Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde: Context (AQA GCSE English Literature)
Revision Note
Written by: Nick Redgrove
Reviewed by: Kate Lee
Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde historical context
The Industrial Revolution
Due to the Industrial Revolution, the population of London grew from 1 million in 1800 to approximately 6.7 million in 1900 and became the largest city in the world
London was home to many people who lived in extreme poverty and the poor, who made up the majority of London’s population, lived in cramped and squalid conditions:
The city was a reflection of the stark inequality between the classes, with the wealthy living in luxury, and the poor struggling in poverty
This led to a stark contrast between the wealthy and the poor and this social divide was further defined by the differences in the locations they inhabited
The Industrial Revolution also resulted in a shift from a rural farming lifestyle in the countryside to that of technology and industry in the city:
As factories and railroads were constructed, smoke filled the city’s atmosphere and as a result, the air quality in London was heavily polluted
How this links to the novel Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde | |
Setting of London | The theme of duality is revealed in the novella’s setting of London. Stevenson presents the city with contrasting descriptions, where affluent streets exist directly next to areas of degradation and poverty. Stevenson vividly describes the choking fog in the novella which hung over the city like a shroud. This heightens the atmosphere of mystery and secrecy and also creates a Gothic atmosphere. |
Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde social context
Victorian repression
The strict nature of Victorian society could be seen to have resulted in individuals having to suppress an element of their character in order to appear respectable
The overcrowded London city meant that crime became prevalent and the idea that sinister individuals could remain largely hidden within the city’s large population became a popular theme within Gothic literature
Many novels from the 19th century examined moral, ethical, and social themes and it also reflected the Victorian era's interest in the inner workings of the human psyche
The emergence of the field of psychology in this era presented a distinct philosophical challenge to the existing understanding of mental processes:
The development of insane asylums (including new definitions of and treatments for madness) became a significant feature of Victorian society
The science of physiognomy was viewed as a respected science during the 19th century and suggested that the study of a person’s physical characteristics, especially their facial features, could determine aspects about their morality or personality
How this links to the novel Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde | |
Victorian repression | Repression is evident in the character of Jekyll who can not suppress his inner desires, which results in the creation of Hyde. Stevenson also depicts other characters as suppressing some aspect of themselves, such as Utterson, Lanyon and Enfield. |
Physiognomy | Stevenson’s depiction of Hyde focuses predominantly on his appearance as evidence for him being evil, which could appear to support the theory of physiognomy. However, Stevenson could also be viewed as contesting this theory as Hyde and Jekyll are one and the same person and therefore appearance may provide no indication of the nature within. |
Secrecy and Reputation
The novella is set during the Victorian era in England, a period of time that spanned Queen Victoria's reign from 1837 to 1901:
Queen Victoria placed a strong emphasis on duty, seriousness, hard work, and self-control
Victorians were eager to ensure that they were adhering to the conventions of behaviour and etiquette and this was evidenced by the proliferation of guides about proper behaviour and conduct
Respectability was a key aspect of Victorian society and there were strict social codes regarding behaviour
Victorian social standards of the time expected gentlemen and bachelors (unmarried men) to act in a dignified and respectable manner:
Gentlemen were expected to adhere to the highest standards of behaviour and one was expected to restrain themselves when it came to emotional and sexual desires
This period saw the emergence of a new middle class who were able to gain wealth and power through their own success, rather than through being born into the aristocracy:
This led to debates about what it meant to be a “gentleman” and whether the qualities of one could be acquired or were merely based upon one’s birthright
Some argued that a gentleman was someone who behaved with respect and civility, regardless of his social class; others argued a gentleman was someone of a certain social standing who had certain privileges and obligations
These expected behaviours could be subject to enormous hypocrisy, as gentlemen could keep up the appearance of respectability but act quite differently in secret
How this links to the novel Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde | |
Jekyll’s reputation | Stevenson’s initial description presents Jekyll as a respectable man but he also hints at his secretive and deceitful nature. Jekyll finds himself living a double life and he is unable to reconcile the two sides of his character: he wishes to be a respected doctor adhering to the highest moral standards, yet he also yearns to engage in malevolent acts. In the final chapter of the novella, Jekyll’s battle within himself to be “respectable” is revealed. Indeed, it could be argued that Hyde would not exist if Jekyll could live without rigid social constraints. |
Other characters’ reputations and secrets | While the proper standards of behaviour are exemplified by the character of Utterson (who is renowned for his restrained and respectable demeanour), Enfield is depicted as being late out at night which could hint he is not content to live according to the strict moral code required of a Victorian gentleman. |
Science and Religion
The 19th century was a time of great exploration and discovery and, in particular, science, medicine and psychology were all undergoing rapid changes and advances
The Victorian era was very religious and religion pervaded most aspects of everyday life:
The Christian Bible was viewed as an essential guide to leading a moral life
Victorian notions of morality and respectability were heavily rooted in Christian teachings and values
Victorians traditionally sought solace in the notion that religion was the only viable explanation for the natural world, though the emergence of new scientific ideologies played a crucial role in challenging these established religious beliefs
Christian theology defined creation as an act of God, whereas Charles Darwin promoted the argument that man had evolved similarly to other species:
This led to traditional assumptions about religion being challenged and revised
The theory of evolution haunted Victorian society and the idea that humans evolved from apes led to anxieties about the possibility of returning to this primitive state
How this links to the novel Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde | |
Victorian psychology | Jekyll’s experiments reflect the Victorian fascination with scientific exploration and advancements in psychology: Stevenson explores ideas about psychological duality through the twin characters of Jekyll and Hyde. |
Evolution versus Christian science | Victorian society’s strong religious influence — even in the field of science — is evident in the character of Dr Lanyon, who represents traditional Christian morality. His shock and eventual death upon witnessing Jekyll’s transformation into Hyde illustrates the moral consequences of tampering with nature and playing God, but also the chilling effect that evolution had on orthodox thinking. The theory of evolution is also evident when Stevenson describes Hyde as “ape-like” and “troglodytic”, a reflection of the fact that humans perhaps were indeed descended from primates. |
Hyde as a representation of Hell | Stevenson also associates Hyde with Christian ideas about Hell and Satan and Jekyll repeatedly refers to him as “my devil”. This suggests that all human beings have the capacity for evil, an idea that frightened polite Victorian society. |
Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde literary context
The Gothic genre
The Gothic genre rose to prominence in the late 18th and early 19th centuries and was widespread in Victorian literature
The belief in the supernatural also played a significant role in the 19th century:
It permeated all forms of art and was seen as a reaction to the "Victorian crisis of faith", which meant people began to question organised religion and its role in their lives
As a result of the Victorian era's increasing secularisation, an interest in the supernatural began to increase:
In literature, the interest in the supernatural and the unknown were linked to Victorian Gothic conventions
The atmosphere of horror, the possibility of supernatural occurrences, and the present being haunted by the past are key characteristics of Gothic fiction:
The atmosphere is typically claustrophobic and incarceration or persecution are common elements
Gothic fiction frequently uses the description of horrific occurrences to metaphorically express psychological or social tensions
How this links to the novel Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde | |
The Gothic | Stevenson uses Gothic conventions to create a feeling of confinement and entrapment. Jekyll feels increasingly trapped by Hyde’s growing dominance. The novella also creates suspense through Hyde’s mysterious and sinister presence: he is described as physically repulsive and morally depraved and he embodies the Gothic trope of “the monster”. Horrific occurrences, such as Hyde’s crimes of trampling a child and the murder of Sir Danvers Carew, reflect the Gothic theme of persecution and violence. |
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