it
Dr. Jekyll is not himself and is seemingly unrecognizable.
it
Dr. Jekyll is not himself and is seemingly unrecognizable.
I dare not
Possibly fears running into Mr.Hyde.
I wish to see or hear no more of Dr. Jekyll
Dr.Jekyll's reputation is diminishing which could explain the decreasing appeal in his appearance making him look "ill".
muffle and smother of these fallen clouds
They seem to conceal Mr.Hyde's actions while also concealing the fate of Dr.Jekyll's reputation.
lay his victim in the middle of the lane, incredibly mangled
Similar to how Jack the Ripper's victims were discovered.
Henry Jekyll’s favourite
A man only favored by Dr.Jekyll (Mr.Hyde)
dark like the back-end of evening
A horrible murder covered up by darkness.
very small gentleman
Previous character descriptions point to Mr.Hyde.
five or six old cronies, all intelligent, reputable men and all judges of good wine;
Seemingly respectable men that seem to fit into the Victorian era concept of "perfect gentlemen." (well educated, good reputations, etc.)
He was austere with himself
He presents himself as a man of stature which could imply that he is influenced by the concept of being a "perfect gentlemen" in the Victorian era.
three
This number is constantly repeated throughout the text. There are three windows, it was three o'clock when Mr. Enfield was returning home, etc. The number three is a significant number in Christianity and its subtle repetition can be hinting at the conflict between science and religion that is notable in this era.
as should make his name stink from one end of London to the other.
Ruining ones reputation, which in Victorian England was equivalent to death.
I was coming home from some place at the end of the world, about three o’clock of a black winter morning
Description implies something sinister about to be mentioned. In this case, it references "the man [trampling] calmly over the child’s body and left her screaming on the ground."
The inhabitants were all doing well, it seemed,
Appearance is everything
approved tolerance for others
Important in maintaining a respectable reputation
must have secrets of his own; black secrets, by the look of him; secrets compared to which poor Jekyll’s worst would be like sunshine.
Possible foreshadowing - these secrets might be revealed.
hissing
The term "hissing," when referencing Mr.Hyde, makes me think of a snake, which in several religious texts is often connoted with the devil or other evil beings. This diction ultimately paints Mr.Hyde in a negative way.