Symbolism and Setting
Door:
A symbol of curiosity, the door is first mentioned in Chapter One and then several more times as the novel progresses. Whenever the door is mentioned, Utterson is on a mission to uncover information about Hyde. The door is also the setting for the discussion regarding the young girl who was trampled and the false check. |
Night & Midnight:
The darkness associated with night and midnight is an archetypal symbol for evil and foreboding. Hyde's association with this time reinforces his role as an "evil" character. Night signifies his need to be able to commit terrible deeds within hidden shadows. Also, any man going about in the middle of the night is considerably suspicious. |
Drug Addiction:
The behavior of Hyde/Jekyll is extremely similar to that of a drug addict. Jekyll failed to see a problem with his experiment just as an addict often fails to acknowledge his addiction, and when others attempted to help or speak to him, he isolated himself. Hyde/Jekyll's frenzied quests to find materials to create his elixir are similar to an addict's desperate need and search for their drug. Also, his frequent and unexplainable mood swings are characteristic of a drug addict as well. |