Jekyll and Hyde - Introduction to “Jekyll and Hyde” and Stevenson + Background and Context Flashcards
What is ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ about?
+Jekyll and Hyde is about man’s dual nature.
+The novel is about a respectable doctor, called Henry Jekyll, who transforms into the evil Edward Hyde.
What values does Jekyll and Hyde reflect?
+Although it’s fictional, the novel reflects the strict values of Victorian society, in which people were expected to be restrained and appear respectable at all times.
How does Jekyll and Hyde have a strong message?
+Jekyll and Hyde is about human nature - everyone has a good and evil inside them.
+If people explore their dark side, it can lead to problems - but hiding or denying it leads to problems too.
What was Robert Louis Stevenson interested in?
Robert Louis Stevenson was interested in man’s different sides.
As a child, how was Stevenson influenced?
+As a child, Stevenson was influenced by the strict Christian beliefs of his nanny, Alison Cunningham.
What was Stevenson interested as an Adult?
+As an adult, Stevenson was interested in the behaviour of Victorian gentlemen - the way they maintained an outwardly respectable appearance, but secretly indulged in immoral behaviour.
Who’s life was Stevenson particularly fascinated by?
+Stevenson particularly fascinated by the life of Deacon Brodie, a respectable cabinet maker who led a secret life as a robber.
Describe Stevenson’s timeline of events.
- 1850 - Born in Edinburgh
- 1867 - Went to Edinburgh university to study engineering
- 1871 - Wanted to become a writer, but decided to study law first on his father’s advice.
- 1873 - Quarrelled with his father about religion - his father was upset that Stevenson had become an atheist.
- 1878 - Published his first novel, ‘An inland voyage’
- 1880 - Married Fanny Osbourne
- 1886 - Published ‘The Stange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’
- Moved to Samoa and never returned to Britain
- 1894 - Died aged 44
Where is Jekyll and Hyde set?
Jekyll and Hyde is set in London
What are the key locations in Jekyll and Hyde?
- Lanyon’s house
- Jekyll’s house
- Utterson’s house
- Hyde’s Soho house
- The maid’s house
- Cabinet
- Laboratory
- River Thames
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What did Victorian gentlemen try to hide?
Victorian gentlemen tried to hide their darker side
What was it important to look like in Victorian middle and upper class society?
+In Victorian middle and upper-class society, it was important to look respectable.
+As a result, people hid their true feelings, especially if these were immoral or improper.
What was very important to Victorian gentlemen?
+Reputation was very important to Victorian gentlemen.
+If they were seen doing anything which wasn’t respectable, their good name would be ruined.
How would Victorian gentlemen protect their reputation?
+To protect their reputation, people often kept their sinful behaviour and less respectable desires secret.
What did Victorian gentlemen not like to talk about?
+They didn’t like to talk about anything that might damage their reputation or upset their apparently civilised society.
Who is Dr Henry Jekyll?
+Dr Henry Jekyll is a well respected Doctor and Scientist.
+He starts to act strangely and stops seeing his friends when he secretly experiments with his alter ego.
Who is Mr Edward Hyde?
+Mr Edward Hyde is the evil side of Jekyll.
+He’s a violent and merciless character who makes people feel uneasy and disgusted.
Who is Mr Gabriel Utterson?
+Mr Gabriel Utterson is a lawyer and Jekyll’s friend.
+He is very rational and sets out to solve the mystery of Jekyll’s odd behaviour.
Who is Dr Hastie Lanyon?
+Dr Hastie Lanyon is also a Doctor.
+He used to be close friends with Jekyll, but they fell out over Jekyll’s controversial scientific ideas.
Who is Mr Richard Enfield?
+Mr Richard Enfield is Utterson’s relative and friend.
+They enjoy spending time together even though they don’t have much in common.
Who is Poole?
+Poole is Jekyll’s butler.
+He’s worked for Jekyll for 20 years and knows him well.
+He’s concerned about Jekyll’s strange behaviour.
Who is Sir Danvers Carew?
+Sir Danvers Carew is an elderly gentleman and member of Parliament.
Who is Mr Guest?
+Mr Guest is Utterson’s clerk.
+He notices that Hyde’s handwriting is almost identical to Jekyll’s.
What is chapters one to three about?
+The mysterious Mr Hyde
What are the main events of chapters 1-3?
- Utterson and Enfield walk past a neglected building which reminds Enfield of a crime in which a man named Hyde trampled a young girl.
- Enfield explains that he put pressure on Hyde to pay for his crime - Hyde went into the building and came out with a cheque signed by Dr Henry Jekyll.
- Utterson is concerned by Jekyll’s will, which leaves everything to Hyde - He visits Lanyon and discovers that he and Jekyll have fallen out.
- Utterson meets Hyde and really dislikes him - it turns out that the building Hyde went into when Enfield saw him is the laboratory in Jekyll’s home - Utterson concludes that Hyde is blackmailing Jekyll.
- Utterson attends a dinner party thrown by Jekyll - Utterson questions Jekyll about Hyde, but Jekyll asks him to let the matter drop; Jekyll makes Utterson promise that he’ll carry out the instructions in his will.
What are chapters four to five about?
The dissappearance of Mr Hyde
What are the main events of chapters four to five?
- A year later, a maid witnesses the violent murder of Sir Danvers Carew by Hyde - Utterson takes the police to Hyde’s home in Soho where they find the murder weapon; Hyde is no where to be found.
- Utterson goes to see Jekyll, who looks very ill - Jekyll claims that he’ll never see Hyde again and shows Utterson a letter from Hyde which backs this up.
- However, Utterson is concerned when Poole tells him that no letters had been delivered to the house that morning.
- Later, Utterson shows Guest the letter, who points out the similarity between the handwriting of Jekyll and Hyde.
What are chapters six to eight about?
Jekyll is in trouble
