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Excerpt

Excerpt from Father Damien: An Open Letter to the Reverend Dr. Hyde of Honolulu, by Robert Louis Stevenson

A new impression
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SYDNEY,
February 25, 1890.

Sir,--It may probably occur to you that we have met, and visited, and
conversed; on my side, with interest. You may remember that you have
done me several courtesies, for which I was prepared to be grateful. But
there are duties which come before gratitude, and offences which justly
divide friends, far more acquaintances. Your letter to the Reverend H.
B. Gage is a document which, in my sight, if you had filled me with bread
when I was starving, if you had sat up to nurse my father when he lay a-
dying, would yet absolve me from the bonds of gratitude. You know
enough, doubtless, of the process of canonisation to be aware that, a
hundred years after the death of Damien, there will appear a man charged
with the painful office of the devil's advocate. After that noble
brother of mine, and of all frail clay, shall have lain a century at
rest, one shall accuse, one defend him. The circumstance is unusual that
the devil's advocate should be a volunteer, should be a member of a sect
immediately rival, and should make haste to take upon himself his ugly
office ere the bones are cold; unusual, and of a taste which I shall
leave my readers free to qualify; unusual, and to me inspiring. If I
have at all learned the trade of using words to convey truth and to
arouse emotion, you have at last furnished me with a subject. For it is
in the interest of all mankind, and the cause of public decency in every
quarter of the world, not only that Damien should be righted, but that
you and your letter should be displayed at length, in their true colours,
to the public eye.

Explanation

Robert Louis Stevenson’s Father Damien: An Open Letter to the Reverend Dr. Hyde of Honolulu (1890) is a scathing, impassioned defense of Father Damien de Veuster, a Belgian Catholic priest who dedicated his life to serving lepers in the Hawaiian colony of Molokai, ultimately contracting leprosy himself and dying in 1889. Stevenson’s letter is a direct rebuttal to Reverend Charles McEwen Hyde, a Presbyterian minister in Honolulu who had publicly criticized Damien in a letter to another clergyman, Reverend H.B. Gage, accusing him of moral failings, incompetence, and even suggesting his work was less heroic than portrayed.

Stevenson’s letter is a masterclass in rhetorical indictment, blending moral outrage, biting sarcasm, and eloquent defense of Damien’s legacy. Below is a detailed breakdown of the excerpt, focusing on its language, themes, literary devices, and significance—primarily through close reading of the text itself.

1. Context of the Excerpt

Stevenson, already a celebrated author (Treasure Island, Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde), was living in Samoa when he learned of Hyde’s letter. Though not Catholic, he was deeply moved by Damien’s sacrifice and outraged by Hyde’s attack. The excerpt is the opening salvo of his response, setting the tone for the entire letter.

Key background:

Father Damien was a missionary who lived among lepers in Molokai’s quarantine colony, building homes, churches, and coffins, and providing spiritual and medical care. His death from leprosy in 1889 made him a martyr-like figure.
Hyde’s letter (published in a Sydney newspaper) accused Damien of being "coarse," "dirty," and implied his work was exaggerated or even harmful. Hyde, a rival Protestant minister, seemed motivated by sectarian bias.
Stevenson’s letter was published widely, helping to cement Damien’s reputation as a saint (he was canonized in 2009).

2. Line-by-Line Analysis of the Excerpt

Opening Salutation: A False Politeness

"Sir,--It may probably occur to you that we have met, and visited, and conversed; on my side, with interest. You may remember that you have done me several courtesies, for which I was prepared to be grateful."

Irony and Sarcasm: Stevenson begins with feigned civility, acknowledging past interactions with Hyde, but the phrase "on my side, with interest" hints at his true disdain. The word "prepared" suggests gratitude was conditional—now revoked.
Foreshadowing: The polite tone is a rhetorical trap; Stevenson lulls Hyde (and the reader) before unleashing his fury.

The Rejection of Gratitude

"But there are duties which come before gratitude, and offences which justly divide friends, far more acquaintances."

Moral Hierarchy: Stevenson elevates justice above personal obligation. Hyde’s attack on Damien is not just a personal slight but a moral crime that transcends their acquaintance.
Hyperbole: "far more acquaintances" underscores how trivial their relationship is compared to the gravity of Hyde’s offense.

The Devil’s Advocate Metaphor

"You know enough, doubtless, of the process of canonisation to be aware that, a hundred years after the death of Damien, there will appear a man charged with the painful office of the devil's advocate."

