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How Does Stevenson Present Mr Hyde As An Outsider

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Test: How does Stevenson present Mr Hyde as a frightening outsider? Through Mr. Hyde, Robert Stevenson explores the nature of evil. Stevenson portrays Mr. Hyde as a terrifying stranger in both the chapter two extract and the rest of the novella with his actions and appearance. Stevenson also presents Mr. Hyde as a shock to a conventional Victorian society by emphasising his wicked and Satanic attributes through the use of religious imagery. One of the most effective ways Stevenson uses to illustrate Mr Hyde as a frightening outsider is through his behaviour. Before Mr Hyde let Mr Utterson into his home, Mr Hyde “snarled aloud into a savage laugh and the next moment, with extraordinary quickness, he unlocked the door and disappeared into the house.” This unusual behaviour contrasts with what a normal person would do, which is to warmly welcome a …show more content…

Lastly, when talking about Hyde, Stevenson also writes that “he gave an impression of deformity without any nameable malformation”. Since no physical deformity is ever named, the reader can assume that it is Hyde’s soul that is deformed. Finally, Stevenson uses religious and Satanic imagery to present Mr. Hyde as a frightening outsider. Stevenson accomplishes this by describing Hyde as having “Satan’s signature” on his face. This metaphor is effective in painting Hyde’s evil as it suggests that Satan has “signed” Hyde and made him his own, making Hyde pure evil. Furthermore, Stevenson uses the simile “like a damned Juggernaut” to describe Hyde, suggesting that Hyde is a strong and powerful force that is divine. The thought of a powerful juggernaut would have scared a Victorian audience, as it steps into the realm of the

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