Dr Jekyll's Transformation

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Recommended: Themes in gothic fiction

Stevenson presents Hyde's transformation as sudden and terrifying. "pale and shaken, like a man restored from death." This shows that this change is unnatural and peculiar. Lanyon does not know how it had been done and is now traumatised. The use of the noun "death" suggests that Jekyll has now been ressurected because he was no-where to be seen; many people though that Jekyll was dead. Stevenson uses powerful adjectives to make an effect and statement as to how Jekyll looks now. It is also said in the phrase "deadliest terror" that this supernatural. This has an effect on the gothic context in this story. This is paticularly suprising as in this context that Victorian people believe God can only do the unbelievable.

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