Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde: Dr Hastie Lanyon Character Analysis (AQA GCSE English Literature) : Revision Note

Lanyon is a man of science and one of Jekyll’s oldest friends, though their friendship ends abruptly once Lanyon learns of Jekyll’s disturbing scientific experiments.

Dr Hastie Lanyon character summary

Why is Dr Hastie Lanyon important?

Lanyon is the first character to uncover the truth that Hyde and Jekyll are the same person. He is depicted as:

• Rational: Lanyon’s close friendship with Jekyll becomes strained because of Jekyll’s persistent interest in “scientific balderdash”. The rational Lanyon does not accept the direction of Jekyll’s experimentation as he believes that Jekyll has become “wrong in the mind”. Jekyll involves Lanyon when he asks him, as one of his oldest friends, to collect the contents of a drawer from Jekyll’s cabinet. Later, Hyde goes to Lanyon and it is here that Lanyon observes his transformation to Jekyll. The shock of what he observes, which conflicts with his scientific beliefs, leads to his death.

• Respected: Lanyon lives at Cavendish Square, “that citadel of medicine”, with the word “citadel” signifying that the area is renowned for medicine. He is described as having a genial and “genuine” personality, suggesting he is a successful, popular and respected doctor, which is further supported by Stevenson’s reference to a waiting room of “crowding patients”.  Lanyon and Utterson are said to be “respecters of themselves and of each other” and they both enjoy “each other’s company”.

• Traditionalist: Lanyon confirms that he and Jekyll once had “a bond of common interest”, but that this is in the past. He believes that Jekyll’s experiments have become “too fanciful”, suggesting that Lanyon is a traditionalist and that has lost respect for Jekyll. Following his witness to Jekyll’s transformation, he informs Utterson that he is “quite done with that person; and I beg that you will spare me any allusion to one whom I regard as dead”.

Dr Hastie Lanyon’s use of language

• Authoritative and rational: Lanyon is depicted as authoritative, rational and well read. For example, his references to the legend of “Damon and Pythias” suggests that he is well read in Ancient Greek mythology. The story is about the genuine love and trust that should exist in an ideal friendship, which links to Lanyon’s depth of disappointment in Jekyll, whose scientific pursuits have fractured their once-close friendship.

• Emotional and fragmented: Lanyon becomes increasingly uncomfortable when talking about Jekyll. For example, on one occasion he flushes “suddenly purple”, which provides a contrast to the composed “red-faced gentleman” presented by Stevenson at the beginning of the novella. After witnessing Jekyll’s transformation, his language becomes deeply emotive and fragmented. 

Dr Hastie Lanyon key quotes 

Dr Hastie Lanyon character development

Dr Hastie Lanyon character interpretation

Scientific rationalism

Stevenson uses the character of Lanyon to symbolise the conventional scientific mindset of the Victoria era. Jekyll’s experiments reflect the divide between traditional scientists like Lanyon with more experimental thinkers like Jekyll. Lanyon’s shock and eventual death after witnessing Jekyll’s transformation into Hyde demonstrates the moral repercussions of interfering with nature.