scene 3

Question 1

Lanyon reveals his opinions of Jekyll
-living in “Cavendish square, that citadel of medicine”

Answer 1

Lanyon reveals his opinions of Jekyll, further intriguing Utterson as well as the reader. ● Lanyon is first presented to be a reliable source through Stevenson’s description of him living in “Cavendish square, that citadel of medicine” this contrasts with the earlier description of Jekyll living closer to a less reputable part of London (“tramps slouched into the recess”).

Question 2

“unscientific balderdash”

Answer 2

Lanyon then refers to Jekyll’s “unscientific balderdash”. As Jekyll and Hyde was written in 1885 and Darwin’s theory of evolution was published in 1859, people’s scientific views were a contentious issue at the time so despite Utterson’s dismissal of their argument as a “little spirit of temper”, a contemporary reader would be aware of the significance of Lanyon’s distaste towards Jekyll.