Jekyll And Hyde Key Themes

Question 1

List 5 key themes

Answer 1

Science
Dual nature of man
Religion and sin
Violence and Horror
Victorian Gentleman (Respectability)

Question 2

How is Darwin tied into the novel

Answer 2

Darwin said that we evolved from primates, so Hyde being described as “hardly human … troglodytic” appears as if he is devolution which would have shocked and scared the Victorian reader. Plays into horror theme.

Also ties into theories on how life is created. Is it godgiven or through evolution.

Also Hyde being able to hide behind the respectability of a well-represented member of the upper class in which external appearance is deemed as the truth.

Question 3

Victorian repression

Answer 3

Jekyll is well respected gentleman, so he has to keep sins and desires hidden from society.

This repressive society convinces Jekyll that “man is not truly one, but truly two”

Tries to prove this with medicine to separate good and evil.

However his evils side overwhelms his good side so his default body is Hydes

Jekyll has much inner conflict within, “perennial war among his members”

Question 4

Victorian views on others

Answer 4

Victorian upper class looked down upon lower class and that degenerates/criminals were less evolved