Stevenson creates mystery and tension as he relates the novella’s events, to the precept that man is

not truly one but truly two; duplicity.

Stevenson creates mystery by employing pathetic fallacy with the “first fog” as a way of obscuring
repressed emotions however foreshadowing the coming of truth just as “the fog would be quite
broken up.” Stevenson indicates the superficial occurrences to his readership through the
alliteration of the “first fog” implying even the most simple details should be received attentively.
“The fog” is symbolic of a conceals truth given the foreshadowing of it being “broken”, this appeases
the 18th century audiences lust for surprise. Repressed homosexuality could be reflective of the fog,
as it reasons an alternate nature to Dr Jekyll. The Doctor’s “undignified” liking for the “elderly man”
could signify the exposure and coming out given only subtle details are given just as the “fog” is
partially “broken up”. The adjective “undignified” evokes the reader’s alarm given the connotations
of scandal and reputability, elements of society which could have been easily put against the
repressed orientation of homosexuality.

Victorian standards of class and reputability are exercised by Stevenson to create mystery and
tension. Stevenson contrasts Mr Hyde’s lodging based by “a dingy street” with Dr Jekyll’s which is
described with a “great air of wealth.” The juxtaposing of the environments through the adjective
“dingy” carrying connotations of impurity highlighting significance in society, instantly evokes the
readers curiosity as they may wonder why Dr Jekyll a man of revery mark of capacity and kindness
would want to associate with Jekyll, a figure of low social standing. Stevenson raises such thoughts
to create a sense of scandal empowered by the hidden duplicity. Stevenson employs a cryptic tone
to obscure the reader’s foresight, emphasising the high social stake of reputability, the tone is
created using the noun “air”, and abstract nouns such as “great”, “capacity” and “kindness” to
almost create a surreal experience for his readers, Victorian social emphasis on class is paramount to
maintaining an obscure reality of duplicity.

Stevenson creates tension through the irony of the construct of Mr Hyde, as he describes him as
“Henry Jekyll’s favourite.” The adjective “favourite” is highly ironic as Stevenson maintains the
separate identities to appeal to his readerships fascination with gothic fiction where alter-egos are
featured as dramatic devices. However, the adjective is ironic as it negates the harm to be done,
similarly, “the home” foreshadows the grave upcoming harm. This is evident when Stevenson uses
the simile “like some disconsolate prisoner” to describe the Doctor, the irony in the fact the Doctor
has been imprisoned by his alter-ego, Hyde, in his own home. The simile also implies the sheer pain,
of the Doctor as a “prisoner”. Stevenson further builds the tension as the Doctor swears “I will never
see him again”. The reader is put in a state of tension and pity is evoked for Jekyll as they witness
his worsening condition.

Overall, Stevenson builds mystery and fear as outcomes of the novella’s central theme of duplicity.