Chapter 8 Analysis (Grade 12 NSC Matric English FAL): Revision Notes
Chapter 8 Analysis
Introduction to "The Last Night"
Chapter 8, titled "The Last Night," represents the climax of Stevenson's novella. This means it's the most important and exciting part of the entire story, where all the tension and mystery that has been building finally reaches its peak. The chapter takes place at Dr Jekyll's house, creating a confined and claustrophobic setting that mirrors the trapped nature of Jekyll himself.
The title "The Last Night" is significant because it suggests finality and endings. This creates anticipation for the reader that something decisive will happen in this chapter.
Plot structure and development
The climactic moment
This chapter serves as the story's climax because it brings together all the mysterious elements that have been developing throughout the novella. The setting shifts to Dr Jekyll's house, where the final revelations will take place.
Mr Poole, Jekyll's loyal servant, becomes increasingly worried about his master's strange behaviour. He takes the significant step of calling Mr Utterson for help, showing how desperate the situation has become. The chapter builds to the dramatic moment when Poole and Utterson break down the door to Jekyll's cabinet to check on his condition.
The breaking down of the door is both literal and symbolic - it represents the breaking down of the barriers that have kept Jekyll's secret hidden from the world.
Key themes
Secrecy and mystery
The theme of secrecy reaches its peak in this chapter. Dr Jekyll has locked himself away in his room, completely isolating himself from his servants and the outside world. His servants cannot see him or communicate with him, creating an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty.
When Poole and Utterson finally break into the room, they discover Hyde's body, but Jekyll is nowhere to be found. This deepens the mystery - what has happened to Jekyll? The discovery of a letter addressed to Utterson, with clear instructions that Lanyon's letter should be read first, adds another layer of mystery to the unfolding events.
Loyalty
Despite the frightening circumstances, the chapter demonstrates the power of loyalty between friends and servants. Mr Poole shows remarkable loyalty and concern for Dr Jekyll's wellbeing by reaching out to Utterson for help, even though he's clearly terrified.
Mr Utterson demonstrates his loyalty to Jekyll by responding immediately to Poole's call. However, Utterson's loyalty is complex - he decides to read the letters before calling the police because his biggest concern is protecting Jekyll's reputation, not necessarily uncovering the truth.
This reflects the Victorian era's emphasis on social respectability and the lengths people would go to protect someone's reputation, even in extreme circumstances.
Tone and atmosphere
The chapter creates three distinct but interconnected tones that build upon each other throughout the narrative.
Fearful atmosphere
The chapter creates a fearful atmosphere right from the beginning. Poole, who is usually calm and composed as Jekyll's servant, is convinced that something terrible has happened - that "foul play" has taken place and his master may be dead. This fear is contagious and spreads to Utterson and the reader.
Desperate urgency
Utterson feels desperate throughout the chapter, but he's reluctant to take immediate action. He and Poole have a long conversation about the possibility that Jekyll has some kind of disease that has changed his voice and appearance. This shows Utterson's desperate attempt to find a logical explanation for the inexplicable events.
Serious consequences
By the end of the chapter, Utterson realises the gravity of the situation. He understands that a man's reputation is at stake and that it's his responsibility to protect it as much as possible. This serious tone reflects the Victorian concern with social reputation and respectability.
Figurative language techniques
Stevenson employs various figurative language techniques to create vivid imagery and convey deeper meanings about the characters and their situations.
Similes and their meanings
Worked Example: Animal Similes
"men and women, stood huddled together like a flock of sheep"
- Technique: Simile comparing servants to sheep
- Effect: Shows how the servants group together for protection when frightened, emphasising their vulnerability and fear
"hair stood up like quills"
- Technique: Simile comparing hair to porcupine quills
- Effect: Effectively shows the servant's terror through a vivid physical reaction
"why did he cry out like a rat, and run from me?"
- Technique: Simile comparing Jekyll to a rat
- Effect: Suggests Jekyll doesn't want to be seen and is trying to hide, showing his desperation
"when that masked thing like a monkey jumped from among the chemicals"
- Technique: Simile comparing Hyde to a monkey
- Effect: Emphasises Hyde's agile, primitive, and almost inhuman nature
Personification
Stevenson gives human qualities to non-human things to create a more vivid and emotional scene:
Worked Example: Personification
"with a pale moon, lying on her back as though the wind had tilted her"
- Technique: Personification of the moon and wind
- Effect: The moon is described as lying on its back like a person, and the wind is said to have "tilted" the moon, creating a sense of the natural world being disturbed and unsettled, matching the chaos of the human events
Onomatopoeia
The author uses words that sound like the noises they represent to enhance the dramatic impact:
- "dismal screech" - The word "screech" sounds like the harsh, unpleasant noise that Poole hears when the door is being broken down, adding to the dramatic tension of the scene.
Figurative meanings
Several phrases in the chapter don't mean literally what they say. Understanding these figurative expressions is crucial for comprehending the full meaning of the text:
- "I have been sent flying to all the wholesale chemists in town" - The servant wasn't literally flying, but had to move very quickly to visit multiple chemists
- "let us make clean breast" - This means to confess mistakes or tell the truth about oneself
- "My head goes round" - Utterson is saying he can't stop thinking about the situation and feels confused or overwhelmed
What happens in the chapter
The discovery
Mr Poole visits Mr Utterson in a state of great distress, worried about Dr Jekyll's condition. The wild weather makes it difficult for them to communicate, but Poole manages to explain his concerns. When they arrive at Jekyll's house, all the servants are gathered together, clearly frightened.
Jekyll has been ordering medicines, leaving notes for Poole to take to various chemists around London. However, none of the chemists have been able to provide the specific medicines Jekyll needs. Poole reveals several disturbing details: sometimes he sees Jekyll's face or someone wearing a mask, he believes he hears footsteps belonging to Hyde behind Jekyll's door, and he's heard weeping coming from the room.
The shocking revelation
Poole becomes convinced that the person inside the room is actually Mr Hyde, and that Jekyll has been murdered. Using an axe and kitchen poker, Poole and Utterson break into the cabinet room.
Inside, they find everything neat and clean except for one horrifying sight: a twitching body lying on the floor. The body is that of Mr Hyde, and it appears he has committed suicide.
The mystery deepens
Poole and Utterson search everywhere for Dr Jekyll but cannot find him. They discover chemical experiments, a mirror, and a large envelope addressed to Utterson. The envelope contains a will naming Utterson as heir instead of Hyde, as well as a letter from Jekyll instructing Utterson to read Dr Lanyon's statement first before reading Jekyll's own confession.
Key Points to Remember:
- Chapter 8 serves as the climax of the novella, where all tensions reach their peak
- The themes of secrecy and loyalty are central to understanding character motivations
- The tone progresses from fearful to desperate to serious as the truth begins to emerge
- Stevenson uses figurative language (especially animal comparisons) to show Hyde's primitive nature
- The chapter ends with Jekyll's mysterious disappearance and Hyde's apparent suicide, setting up the final revelations to come