Jekyll - Name & Quotes

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Significance of "Jekyll"

Here's some interpretations of Jekyll's name:

Kill

"Je", if translated from French, means "I", and "Kyll", when pronounced, sounds like "kill".
This is a common interpretation of his name, and may allude to his attempts to kill the evil (Hyde) in him later on in the novella.

Duality

The idea of this portmanteau word (a word made from two separate words), which combines the two languages of French and English, also links to the theme of duality in the novella.
Even languages are comprised of more than one counterpart.

Key Quotes - Jekyll

Here are a few key quotes showing aspects of Jekyll's character:

Sociable and well-respected

“A fortnight later, by excellent good fortune, the doctor gave one of his pleasant dinners to some five or six old cronies, all intelligent, reputable men and all judges of good wine”. (3)
- Jekyll is a sociable man. He holds dinner parties and he is well-known in the community for his reputable character. He behaves in a socially acceptable way, and he is very aware of how other people see him, especially amongst the upper class.

Repression and reputation

“Hence it came about that I concealed my pleasures; and that when I reached years of reflection, and began to look round me and take stock of my progress and position in the world, I stood already committed to a profound duplicity of life.” (10)
- Jekyll kept the sinful side of his personality repressed in favour of appearing to be a socially respectable man.

Glimpse of the old

“He came out of his seclusion, renewed relations with his friends, became once more their familiar guest and entertainer; and whilst he had always been known for charities, he was now no less distinguished for religion.” (6)
- Hyde disappears for a while, and Jekyll starts to come out of his seclusion and become his old social self: he visits friends and entertains people, goes to church and acts like a religious man.

1Plot Summary

1.1Chapters 1-10

1.1.1Chapters 1 & 2

1.1.2Chapters 3 & 4

1.1.3Chapters 5 & 6

1.1.4Chapters 7 & 8

1.1.5Chapters 9 & 10

1.1.6End of Topic Test - Chapters 1-6

1.1.7End of Topic Test - Chapters 7-10

2Characters

2.1Jekyll & Hyde

2.1.1Dr Henry Jekyll

2.1.2Jekyll - Name & Quotes

2.1.3Mr Edward Hyde

2.1.4Jekyll/Hyde Quotes - Chapters 1-9

2.1.5Jekyll/Hyde Quotes - Chapter 10

2.1.6End of Topic Test - Jekyll & Hyde

2.1.7Exam-Style Questions - Mr Hyde

2.2Other Characters

2.2.1Mr Gabriel John Utterson

2.2.2Dr Hastie Lanyon

2.2.3Minor Characters

2.2.4End of Topic Test - Other Characters

3Gothic Genre

3.1Gothic Elements

3.1.1Gothic Conventions

3.1.2Gothic Settings & Symbolism

3.1.3End of Topic Test - Gothic Conventions

4Key Themes

4.1Key Themes & Quotes

4.1.1Science

4.1.2Dual Nature of Man

4.1.3Religion & Sin

4.1.4Violence & Horror

4.1.5Victorian Gentlemen

4.1.6End of Topic Test - Key Themes & Quotes

5Context & Author

5.1Context & Author

5.1.1The Victorian Era

5.1.2Deacon Brodie & Freud

5.1.3End of Topic Test - Context & Author

6Literary Techniques

6.1Literary Techniques

6.1.1Language

6.1.2Structure & Form

6.1.3End of Topic Test - Literary Techniques

7Grade 9 - Key Character & Theme Questions

7.1Key Character & Themes - Linked Questions

7.1.1Grade 9 - Key Characters & Themes

7.1.2Extract Analysis - Jekyll

7.1.3Extract Analysis - Duality

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