nerdgladiatormurmers

It's the slow unravel of Jonathan's mind at the hands of the Count without the help of any traditional vampiric characteristics. Just a man, powerful in both class and wealth, abusing the young man that came to his service until he loses any hope to escape, or live.

But today? The horror is abrupt, unforgiving, and supernatural. A dreadful reminder that Count Dracula is not only capable to torture as a man, but as a monster. That every living being that surrounds the castle is forced to obey his orders, and to aid in any horrible goal he has.

The hypnotism of the Weird Sisters dancing on the moonlight, twisting one of the few things that made Jonathan feel peace. The spectacle of the mother with the wolves, how Dracula led the poor woman to believe that she could find her child, without knowing that she was the main "character" in a horrible play for Jonathan to see, one that she would not leave alive.

And the impersonation. Oh the horrible violation of the Count wearing Jonathan's stolen clothes to go to the human safety that Jonathan wants so badly. The purpose of this action loud, clear, and perfect to cut any kind of possible help that Jonathan could received if he dares to escape.

Walking sticks like this during this time period would only have been owned by rich, respectable gentlemen. For this reason, it is symbolic of this idealistic, perfect man that Jekyll wants to be.

Hyde likely has it with him to keep some form of connection to the other part of him. Jekyll is struggling with his identity at this point and is torn between the two. He would choose his original persona if he had to decide (as he is relieved to do when he can no longer go out as Hyde) and wants to make sure he doesn't lose hold of it. The stick is probably his way of ensuring he is tied to it and it remains a part of him.

However, this cane becomes the murder weapon used to kill Carew. The symbol for the upstanding gentleman kills him, an interesting link to how it is Jekyll (if only a part of him) that carries out his murder. This act breaks the cane, just as it breaks that image of who Jekyll wants to be. As much as he tries to be perfect, he isn't. He cannot be good while also being capable of murdering someone for no good reason. This also represents him being taken over by the evil of Hyde and foreshadows the eventual loss of the better part of himself.

I also find it very interesting that the cane is split into two, just as Jekyll himself is. This cane is both a symbol of respectability and a murder weapon. It is broken into two parts. Jekyll is both a respectable gentleman and a murderer. He has two personas. The cane represents the duality within himself and reflects his two natures.

One half is carried off by the murderer - Hyde. And the other half (the better half?) is left discarded in the gutter. Hyde is a half a person and can never be whole, now that he's been split off, the rest of him thrown away.

Of course, the half of the cane that he carries away also has to be discarded - it's a murder weapon. No part of it serves him now. He has to give up being Hyde as well.

The cane was a gift from Utterson, given in friendship - destroyed by violence. A cane cut for a large man - it can't support Hyde, not because of any failure of the cane, but because Hyde is too small. And it can't support Jekyll, because it's broken.

So the cane is also friendship, but Hyde can only use friendship as a weapon (see: Lanyon)

And one half of the cane goes off with Hyde, but the other half, the discarded half, comes back to Utterson. But of course Utterson can't mend the cane. He can only keep its secrets.