Religious Allusion: In Catholic canonization, the devil’s advocate (advocatus diaboli) argues against a candidate’s sainthood to ensure their virtues are thoroughly examined.
Hyde as a Premature Devil’s Advocate: Stevenson accuses Hyde of usurping this role—not in a century, but immediately, while Damien’s body is barely cold. This is unnatural and grotesque.
Tone of Disgust: The phrase "painful office" suggests the role is necessary but distasteful; Hyde, however, volunteers for it with eagerness.

The Unusual and "Inspiring" Nature of Hyde’s Attack

"The circumstance is unusual that the devil's advocate should be a volunteer, should be a member of a sect immediately rival, and should make haste to take upon himself his ugly office ere the bones are cold; unusual, and of a taste which I shall leave my readers free to qualify; unusual, and to me inspiring."

Triple Repetition of "unusual": Emphasizes how abnormal Hyde’s behavior is. The repetition builds rhythm and indignance.
"Sect immediately rival": Hyde is a Protestant attacking a Catholic saint—Stevenson frames this as sectarian jealousy, not genuine critique.
"Ere the bones are cold": A visceral image—Damien’s corpse is still warm, yet Hyde rushes to slander him. This is ghoulish.
"Leave my readers free to qualify": Stevenson pretends to let readers judge Hyde’s "taste," but the phrasing implies the answer is obvious—Hyde’s actions are vile.
"To me inspiring": Paradoxical. Hyde’s attack is so reprehensible that it motivates Stevenson to write. The word "inspiring" is sarcastic—Hyde has given him a cause worth fighting for.

The Call to Public Shaming

"If I have at all learned the trade of using words to convey truth and to arouse emotion, you have at last furnished me with a subject. For it is in the interest of all mankind, and the cause of public decency in every quarter of the world, not only that Damien should be righted, but that you and your letter should be displayed at length, in their true colours, to the public eye."

Stevenson’s Humility (False Modesty): "If I have at all learned the trade..."—he understates his mastery of rhetoric, making his subsequent demolition of Hyde more powerful.
Purpose of the Letter: Twofold:
1. "Damien should be righted": Justice for a wronged hero.
2. "You and your letter should be displayed... in their true colours": Public humiliation of Hyde.
"True colours": Idiom meaning revealed as they really are—Hyde’s letter is a mask that Stevenson will tear off.
Universal Stakes: This is not just about Damien or Hyde—it’s about "all mankind" and "public decency." Stevenson frames this as a moral crusade.

3. Key Themes in the Excerpt

Justice vs. Gratitude
- Stevenson prioritizes moral duty over personal debt. Hyde’s attack on Damien is so egregious that it nullifies any past kindnesses.
Sanctity vs. Sectarianism
- Damien’s selfless sacrifice is contrasted with Hyde’s petty rivalry. Stevenson implies that Hyde’s criticism stems from religious competition, not genuine concern.
The Power of Rhetoric
- Stevenson presents writing as a weapon for truth. His letter is not just a defense but a counterattack, using Hyde’s own words against him.
Public vs. Private Morality
- Hyde’s letter was published, making his attack on Damien a public act. Stevenson argues that such slander demands a public rebuttal.
Martyrdom and Legacy
- Damien is already being mythologized (note the reference to canonization). Stevenson positions himself as a defender of his legacy against those who would tarnish it.

4. Literary Devices

Device	Example	Effect
Irony/Sarcasm	"on my side, with interest"	Undermines Hyde’s character while maintaining a veneer of politeness.
Repetition	"unusual... unusual, and... unusual"	Emphasizes the abnormality of Hyde’s actions.
Metaphor	"devil’s advocate"	Frames Hyde as a moral antagonist, not just a critic.
Hyperbole	"ere the bones are cold"	Makes Hyde’s attack seem ghoulish and premature.
Parallelism	"not only that Damien should be righted, but that you... should be displayed"	Balances the dual purpose of the letter.
Apophasis	"a taste which I shall leave my readers free to qualify"	False restraint—Stevenson does want readers to condemn Hyde.

5. Significance of the Excerpt

Defense of a Saintly Figure
- Stevenson’s letter was instrumental in shaping Damien’s posthumous reputation. Without it, Hyde’s criticisms might have gained traction.
Attack on Hypocrisy
- Hyde, a man of the cloth, is exposed as small-minded and cruel. Stevenson’s letter is a broader critique of religious infighting and false piety.
Rhetorical Mastery
- The letter is a model of persuasive writing, combining logical argument, emotional appeal, and moral authority. It’s studied in rhetoric classes for its structure and force.
Stevenson’s Public Persona
- Known for adventure novels, Stevenson here reveals his moral seriousness. The letter shows he was not just a storyteller but a public intellectual willing to engage in controversy.
Legacy of the Letter
- It celebrates Damien’s heroism while condemning detractors. Today, Damien is a canonized saint, and Hyde is a footnote—largely due to Stevenson’s intervention.

