Jekyll and Hyde

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  • Created by: jesterfun
  • Created on: 20-11-16 12:42

Victorian context

In the Victorian era, everyone was strongly religious. Britain was overwhelmingly Christian. Basically everyone went to church. During this era, Charles Darwin introduced this new theory 'The theory of evolution'. Many people saw this as an attack on religion because Charles thought of this totally new idea that humans had evolved from apes. 

Many people were afraid of science and the supernatural. They didn't really understand. They also thought that anyone who didn't act normal and that had possible mental health issues were really abnormal and they were scared of them. Most people who were either gay or had health problems ended up in asylums. 

All men were expected to be respectful and beautiful. There was also an idea that humans have a dual nature. This was that humans had two sides to them - good and evil (this relates to Jekyll and Hyde). The good side would be that they are usually calm and relaxed, respectful and good-going. But sometimes the other side was shown. This could be shown as anger and violence. They may have nightmares and fantasies may be thought as reality. 

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The characters

Dr Henry Jekyll: 

  • Jekyll is a middle-aged scientist.
  • He is wealthy and respectable.
  • He is quite socialable. 
  • Intelligent.
  • His behaviour slowly becomes erratic.

Mr Edward Hyde: 

  • Mr Hyde is described as "small and dwarfish".
  • "There is something wrong with hsi appearance. Something displeasing, something downright detestable."
  • Poeple are scared of him.
  • He is violent and commits crimes. (Tramples on little girl and murders Sir Danvers Carew).
  • He is very secretive.
  • He vanishes behind a secret door. 
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More characters

Dr Hastie Lanyon:

  • Lanyon is, like Jekyll, a doctor. 
  • He and Jekyll were once close friends and went to medical school together. 
  • Lanyon is respectable and conventional. He follows all the rules and obeys the law. 
  • He believes in science and the world of real, material things.
  • Jekyll and Lanyon had a disaggreement over science - Lanyon described Jekyll's work as "unscientific Balderdash."
  • Lanyon died of shock (we don't know why) and he left a letter for Utterson, saying that it can't be opened until Jekyll's death.

Gabriel Utterson:

  • Utterson is a lawyer and a respectable man. 
  • He is old friends with Jekyll and wants to take care of him.
  • Utterson was shocked and scared of Hyde when he first saw him. He spied on the secret door, to try and figure things out. 
  • He goes for Sunday walks with Mr Enfield.
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Quick summaries

Chapter One: Describes the secret door and Mr Utterson. Hyde tramples over the little girl in the early hours of the morning. He has the pay the girl's family compensation. Utterson is very interested in the case.

Chapter 2: Utterson and Lanyon talk about Jekyll's will. Utterson spies on the mysterious door and sees Hyde unlocking it. He is very shocked. Utterson goes next door - to warn Jekyll about Hyde but Poole - Jekyll's butler says that Jekyll isn't in. Utterson is worried that Hyde is going to kill Jekyll to get the money from his will. 

Chapter 3: After a dinner party three weeks later at Jekyll's; Utterson stays behind to talk to him about his will. Jekyll laughs off Utterson's worries. We start to see the relationship between Jekyll and Hyde. 

Chapter 4: Sir Danvers Carew, a perfect model Victorian gentleman is stabbed and murdered at night by Mr Hyde. It was witnessed by a maid who fainted at the sight. The murder weapon belongs to Jekyll. Hyde then disappears and has not been seen at home. 

Chapter 5: Utterson asks his clerk to compare the handwriting from Hyde's cheque and a letter to Utterson from Mr Hyde. Utterson thinks that Jekyll forged the handwriting as Hyde. 

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More summaries

Chapter 6: The police cannot find Hyde. Jekyll seems happier and is more socialable. But suddenly, he appears depressed and will not see Utterson. Utterson goes to see Lanyon, but Lanyon is on his death bed. He gives Utterson a letter that's not to be opened until the death of Jekyll. Lanyon refuses to discuss Jekyll. Lanyon dies. He died of shock but we don't know why. Utterson locks the letter away and doesn't open it. Utterson tries to visit Jekyll but Poole says he won't see anyone. 

Chapter 7: Utterson and Mr Enfield go on one of their Sunday evening walks, and walk past Jekyll sitting on the edge of his window. Utterson calls up to him but Jekyll freezes in an expression of "abject terror and despair". The change in Jekyll's expression "froze the very blood of the two gentlemen below". Jekyll thrust down the window and hid. The two men walked away in silence, looking very pale. Jekyll is thought to have been going to kill himself but when the men come past - we see him transforming into Mr Hyde. This is where we find out that they are the same person. 

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