Lanyon

Question 1

Lanyon quotes:

Answer 1

• “Such unscientific balderdash… would have estranged Damon and Pythias”
• “My life is shaken to its roots”

Question 2

What themes does the quote “such unscientific balderdash… would have estranged Damon and Pythias” link with?

Answer 2

• Science vs religion
• Friendship + loyalty

Question 3

Analyse “such unscientific balderdash… would have estranged Damon and Pythias”

Answer 3

• In the dichotomy between Dr Jekyll and Dr Lanyon, Stevenson explores scientific rationalism vs the allure of the unknown. Lanyon embodies rationalism dismissing Jekyll’s experiments as “unscientific balderdash” a scathing indictment that exposes their polar perspectives on science worldviews.
• While both are doctors, Lanyon’s unwavering adherence to the verifiable separates him from Jekyll’s morbid curiosity and exploration into the uncharted territories of repressed desires. Here, the pursuit of knowledge transcends even the bonds of kinship, demonstrating how the battle for scientific truth can supersede personal loyalties.
• Lanyon’s allusion to mythology with “Damon and Pythias” serves to ridicule him as a scientist, revealing that his beliefs extend beyond the purely scientific realm
• Stevenson may be offering a critique of how science heavily influenced by religion can become distorted and inherently flawed, prompting a reassessment of the relationship between science and religion within societal discourse. This exposes the blurred line between scientific objectivity and the lingering influence of religious belief.

Question 4

What themes does the quote “my life is shaken to its roots” link with?

Answer 4

• Science vs religion
• Duality
• Repression
• Good vs evil
• Appearance vs reality
• Friendship + loyalty

Question 5

Analyse “my life is shaken to its roots”

Answer 5

• The natural metaphor of Lanyon’s life “shaken to its root” represents how physically and symbolically, these unorthodox and unnatural experiments have uprooted every aspect of Lanyon’s existence, destabilising and violating his worldview to its core
• Lanyon’s natural imagery serves as another attempt to emphasise the unnatural essence of metaphysical science. He illuminates how delving into this realm causes a departure from the natural order, portraying Jekyll’s dual and suppressed nature as emblematic of an unnatural sin and a perversion of human nature
• As “shaken” connotes disruption, Stevenson, through Lanyon’s reaction, doesn’t just ridicule the fragility of Victorian ideals; he exposes a deeper existential crisis, one caused by a disruption to rigid worldwide views
• Death becomes preferable to the complete dismantling of this meticulously constructed worldview. Lanyon’s demise symbolises the struggle of individuals trying to reconcile scientific advancement with their entrenched moral and religious frameworks. This exposes the rigidity of Victorian thought, where clinging to an outdated worldview is preferable, even at the expense of the individual.