Jekyll and Hyde Flashcards
Introduction for Jekyll and Hyde
Robert Louis Stevensons ‘shilling shocker’ is of the gothic and detective genres and explores contemporary themes of class, evolution and criminality. It was published in the late 1800s following the recently published Darwinian Theory of Evolution. The novella is set in the grimy streets of Victoria London and reflects the divide in the class systems. As the novella progresses, the protagonist, Dr Jekyll’s strange association with the ‘damnable young man’ Edward Hyde is slowly revealed. ( Answer question: link to themes and explain eg Hyde is connected to the themes of violence, duality and good vs evil. He becomes increasingly violent and out of control throughout the novella. Stevenson explores Victorian gentlemen and how their vices are repressed while Hyde represents these vices. )
What are the key themes?
Duality, Victorian Gentlemen, Science vs religion, Violence and conflict, Loyalty and friendship, Addiction, Social class/status.
Who is Dr Henry Jekyll?
well-respected doctor and scientist
starts acting strangely
stops seeing friends when he secretly experiments with his alter ego
Who is Edward Hyde?
evil side of Jekyll
violent and merciless character
makes people feel uneasy and disgusted
Who is Mr Gabriel Utterson?
lawyer and Jekyll’s friend
very rational and sets out to solve mystery of Jekyll’s odd behaviour
Who is Dr Hastie Lanyon?
Used to be close friends with Jekyll
fell out over Jekyll’s controversial scientific ideas
Who is Mr Richard Enfield?
Utterson’s relative and friend
enjoy spending time together, even though they don’t have much in common
Who is Poole?
Jekyll’s butler
Worked for him for 20 years
knows him well
Concerned by Jekyll’s strange behaviour
Who is Sir Danvers Carew?
elderly gentlemen
member of parliament
Who is Mr Guest?
Utterson’s clerk
notices Hyde’s handwriting is almost identical to Jekyll’s
Why did victorian gentlemen try to hide their darker side?
important to look respectable for middle and upper class
People hid true feelings, especially if immoral or improper
Protect reputation, kept sinful behaviour and less respectable desires secret so good name not ruined
Didn’t talk about anything that could damage reputation or upset apparently civilised society
How does Jekyll relate to the theme Dual Nature of Man?
He struggles with the social pressure to be respectable
He ‘concealed’ his ‘pleasures’
this made him feel like a ‘double dealer’ even before he created Hyde
How do Utterson and Jekyll relate to theme of Reputation?
Utterson wants to discover truth about Hyde, but is worried it might damage Jekyll’s reputation. This slows him down when he is trying to solve the mystery
Writers technique - setting
In parts of novel, London could seem nightmarish, fog and gloom are thick and powerful
Writers technique - Gothic Novel
Traditionally set in faraway abandoned places
Stevenson chooses to set his story in a place very familiar to readers, might make novel more frightening
