Jekyll + Hyde: Secrecy and Reputation
This post gives you a full breakdown of the themes of Secrecy and Reputation in The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. You can use these ideas in essays as the ‘Points’ in PEE paragraphs; you can also use them more generally during your analysis of quotations. Be sure to also develop your own thoughts and opinions on these points as well, so you’re integrating your ‘personal response’ into the analysis.
SECRECY AND REPUTATION
A man’s public reputation was considered one of his most important assets in the 19th century - men were expected to operate within public spheres, both professionally and personally.
A man could lose his reputation in several ways, many of which involved moral, financial, or social failures. Being involved in affairs or exhibiting promiscuous behaviour led to social ostracisation, as others would no longer associate with the individual. Any kind of criminal or underhanded activity provoked a similar response. Equally, substance abuse or alcoholism were highly frowned upon.
Utterson and Enfield, as two upright men who understand how easy it is for a man to lose his reputation, refuse to gossip or make presuppositions about Jekyll. In this way, they protect him from the judgement of society for as long as they can.
However, the discovery that Jekyll brought to life such a despicable creature that was, in fact, his own dark side proves to be too much for Lanyon, who gets sick from the shock of seeing Jekyll’s transformation and ultimately dies.
Therefore, the function of secrecy in the novella is endemic to the tendencies of the time. To gossip about others might ruin your own reputation, as well as others.
However, the main secret in the novella is Hyde and Jekyll’s relationship. This secret consistently works to contrast Jekyll’s reputation, threatening to ruin him.
Jekyll is not the only one keeping secrets. Lanyon refuses to explain why he fell out with Jekyll, Enfield and Carew refuse to explain why they were walking along the streets of London late at night.
Even Utterson avoids discussing what Jekyll is doing to keep his secrets and protect his reputation.
Even the setting itself maintains an overarching theme of mystery and secrecy. Locked doors, windows and information via letters are used to maintain this semantic field of mystery.
Pathetic fallacy of fog also helps to create an atmosphere of concealment.
In the end, Stevenson shows that reputation is merely based on appearances. Secrecy maintains one's reputation as it hides anything that might contradict the image someone wishes to create.
TASK: Consider the following statements. Write a paragraph for each discussing your thoughts on them and their relation to the play. Remember to make use of relevant quotations to back up your thoughts.
“Stevenson makes use of his setting to create a mysterious atmosphere throughout the novella.”
“Jekyll was arrogant to think that he could hide Hyde forever.”
Thanks for reading!
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A breakdown of the story
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Key quotations + analysis
Form, structure + language analysis
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