Question

Read excerpt 1 from The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

They saw it but for a glimpse for the window was instantly thrust down; but that glimpse had been sufficient, and they turned and left the court without a word. . . . Mr. Utterson at last turned and looked at his companion. They were both pale; and there was an answering horror in their eyes.

"God forgive us, God forgive us,” said Mr. Utterson.

Now read excerpt two.

"It is well, then that we should be frank,” said the other. "We both think more than we have said; let us make a clean breast. This masked figure that you saw, did you recognise it?”

"Well, sir, it went so quick, and the creature was so doubled up, that I could hardly swear to that,” was the answer. "But if you mean, was it Mr. Hyde?—why, yes, I think it was! You see, it was much of the same bigness; and it had the same quick, light way with it; and then who else could have got in by the laboratory door? You have not forgot, sir, that at the time of the murder he had still the key with him? But that’s not all. I don’t know, Mr. Utterson, if you ever met this Mr. Hyde?”

"Yes,” said the lawyer, "I once spoke with him.”

"Then you must know as well as the rest of us that there was something queer about that gentleman—something that gave a man a turn—I don’t know rightly how to say it, sir, beyond this: that you felt in your marrow kind of cold and thin.”

How do the two excerpts develop the theme "Evil can never truly hide itself”?

The first excerpt shows Mr. Utterson trying to help Dr. Jekyll in spite of his evil nature, while the second excerpt shows his recognition of Hyde’s evil.
The first excerpt shows Mr. Utterson and his horror at seeing something evil, while the second excerpt shows the recognition of Hyde’s evil.
Both excerpts describe people who are acting in evil ways.
Both excerpts describe people who are hiding their evil natures.

Answer 1

Option 2.

Excerpt 1 shows Utterson’s and his companion’s immediate, visceral horror after a brief glimpse—“they were both pale; and there was an answering horror in their eyes. ‘God forgive us…’”—so the evil is revealed even in a momentary sighting. Excerpt 2 has witnesses piecing together identity from manner and movement—“much of the same bigness… same quick, light way” and “you felt in your marrow kind of cold and thin.”—showing that Hyde’s evil betrays him through behavior and the effect he has on people. Together they support the theme that evil cannot remain hidden: it reveals itself in look, act, and the reaction it provokes.