Themes Flashcards
What are the main themes?
Scientific development
Good vs evil + duality of human nature
Nature and the supernatural
Why was science a conflicting topic in Victorian society?
In the Victorian era, religion was important to communities and people. Many people believed that God created the universe and followed the principles of the Bible.
People were scared of scientific developments. Charles Darwin wrote the Origins of the Species in 1859. It was a text that shook Victorian society due to its theory that God had not created the universe as outlined in the Bible. Consequently, people were cautious of science and its developments.
How is the theme of scientific development shown in the novel?
Dr Jekyll’s scientific experiments
How the experiment goes badly wrong
How Dr Lanyon fears the experiment
How does Stevenson show scientific development through the experiment?
Dr Jekyll’s experiment kills him, as he has to die in order for the overpowering Mr Hyde to die also.
“…there lay the body of a man sorely contorted and still twitching.
Shows that Jekyll eventually killed himself as his desire to experiment made Mr Hyde get stronger. Phrase ‘sorely contorted’ shows how science changed who Jekyll was and who he became. It ‘contorted’ his very self.
How does Stevenson show scientific development through Lanyon?
Dr Lanyon dies of shock because of what he has witnessed – he sees Mr Hyde turning into Dr Jekyll.
“A week afterwards Dr Lanyon took to his bed, and in something less than a fortnight he was dead.”
The short time period of a week illustrates how quickly Dr Lanyon’s health deteriorated because of Dr Jekyll’s revelation.
How does Stevenson show scientific development through Jekyll?
He is relentless in his goals to complete the experiment. He stops at nothing to achieve his goals and doesn’t listen to his friends.
“I wish to see or hear no more of Dr Jekyll… I am quite done with that person.” - Dr Lanyon.
Stevenson presents Lanyon’s emotions very clearly in this section - one of Jekyll’s oldest friends is ‘done with’ him due to what he has done.
Repetition of ‘I’ illustrates that Lanyon feels he is in control of the situation and has control over Jekyll.
What is the duality of human nature?
The idea that every single human being has good and evil within them
How is the duality of mankind shown in the novel?
The character of Dr Jekyll
The character of Mr Hyde
The differences between them both
How is duality shown through Jekyll?
He is perceived as a highly influential, kind, educated and popular scientist. He is the embodiment of ‘goodness.’
“…every mark of capacity and kindness - you could see by his looks that he cherished for Mr Utterson.”
This shows that Dr Jekyll was kind and everyone believed him to be so. The fact that he ‘cherishes’ Mr Utterson tells us that he loves his friends very much and cares about other people.
How is duality shown through Hyde?
He is perceived as a cruel, ugly, vicious man who commits wild acts of violence against innocent people. He is the embodiment of ‘evilness’.
“…haunting sense of unexpressed deformity with which the fugitive impressed his beholders.
Shows that Hyde’s appearance and personality terrifies others – they always remember seeing him. The fact that his appearance is ‘haunting’ shows how terrifying he is.
Why does Stevenson present duality?
There isn’t the binary opposite of good and evil - things are not that simple.
Everyone is capable of good and evil acts.
Going against the Victorian mindset that some people are born good or bad.
Other examples of duality
“Man is not truly one, but truly two”
Front and back doors
How is nature and supernatural shown in the novel?
Jekyll’s supernatural experiment of releasing Mr Hyde into the world
Jekyll’s death – how his interference with the supernatural caused his natural end
Dr Lanyon’s response
How does Jekyll’s experiment show supernatural?
Jekyll meddles with the supernatural when he creates a potion that will release his other being, Mr Hyde, into the world.
“And now, you who have so long been bound to the most narrow and material views, you who have denied the virtue of transcendental medicine, you who have derided your superiors - behold!”
He is talking to Lanyon and is revealing the nature of his experiment to him.
Repetition of ‘you’ shows Dr Jekyll’s anger towards Dr Lanyon, as he has always ‘denied’ this form of medicine. It also shows his passion for his experiment and highlights that he cares about his experiment more than anything else.
How does Jekyll’s experiment show natural?
When Hyde takes over and Jekyll must kill himself, to put an end to his wicked ways.
“the cords of his face moved with a semblance of life, but life was quite gone.”
This shows that Jekyll/Hyde should still be alive, as the muscles of his face still look alive - they almost wish to be alive. However, life was ‘quite gone’. This shows that Jekyll/Hyde have died and have no hope in ever returning.
