Lecture Notes on Quotation Analysis and Themes in Literature

Introduction to Top Quotations for Essays

• Discussion on the impactful use of quotations in essays.
• Focus on ten key quotations that can be applicable to various themes and essays.

Key Quotation 1: "It was like some damned Juggernaut"

• Source: Mr. Enfield's description of Hyde.
• Christianity & Prejudice:
  • "Damned" implies hell; "Juggernaut" links to Hindu god Jagannath.
  • Suggests Christian prejudices frame Hyde as evil.
• Analysis of Hyde's Actions:
  • Hyde tramples on a girl but doesn’t intentionally harm her.
  • Raises question of inherent evil; Hyde vs. Enfield's behavior parallels.
• Themes: Hypocrisy, societal judgment, religious influences.

Quotation 2: "I saw that sore bones turn sick and white with the desire to kill him"

• Context: Reaction to Hyde’s trampling incident.
• Sin and Violence: Enfield and the doctor show murderous intent.
• Themes: Original sin, hypocrisy, societal corruption.

Science, Evolution, and Christian Fears

• Victorian Fears: Evolution challenges the Bible's creation narrative.
• Hyde as Troglodytic: Evolutionary throwback, societal fears of regression.

Utterson's Repressed Desires

• Utterson's Past: Gave up theater, symbolizing repression.
• Sensual Imagery: Dream of Jekyll in bed suggests intimacy.
• Themes: Repressed homosexuality, societal norms, blackmail.

The Idea of Dual Nature and Good vs. Evil

• Jekyll's Duality: Good and evil inside every man; Hyde represents Jekyll’s evil.
• Christian Doctrine: Original sin, struggle between good and evil.
• Science vs. Religion: Jekyll's experiments challenge moral boundaries.

Quotation 3: "With ape-like fury, he was trampling his victim"

• Context: Hyde's violent acts and the murder of Carew.
• Themes: Gothic elements, fear of regression, morality.

Setting and the Geography of Hypocrisy

• Soho vs. Leicester Square: Proximity symbolizes societal hypocrisy.
• Soho's Representation: Vice and foreignness, Victorian xenophobia.
• Fog Symbolism: Represents confusion and moral ambiguity.

Utterson's Criminal Actions

• Concealing Evidence: Utterson hides knowledge from police.
• Hypocrisy: Legal system corruption; societal values questioned.

Dr. Lanyon's Temptation

• Lanyon's Reaction: Witnesses transformation, chooses death over a world with such science.
• Christian vs. Science Perspective: Fear of new knowledge, moral dilemmas.

Stevenson's Critique of Society

• Stevenson's Personal Views: Atheist perspective on hypocrisy and societal norms.
• Novel as Social Critique: Challenges British norms, examines repressed desires.

Conclusion

• Final Thoughts: The novel uses gothic and detective elements to explore deep societal fears and hypocrisies, particularly around science, religion, and repressed desires.
• Recommendation: Reflect on one's own hidden motives and societal pressures.