Question

How does Stevenson use settings to create mystery and fear?

Write about:

How Stevenson describes the setting in this extract.
How Stevenson uses settings to create mystery and fear in the novel as a whole.

This is the extract:

It chanced on one of these rambles that their way led them down a by-street in a busy quarter of London. The street was small and what is called quiet, but it drove a thriving trade on the week-days. The inhabitants were all doing well, it seemed, and all emulously hoping to do better still, and laying out the surplus of their gains in coquetry; so that the shop fronts stood along that thoroughfare with an air of invitation, like rows of smiling saleswomen. Even on Sunday, when it veiled its more florid charms and lay comparatively empty of passage, the street shone out in contrast to its dingy neighbourhood, like a fire in a forest; and with its freshly painted shutters, well-polished brasses, and general cleanliness and gaiety of note, instantly caught and pleased the eye of the passenger.
Two doors from one corner, on the left hand going east, the line was broken by the entry of a court; and just at that point, a certain sinister block of building thrust forward its gable on the street. It was two stories high; showed no window, nothing but a door on the lower story and a blind forehead of discoloured wall on the upper; and bore in every feature, the marks of prolonged and sordid negligence. The door, which was equipped with neither bell nor knocker, was blistered and distained. Tramps slouched into the recess and struck matches on the panels; children kept shop upon the steps; the schoolboy had tried his knife on the mouldings; and for close on a generation, no one had appeared to drive away these random visitors or to repair their ravages.

Answer 1

Stevenson uses the word 'sinister' to imply that there is something possibly wrong with this house or dangerous about this house that they can see on the corner, also foreshadowing things, involving those inside it, and Mr. Hyde is the man who lives in this house.

The writer uses 'bell nor knocker' to show how any visitors are not wanted, and creating a feeling of mystery since the person inside clearly does not want anyone to visit them. This would also make people of the victorian era scared, especially the gentlemen since they are meant to bee seen around to gain popularity and a good reputation. Rudeness was frowned upon greatly in victorian society. 

The writer finally uses the contrast between the street and the house to show duality, which is a main theme in the book. The street is described with an 'air of invitation', to show how the road almost welcomes you in, and the simile 'like rows of smiling saleswomen' puts an image in your head of happiness and comfort, however, the mood suddenly changes once they reach the house. Stevenson uses more violent adjectives, for example, 'blistered and disdained' and the word 'thrust' suggests that the house almost demands to be seen. The word 'blistered' can be used to show how even the paint on the woodwork doesn't want to be anywhere near the person inside, it is so repulsed by the demon that is Mr. Hyde.

In the rest of the novel, for example in the murder of Sir Danvers Carew, fear is show through the nurse. The nurse who witnesses the attack of the politician is so shocked by what has happened that 'the maid fainted'. This can also be used to convey the idea that Hyde causes people to have a physical reaction to him, for example in 'The story of the door' where 'Sawbones turned sick and white with the desire to kill him'

Finally, a sense of mystery is created at the very end of the novel, with the line 'I bring the life of that unhappy Jekyll to an end' This is the final line, as we do not see the reaction of Utterson to the letter or anything that he thinks or feels thereafter. This leaves us as readers to wonder why this is, and how we think he would have reacted to the letter. The mystery of Jekyll and Hyde is complete, yet the mystery of Victorian society is not.

Answer 2

Stevenson uses settings to create mystery and fear.

Stevenson uses the word 'sinister' to imply that there is something possibly wrong with this house or dangerous about this house that they can see on the corner, also foreshadowing things, involving those inside it, and Mr Hyde is the man who lives in this house.

What does the writer use?

The writer uses 'bell nor knocker to show how any visitors are not wanted, creating a feeling of mystery since the person inside clearly does not want anyone to visit them.

This would also make people of the victorian era scared, especially the gentlemen since they are meant to be seen around to gain popularity and a good reputation. Rudeness was frowned upon greatly in victorian society.

The writer finally uses the contrast between the street and the house to show the duality, which is a main theme in the book.

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