atmospheric setting that enhances the novel's themes of duality and the struggle between public respectability and private vice.

Example: The description of Hyde's door as "blistered and distained" with tramps and children defacing it creates a vivid image of neglect and moral decay.

By carefully crafting the novel's settings, Stevenson builds a world where the respectable and the sinister exist side by side, reflecting the complex nature of his characters and Victorian society as a whole.

Gothic Elements and Fear

The text employs classic Gothic techniques to create an atmosphere of dread and unease.

Quote: "lamps glimmered like carbuncles"

Vocabulary: Carbuncles are both precious stones and painful boils, creating a dual meaning

Highlight: Light becomes corrupted, transforming from a symbol of hope to one of disease

Example: The personification of "haggard daylight" suggests nature itself is exhausted by the city's moral decay

Setting and Duality in Chapter 1

Stevenson uses setting to introduce Mr. Hyde's character and create an atmosphere of mystery and fear in this extract from Chapter 1. The description of Hyde's residence contrasts sharply with the surrounding neighborhood, reflecting the duality of his nature.

The street is described as clean, thriving and inviting, with shop fronts that have "an air of invitation, like rows of smiling saleswomen." This respectable facade represents the public face of Victorian society.

In stark contrast, Hyde's building is portrayed as neglected and sinister:

Quote: "a certain sinister block of building thrust forward its gable on the street"

The personification of the building as thrusting forward creates an intimidating, intrusive image.

Highlight: The lack of windows and a proper door emphasizes Hyde's secretive, withdrawn nature. This introduces the motif of locked doors that recurs throughout the novel, signifying hidden aspects of characters.

Example: The door is described as "equipped with neither bell nor knocker", implying no one is welcome to enter Hyde's domain.

Stevenson's vivid descriptions create a sense of unease and foreboding, hinting at the dark secrets concealed within.