Dr Lanyon Flashcards
Overview
In ‘the strange case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde,’ Stevenson presents Dr Lanyon as a healthy, well-respected doctor with a strong belief in traditional scientific methods. He dismisses Jekyll’s unorthodox experiments, viewing them as nonsense. However, after witnessing the transformation between Jekyll and Hyde, he is horrified, leading to a physical and emotional collapse that ultimately causes his death.
Quotes
‘Hearty, healthy, dapper, red-faced gentlemen’ - Pg 5
‘Such unscientific balderdash’ - Pg 6
‘Death-warrant written legibly upon his face’ - Pg 18
‘My life is shaken to its roots’ - Pg 34
‘Hearty, healthy, dapper, red-faced gentlemen’
Point - Lanyon’s physical appearance, reflects his stable and conventional lifestyle, contrasting with the deteriorating figures of Jekyll and Hyde.
Choice - Stevenson uses descriptors like “hearty” and “healthy” to depict Dr. Lanyon as a robust, well-respected member of society. “Dapper” conveys his neat and well-groomed appearance, suggesting both physical and moral uprightness, typical of the ideal Victorian gentleman.
Effect - This portrayal emphasises Lanyon’s rational, scientific approach, contrasting with the more mysterious and unorthodox figures like Jekyll. His physical vitality implies strength and reliability, aligning with the Victorian belief in physiognomy—the idea that outward appearance reflects inner character. The ideal Victorian gentleman was expected to be respectable, disciplined, and physically fit. Lanyon embodies this, and his eventual collapse due to his knowledge of Jekyll’s experiments highlights the tension between Victorian ideals and the dangerous pursuit of forbidden knowledge.
‘Such unscientific balderdash’
Point - Lanyon is presented as a rational and traditional scientist, embodying the clash between conventional scientific beliefs and Jekyll’s more experimental ideas.
Choice - Stevenson uses “unscientific balderdash” to emphasise Dr. Lanyon’s firm belief in rational science and his rejection of Jekyll’s unorthodox experiments, highlighting the era’s strict adherence to observable, empirical science.
Effect - Lanyon’s condemnation aligns him with Victorian ideals of science and reason, contrasting with Jekyll’s boundary-pushing experiments, which symbolise a clash between traditional science and the supernatural. In the Victorian era, science was growing in authority, yet conflicts with religious and supernatural beliefs persisted. Lanyon’s rejection of Jekyll’s work mirrors the tension between scientific progress and the dangers of venturing beyond established boundaries.
‘Death-warrant written legibly upon his face’
Point - Lanyon’s physical deterioration symbolises the devastating impact of uncovering hidden truths, reinforcing the dangers of scientific ambition and moral transgression.
Choice - Stevenson’s use of “death-warrant” is a stark metaphor that suggests the severe toll Jekyll’s experiments have taken on Lanyon. The description contrasts with Lanyon’s earlier portrayal as “hearty, healthy, dapper, red-faced,” symbolising vitality and stability.
Effect - The change in Lanyon’s physical appearance creates an unsettling effect, highlighting the destructive consequences of Jekyll’s dual nature and the dangerous consequences of tampering with the boundaries of science. The reader sees the stark physical manifestation of the inner conflict between good and evil. This transformation reflects the Victorian concern with the duality of human nature. Lanyon, once a model of rational, respectable science, is now consumed by the moral and physical decay caused by witnessing Jekyll’s transgression into the dark, forbidden realms of science.
‘My life is shaken to its roots’
Point - Lanyon’s profound shock highlights the destructive power of scientific discovery, illustrating how it can challenge established beliefs and destabilise rational thought.
Choice - The phrase “shaken to its roots” is a metaphor that signifies a complete disruption of Dr. Lanyon’s worldview and personal stability. It suggests that the revelation of Jekyll’s transformation has fundamentally altered his understanding of life and science.
Effect - The reader is likely to feel the intensity of Lanyon’s distress, highlighting the horror he experiences when confronted with the dark, supernatural side of science. This reaction contrasts with Lanyon’s previous belief in rational, conventional science, emphasising the novel’s theme of the dangers of unchecked experimentation. Lanyon’s shock reflects the Victorian fear of scientific experimentation challenging moral and religious boundaries. In a society that valued order and respectability, the disturbing nature of Jekyll’s actions represents a violation of these social norms, shaking the foundations of Lanyon’s belief system.
