Jekyll and Hyde

Jekyll and Hyde

1. Good vs Evil

   • Jekyll =Good
     • Hyde=Evil
       • "There is something wrong with his appearance; something displeasing, something downright detestable."
       • "He must be deformed somewhere; he gives a strong feeling of deformity,"
   • Two sides of human personality
   • Intertwined part of human nature
   • Hydes death shows weakness of evil

2. Repression

   • Jekyll repressed side comes out as Hyde
     • Hyde smaller in stature because of this
   • Context: Victorian society very stict and not as open as modern society
   • the more he desires the life of Mr. Hyde, and the stronger Mr. Hyde becomes.
   • "I am ashamed of my long tongue. Let us make a bargain never to refer to this again."- Utterson refering to gossiping- showing how restrictive society was
   • Lashes out in an extremely violent fashion - shows effect of built up repression
     • "Ape like fury"
     • "Hailing down a storm of blows"
     • "In which the bones were audibly shattered"

3. Freinships

   • Jekyll, Hyde and Utterson have secret and detached relationship
   • Friendship act as enablers and motivators to drive the plot forward
   • Tension and friction between Lanyon and Jekyll over science
   • Are they friends or non aggressive acquaintances
   • "The doctor gave one of his pleasant dinners to some 5 or 6 old cronies"
   • "You could see by his looks that he cherished for Mr.Utterson a sincire and warm affection"
   • "Make a clean breast of this in confidence; and I make no doubt I can get you out of it." Utterson's loyalty to Jekyll

4. Science Vs Religion

   • Context- Louis Stevenson indulged in supernatural
   • Jekyll is on the side of supernatural/unconventional science
   • Lanyon more scientific
     • for there before my eyes—pale and shaken, and half fainting, and groping before him with his hands, like a man restored from death—there stood Henry Jekyll!
     • Dies after witnessing trasformation
       • "A week afterwards Dr. Lanyon took to his bed, and in something less than a fortnight he was dead."
   • science becomes a cover and justification for supernatural activities.