Secrecy (Scottish Highers English): Revision Notes
Secrecy
The gentlemen in Jekyll and Hyde are characterised by their reluctance to share information, even though they claim to be friends. Stevenson creates an atmosphere of secrecy throughout the novel using various literary techniques.
Multiple layers of secrets
The central narrative concerns Jekyll's secret alter ego, but this is not the only mystery in the novel. Other characters also conceal aspects of their lives, creating a pervasive sense of hidden truths.
Utterson's past: Utterson admits to having done "many ill things" in his past, but these actions are never specified. This omission makes his past appear shameful, even though the narrator describes it as "fairly blameless". The contradiction between what is said and what is implied creates ambiguity around Utterson's character. By leaving this detail unexplained, Stevenson makes readers question whether any of the gentlemen can truly be trusted.
Enfield's mysterious activities: The text never explains where Enfield was returning from at three o'clock in the morning. This unexplained absence encourages readers to assume he was somewhere scandalous. Stevenson uses this narrative gap to suggest that even respectable gentlemen have hidden activities they prefer not to discuss. The lack of explanation makes the omission itself suspicious, which reinforces the theme that these men have something to hide.
Avoidance and understatement
The gentlemen in the novel actively choose not to speak about uncomfortable subjects. This silence is not accidental but deliberate, reflecting their desire to maintain appearances.
Refusing to discuss the unpleasant: The characters often decide not to speak about unpleasant things so they can pretend such things are not happening. For example, Utterson and Enfield agree never to talk about Hyde again. This pact of silence shows how the gentlemen prioritize social respectability over truth. By refusing to acknowledge Hyde's existence, they hope to make him disappear from their world, even though he clearly poses a threat.
The gentlemen prioritize social respectability over truth, choosing to maintain appearances rather than confront uncomfortable realities. This deliberate silence is a key aspect of Victorian society's approach to scandal and shame.
Jekyll's inability to speak: Jekyll "can't speak" about Hyde, perhaps because he cannot admit to Hyde's origin as part of himself. He asks Utterson to "respect" his silence and says he "cannot share" what he knows. These repeated refusals to explain create frustration in both Utterson and the reader. Jekyll's silence protects his secret, but it also isolates him, preventing others from helping him. The fact that he frames his silence as a matter of respect suggests he views his secrecy as morally necessary rather than shameful.
Worked Example: Understatement in Action
Enfield describes the trampling of a young girl as merely "a bad story", minimizing the violence of Hyde's actions. When Lanyon reveals that he regards Jekyll as dead, Utterson's only reply is "Tut-tut".
This understatement shows that the gentlemen are determined to pretend that everything is normal, even when confronted with evidence of horror. Their language actively works to diminish the severity of events, which allows them to avoid facing uncomfortable truths.
Writing instead of speaking: Both Lanyon and Jekyll choose to write about their experiences rather than speak about them. These letters are left unread until the end of the novel, which adds to the secrecy and suspense. Writing creates distance between the characters and their confessions. The letters allow them to reveal the truth only after they are dead or absent, avoiding direct confrontation. The delayed reading of these documents means the truth emerges too late to prevent tragedy, showing how secrecy leads to destructive outcomes.
Locked doors as symbols
Stevenson uses physical barriers throughout the novel to symbolize psychological concealment. Doors and windows that are closed, locked, or barred represent the characters' desire to hide their secrets from the world.
The back door to Jekyll's house: This door has "neither bell nor knocker" and is associated with Hyde. The absence of these features suggests the door is not meant to be used in a normal, respectable way. It represents Jekyll's hidden life and his connection to Hyde. The door allows Hyde to enter and exit without being seen, maintaining the separation between Jekyll's public and private selves.
Physical locks parallel psychological locks: Important items, including letters and Jekyll's chemical ingredients, are kept securely locked in drawers and safes. These physical locks parallel the psychological locks the characters place on information. Just as the letters are physically sealed, the truth is sealed away from those who need to know it.
Jekyll slamming and locking himself away: Jekyll slams the window shut on Utterson and Enfield, physically cutting off communication. Later, he locks himself in the cabinet, creating an impenetrable barrier. These actions show Jekyll retreating from the outside world as his control over Hyde diminishes. The locked cabinet becomes a prison of his own making, where he must face the consequences of his secret alone.
Breaking down the cabinet door: When Utterson and the servants finally break down the cabinet door, this represents the breakdown of Jekyll's walls of secrecy. The physical act of smashing through the barrier is a symbolic moment where the hidden truth is finally exposed. However, this revelation comes too late to save Jekyll, demonstrating the destructive power of maintaining secrets for too long.
Narrative gaps
Stevenson's narrative contains many gaps, creating suspicion around things that are left unspoken or unexplained. The reader is given incomplete information, which mirrors the characters' own limited understanding. These gaps force readers to fill in missing details with their own assumptions, often imagining something worse than what might actually have occurred. This technique makes the theme of secrecy active rather than passive—readers experience the frustration and suspicion that comes from being denied full knowledge.
Key Points to Remember:
- Secrecy is created through multiple techniques: narrative gaps, understatement in language, and symbolic use of locked doors and windows
- Every gentleman in the novel conceals something, not just Jekyll, suggesting secrecy is a widespread social problem
- Characters downplay shocking events using euphemism and understatement to maintain the appearance of normality
- Locked doors and windows symbolize psychological barriers, and breaking down the cabinet door represents the final revelation of truth
- The choice to write rather than speak about secrets delays revelation until it is too late to prevent tragedy