Key Themes For Jekylk And Hyde

Question 1

Duality of human nature

Answer 1

1. Duality of Human Nature
2. “Man is not truly one, but truly two.”
   – Dr. Jekyll (Chapter 10)
   This succinctly captures the novella’s central theme of duality, with Jekyll recognizing that humans are composed of both good and evil parts.
3. “I learned to recognize the thorough and primitive duality of man.”
   – Dr. Jekyll (Chapter 10)
   Jekyll admits that his transformation experiments stemmed from this realization about human nature, highlighting his desire to isolate and explore these forces.
4. “Even as good shone upon the countenance of the one, evil was written broadly and plainly on the face of the other.”
   – Dr. Jekyll (Chapter 10)
   Jekyll observes the stark contrast between his own appearance and Hyde’s, symbolizing the moral and physical manifestations of good and evil.
5. “The street shone out in contrast to its dingy neighbourhood, like a fire in a forest.”
   – Description of London (Chapter 1)
   The contrasting imagery in this description of the street reflects the duality of human nature on a societal level, emphasizing opposites like light and darkness, wealth and poverty.
6. “The hatred of Hyde for Jekyll was of a different order.”
   – Narrator (Chapter 10)
   This highlights the internal conflict within Jekyll, as Hyde—the embodiment of his darker self—resents the limitations Jekyll represents, showing the tension between the two halves of his identity.

Question 2

Science and danger

Answer 2

2. Science and Its Dangers
3. “I stood already committed to a profound duplicity of life; many a man would have even blazoned such irregularities as I was guilty of; but from the high views that I had set before me, I regarded and hid them with an almost morbid sense of shame.”
   – Dr. Jekyll (Chapter 10)
   Jekyll’s experiments represent his attempt to reconcile his scientific curiosity with moral constraints, but this duplicity exposes the dangers of overreaching in science.
4. “He began to go wrong, wrong in the mind; and though of course I continue to take an interest in him for old sake’s sake, as they say, I see and I have seen devilish little of the man.”
   – Dr. Lanyon (Chapter 2)
   Lanyon critiques Jekyll’s reckless scientific experiments, suggesting that his obsession with pushing boundaries led him into dangerous, unethical territory.
5. “I had gone to bed Henry Jekyll, I had awakened Edward Hyde.”
   – Dr. Jekyll (Chapter 10)
   This moment emphasizes the unpredictability of Jekyll’s experiments, as his initial control over the transformations unravels.
6. “He reeled, staggered, clutched at the table, and held on, staring with injected eyes, gasping with open mouth.”
   – Dr. Lanyon’s reaction (Chapter 9)
   Lanyon’s visceral horror after witnessing Hyde’s transformation back to Jekyll illustrates the unnatural consequences of Jekyll’s scientific meddling.
7. “O God! I screamed, and O God! again and again.”
   – Dr. Lanyon (Chapter 9)
   Lanyon’s spiritual reaction emphasizes how science, when misused, can evoke a profound sense of dread and existential crisis.

Question 3

Science and religion

Answer 3

2. Science and Its Dangers
3. “I stood already committed to a profound duplicity of life; many a man would have even blazoned such irregularities as I was guilty of; but from the high views that I had set before me, I regarded and hid them with an almost morbid sense of shame.”
   – Dr. Jekyll (Chapter 10)
   Jekyll’s experiments represent his attempt to reconcile his scientific curiosity with moral constraints, but this duplicity exposes the dangers of overreaching in science.
4. “He began to go wrong, wrong in the mind; and though of course I continue to take an interest in him for old sake’s sake, as they say, I see and I have seen devilish little of the man.”
   – Dr. Lanyon (Chapter 2)
   Lanyon critiques Jekyll’s reckless scientific experiments, suggesting that his obsession with pushing boundaries led him into dangerous, unethical territory.
5. “I had gone to bed Henry Jekyll, I had awakened Edward Hyde.”
   – Dr. Jekyll (Chapter 10)
   This moment emphasizes the unpredictability of Jekyll’s experiments, as his initial control over the transformations unravels.
6. “He reeled, staggered, clutched at the table, and held on, staring with injected eyes, gasping with open mouth.”
   – Dr. Lanyon’s reaction (Chapter 9)
   Lanyon’s visceral horror after witnessing Hyde’s transformation back to Jekyll illustrates the unnatural consequences of Jekyll’s scientific meddling.
7. “O God! I screamed, and O God! again and again.”
   – Dr. Lanyon (Chapter 9)
   Lanyon’s spiritual reaction emphasizes how science, when misused, can evoke a profound sense of dread and existential crisis.

