Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde - Themes

Question 1

What are the three main themes in Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde?

Answer 1

• scientific development
• good vs evil
• duality of human nature
• nature and the supernatural

Question 2

How is the theme of scientific development shown in the novel?

Answer 2

• Dr Jekyll’s scientific experiments
• how the experiment goes badly wrong
• how Dr Lanyon fears the experiment

Question 3

How does Dr Jekyll’s experiments show the theme of scientific development?

Answer 3

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.

Question 4

Analyse:
“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.

Answer 4

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.

Question 5

How does the experiment going badly show the theme of scientific development?

Answer 5

Dr Jekyll’s experiment kills him, as he has to die in order for the overpowering Mr Hyde to die also.

Question 6

Analyse:

“…there lay the body of a man sorely contorted and still twitching.”

Answer 6

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.

Question 7

How does Dr Lanyon’s fear of the experiment show the theme of scientific development?

Answer 7

Dr Lanyon dies of shock because of what he has witnessed – he sees Mr Hyde turning into Dr Jekyll.

Question 8

Analyse:

A week afterwards Dr Lanyon took to his bed, and in something less than a fortnight he was dead.”

Answer 8

The short time period of a week illustrates how quickly Dr Lanyon’s health deteriorated because of Dr Jekyll’s revelation.

Question 9

How is the duality of mankind shown in the novel?

Answer 9

• the character of Dr Jekyll
• the character of Mr Hyde
• the differences between them both

Question 10

How does Stevenson show the character of Dr Jekyll?

Answer 10

Dr Jekyll is perceived as a highly influential, kind, educated and popular scientist. He is the embodiment of ‘goodness.’

Question 11

Analyse:

“…every mark of capacity and kindness - you could see by his looks that he cherished for Mr Utterson.”

Answer 11

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.

Question 12

How does Stevenson show the character of Mr Hyde?

Answer 12

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’.

Question 13

Analyse:

”…haunting sense of unexpressed deformity with which the fugitive impressed his beholders.”

Answer 13

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.

Question 14

What did the nature of the Victorian society mean?

Answer 14

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.

Question 15

How is nature and supernatural shown in the novel?

Answer 15

• 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

Question 16

How does Stevenson show the Supernatural: Jekyll’s experiment?

Answer 16

Jekyll meddles with the supernatural when he creates a potion that will release his other being, Mr Hyde, into the world.

Question 17

Analyse:
“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!”

Answer 17

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.

Question 18

How does Stevenson show the Natural: Jekyll’s death?

Answer 18

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.

Question 19

Analyse:

“…the cords of his face moved with a semblance of life, but life was quite gone.”

Answer 19

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.