Jekyll and Hyde Question Plans

Question 1

What insightful interpretations can you make from the novella?

Answer 1

• Hyde is an addiction – he is described in exactly the same way as symptoms of addiction, and Stevenson would know these very well, since he was a drug user at one point, so this is most likely to be intentional.
• From a scientific reading, the supernatural physical changes are merely symbolic as to the intense change within; they are not real.
• From a religious reading, Jekyll could be facing punishment for his ‘sin’, his deal with the devil.
• From a post-Freudian perspective, Jekyll’s flaw is that he treated man as ‘truly two’, not three.
• Lanyon’s death after receiving knowledge is comparable to Genesis.
• All characters express duality – a side that conforms and a side that does not. All characters meet consequences too.
• One argument is that Hyde is a regressed, atavistic version of Jekyll, in alignment with Darwinism.
• Another argument is that Hyde is an evil, Satanic version of Jekyll, in alignment with religious beliefs of the time.

Question 2

How does Stevenson present science vs the supernatural in Jekyll and Hyde?

Answer 2

• Argument 1: darwinism and regression. Argument 2: religion and evil.
• It is clear at the start that Hyde is not fully human.
• Compare Satanic descriptions to atavistic ones.
• Lanyon, scientist: ‘hide-bound pedant’ – pedantic means accurate
• Jekyll, scientist: ‘scientific heresies’
• Will you be wise.. or has
• This is comparable to the pure ‘pedantic’ scientist being offered the knowledge of the ‘transcendental’, like Genesis.
• Semantic field of science fused with spirituality in last chapter – we will never know.
• A scientific reading could suggest… A religious reading could suggest…

Question 3

How does Stevenson present duality in Jekyll and Hyde?

Answer 3

• Look retrospectively: Jekyll always accepted his duality – ‘I was already committed to a profound duplicity of life’
• Compare the doors and their symbolism. We later learn that they are the same house, hinting that Jekyll and Hyde could also be the same.
• Explore other characters’ duality – conform vs not conform.
• Explore consequences
• Fatal flaw - man could be three?

Question 4

How does Stevenson present the relationship of Jekyll and Hyde?

Answer 4

• First, the reaction Hyde evokes in others – compare with ‘Dr Jekyll was quite at ease’
• Show how Hyde gradually gains more power over time – he never had the power he thought – ‘the moment I choose, I can be rid of Mr Hyde’ – true until moment of weakness (addiction).
• Show how Hyde is presented as an illness or an addiction.
• Jekyll is at Hyde’s mercy (or but remembered him…)
• Messages on addiction, ref. Stevenson’s addiction.