6. Conclusion: Why This Excerpt Matters

This opening is not just an introduction—it’s a declaration of war. Stevenson:

Establishes his moral authority (he is not writing out of personal vendetta but public duty).
Frames Hyde as a villain (a volunteer devil’s advocate, acting out of sectarian spite).
Elevates the stakes (this is about mankind’s decency, not just one man’s reputation).

The rest of the letter dismantles Hyde’s arguments point by point, but this excerpt sets the stage with righteous fury and unassailable moral clarity. It’s a masterclass in polemical writing, where every word is a precision strike against Hyde’s character.

Stevenson doesn’t just defend Damien—he immortalizes him, while ensuring Hyde is remembered as his slanderer. In doing so, he turns a personal dispute into a timeless lesson on heroism, justice, and the power of words.

Questions

Question 1

The passage’s repeated use of the word "unusual" in the phrase "unusual, and of a taste which I shall leave my readers free to qualify; unusual, and to me inspiring" serves primarily to:

A. Highlight Stevenson’s reluctance to pass explicit moral judgment on Hyde’s actions.
B. Create rhythmic cadence that mimics the measured tone of a legal indictment.
C. Amplify the grotesque impropriety of Hyde’s behavior by framing it as an aberration demanding condemnation.
D. Suggest that Hyde’s actions, while rare, are not entirely without precedent in religious disputes.
E. Undermine the seriousness of the accusation by reducing it to a matter of subjective "taste."

Question 2

When Stevenson writes, "you have at last furnished me with a subject," the phrase "at last" most strongly implies that:

A. Stevenson has long sought an opportunity to critique Presbyterian ministers like Hyde.
B. Hyde’s letter is so egregious that it finally justifies Stevenson’s deployment of his full rhetorical arsenal.
C. Stevenson views Damien’s canonization as an inevitable process that Hyde has merely accelerated.
D. The subject of Damien’s virtue is one Stevenson has previously avoided due to its sensitivity.
E. Hyde’s attack is the culmination of a series of lesser offenses Stevenson has tolerated.

Question 3

The metaphor of the devil’s advocate is extended in the passage to achieve all of the following EXCEPT:

A. Portray Hyde as fulfilling a role that is traditionally assigned, not self-appointed.
B. Emphasize the premature and opportunistic timing of Hyde’s criticism.
C. Frame Hyde’s actions as part of a formal, almost ritualistic process of moral scrutiny.
D. Contrast the delayed, systematic canonization process with Hyde’s hasty slander.
E. Suggest that Hyde’s motives are rooted in sectarian rivalry rather than disinterested inquiry.

Question 4

Stevenson’s claim that "there are duties which come before gratitude" is most effectively undermined by which of the following hypothetical scenarios?

A. Hyde’s letter had been written in confidence to Gage but was published without his consent.
B. Stevenson had previously written a scathing critique of Catholic missionary work in the Pacific.
C. Damien’s own diaries revealed doubts about his mission and criticisms of his fellow clergy.
D. Hyde’s objections to Damien were shared by other Protestant ministers in Honolulu.
E. Stevenson’s father had, in fact, been nursed by Hyde during his final illness, a debt Stevenson never repaid.

Question 5

The passage’s closing sentence—"not only that Damien should be righted, but that you and your letter should be displayed at length, in their true colours, to the public eye"—primarily serves to:

A. Shift the focus from defensive vindication of Damien to an offensive exposure of Hyde’s character.
B. Appeal to the reader’s sense of fairness by balancing correction with accountability.
C. Suggest that Hyde’s letter contains hidden virtues that have been overlooked in the controversy.
D. Imply that public opinion, rather than moral truth, will ultimately determine Damien’s legacy.
E. Frame the letter as a neutral arbitration between two equally valid religious perspectives.

Solutions and Explanations

1) Correct answer: C

Why C is most correct: The repetition of "unusual" is not merely stylistic but rhetorically cumulative, reinforcing the idea that Hyde’s behavior is so far outside normative moral bounds that it demands explicit condemnation. The phrase "of a taste which I shall leave my readers free to qualify" is ironic—Stevenson is not actually ceding judgment but highlighting the obvious depravity of Hyde’s actions. The triple repetition serves to amplify the grotesqueness of Hyde’s volunteerism as the devil’s advocate, positioning it as an aberration that violates decorum.