Question 4

Good vs evil

Answer 4

4. Good vs. Evil
5. “It was Hyde, after all, and Hyde alone, that was guilty.”
   – Dr. Jekyll (Chapter 10)
   Jekyll attempts to separate himself morally from Hyde’s actions, but this denial of responsibility highlights the blurring line between good and evil.
6. “My devil had been long caged, he came out roaring.”
   – Dr. Jekyll (Chapter 10)
   Jekyll’s metaphor of a caged devil symbolizes how repression intensifies his darker impulses, which manifest violently when unleashed.
7. “The powers of Hyde seemed to have grown with the sickliness of Jekyll.”
   – Dr. Jekyll (Chapter 10)
   This shows that Jekyll’s moral weakness allows Hyde’s evil to strengthen, illustrating the imbalance between good and evil within him.
8. “All human beings, as we meet them, are commingled out of good and evil.”
   – Narrator (Chapter 10)
   This universal statement reinforces the theme of moral ambiguity, suggesting that no one is purely good or evil.
9. “The moment I choose, I can be rid of Mr. Hyde.”
   – Dr. Jekyll (Chapter 3)
   Jekyll’s belief that he can control his darker urges reflects the struggle between good and evil, a struggle that ultimately overwhelms him.

Question 5

Fear and danger

Answer 5

3. “It wasn’t like a man; it was like some damned Juggernaut.”
   – Mr. Enfield (Chapter 1)
   Hyde is described as a force of destruction, inspiring fear through his violent and unrestrained behavior, which goes against social norms.
4. “At the sight that met my eyes, my blood was changed into something exquisitely thin and icy.”
   – Dr. Lanyon (Chapter 9)
   Lanyon’s reaction to Hyde’s transformation into Jekyll conveys the terror of witnessing something unnatural and incomprehensible.
5. “My life is shaken to its roots; sleep has left me; the deadliest terror sits by me at all hours of the day and night.”
   – Dr. Lanyon (Chapter 9)
   The horrifying truth of Jekyll’s experiments fills Lanyon with a persistent, paralyzing fear, showing the story’s commentary on the psychological impact of confronting evil.
6. “The moment I choose, I can be rid of Mr. Hyde.”
   – Dr. Jekyll (Chapter 3)
   Though Jekyll speaks with confidence, this statement foreshadows the dangerous loss of control over Hyde and the consequences of his hubris.
7. “The brute that slept within me… began to growl for licence.”
   – Dr. Jekyll (Chapter 10)
   Jekyll’s description of his darker self highlights the inherent danger in suppressing one’s darker urges, as they grow stronger and more volatile when denied.
8. “With ape-like fury, he was trampling his victim underfoot and hailing down a storm of blows.”
   – Narrator (Chapter 4)
   Hyde’s violent murder of Sir Danvers Carew showcases his dangerous, uncontrollable nature and capacity for extreme violence.
9. “This is beyond me. I bring the life of that unhappy Henry Jekyll to an end.”
   – Dr. Jekyll (Chapter 10)
   Jekyll’s confession highlights the self-destructive danger of his dual experiments, as they lead to his demise.
10. “He, I say—I cannot say, I. That child of Hell had nothing human; nothing lived in him but fear and hatred.”
    – Dr. Jekyll (Chapter 10)
    Jekyll describes Hyde as pure danger: a being entirely consumed by base instincts of fear and hatred, underscoring his role as a destructive force.

Question 6

Gothic and superantural

Answer 6

There is evidence for Hyde’s humanity in the description of him as “troglodytic”. Troglodyte is another term for a caveman. By describing Hyde in this way, Stevenson may be suggesting that Hyde represents the common ancestor from which all modern humans are descended.
Hyde’s acts of violence defy explanation so by definition are supernatural. They are all unprovoked and also devoid of emotion. He “trampled calmly over the child’s body”. The verb
“trampled” connotes animalistic aggression whilst the adverb “calmly” emphasises Hyde’s detachment from his actions.
Mr Hyde is depicted to be the literal bringer of death through the metaphor “froze the very blood” in “But the words were hardly uttered, before the smile was struck out of his face and succeeded by an expression of such abject terror and despair, as froze the very blood of the gentleman below”. The potency of “abject terror and despair” is reinforced by Stevenson’s use of sibilance.