Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde themes

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  • Created by: loupardoe
  • Created on: 23-10-16 10:06

the themes

  • dual nature
  • secrecy
  • science vs religion
  • reputation
  • light/dark
  • doors, locks, safes
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dual nature

Stevenson writes about the duality of human nature – the idea that every single human being has good and evil within them. Stevenson describes how there is a good and an evil side to everyone's personality, but what is important is how you behave and the decisions you make. The choices people make determine whether a person is good or not.

In Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Dr Jekyll is a well-respected, intelligent scientist who secretly has a dark, immoral side to his personality. This side of his personality is not active, however, he decides to activate it through his experiments. This side becomes active through the persona of Mr Hyde - a criminal man who commits cruel acts of violence against others. Through this change in Jekyll's character, Stevenson shows the duality in human nature - the idea that everyone is capable of good and evil deeds

In Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Stevenson shows the duality of man through:

  • the character of Dr Jekyll
  • the character of Mr Hyde
  • the differences between them both.
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dual nature quotes

Dr Jekyll is perceived as a highly influential, kind, educated and popular scientist. He is the embodiment of 'goodness.' …every mark of capacity and kindness - you could see by his looks that he cherished for Mr Utterson. This shows that Dr Jekyll was kind and everyone believed him to be so. The fact that he 'cherishes' Mr Utterson tells us that he loves his friends very much and cares about other people. Mr Hyde is perceived as a cruel, ugly, vicious man who commits wild acts of violence against innocent people. He is the embodiment of 'evilness'. ...haunting sense of unexpressed deformity with which the fugitive impressed his beholders. This shows that Hyde's appearance and personality terrifies others – they always remember seeing him. The fact that his appearance is 'haunting' shows how terrifying he is.

context

The pious nature of Victorian society meant that many people suppressed their desires and feelings. This resulted in many people questioning their 'goodness' as a human being due to the fact that religion condemned these 'evil' thoughts.

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science vs religion

In the Victorian era, religion was important to communities and individuals. Many people believed that God created the universe and he was the sole creator, therefore the principles and the word of the Bible must be followed.

Due to the society's interest in religion, people were afraid of scientific developments and feared what this would do to mankind. Charles Darwin wrote the Origins of the Species in 1859. It was a text that shook Victorian society and was condemned and banned due to its theory that God had not created the universe as outlined in the Bible. Consequently, people were cautious of science and its developments.

In Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Stevenson shows the fear of scientific development through:

  • Dr Jekyll's scientific experiments
  • how the experiment goes badly wrong
  • how Dr Lanyon fears the experiment
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science vs religion quotes

Jekyll is relentless in his goals to complete the experiment of releasing his hidden self, ie Mr Hyde. He stops at nothing to achieve his goals and doesn't listen to his friends. "I wish to see or hear no more of Dr Jekyll… I am quite done with that person; and I beg you will spare me any allusion to one whom I regard as dead." - Dr Lanyon. Stevenson presents Lanyon's emotions very clearly in this section - one of Jekyll's oldest friends views him as 'dead' due to what he has done. The language Stevenson uses is charged with passion and emotion. The repetition of 'I' illustrates that Lanyon feels he is in control of the situation and has control over Jekyll. Dr Jekyll's experiment kills him, as he has to die in order for the overpowering Mr Hyde to die also. ...there lay the body of a man sorely contorted and still twitching. This shows that Jekyll eventually killed himself as his desire to experiment made Mr Hyde get stronger. The use of the phrase 'sorely contorted' illustrates how science changed who Jekyll was and who he became. It 'contorted' his very self. Dr Lanyon dies of shock because of what he has witnessed – he sees Mr Hyde turning into Dr Jekyll. A week afterwards Dr Lanyon took to his bed, and in something less than a fortnight he was dead. The short time period of a week illustrates how quickly Dr Lanyon’s health deteriorated because of Dr Jekyll's revelation.

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the supernatural

Stevenson shows the binary opposites of the supernatural and nature in Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. The idea of the supernatural is evident in Dr Jekyll's experiment and the release of Mr Hyde into the world. In contrast, nature or the natural order is implicit in Dr Lanyon's horrified response to Jekyll's experiment.

In the Victorian period, change was apparent due to the Industrial Revolution. Factories were being built and technology was advancing - this resulted in a shift from the 'natural' farming type of life to one filled with technology and industry. This change is presented in Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde through Jekyll's experiment - his desire to change the natural course of his being through science.

In Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Stevenson shows the binary opposites of the natural and the supernatural through:

  • Jekyll's supernatural experiment of releasing Mr Hyde into the world
  • Jekyll's death – how his interference with the supernatural caused his natural end
  • Dr Lanyon's response
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the supernatural quotes

Jekyll meddles with the supernatural when he creates a potion that will release his other being, Mr Hyde, into the world. "And now, you who have so long been bound to the most narrow and material views, you who have denied the virtue of transcendental medicine, you who have derided your superiors - behold!" In this quotation, Dr Jekyll (transformed into Mr Hyde) is talking to Dr Lanyon and is revealing the nature of his experiment to him. The repetition of 'you' shows Dr Jekyll's anger towards Dr Lanyon, as he has always 'denied' this form of medicine. It also shows his passion for his experiment and highlights that he cares about his experiment more than anything else. Jekyll's supernatural activities are quickly put to an end when Hyde takes over and Jekyll must kill Hyde and therefore himself, to put an end to his wicked ways. ...the cords of his face moved with a semblance of life, but life was quite gone. This shows that Jekyll/Hyde should still be alive, as the muscles of his face still look alive - they almost wish to be alive. However, life was 'quite gone'. This shows that Jekyll/Hyde have died and have no hope in ever returning.

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