Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde: Themes (Edexcel GCSE English Literature)

Themes

Exam responses that are led by ideas are more likely to reach the highest levels of the mark scheme. Exploring the ideas of the text, specifically in relation to the question being asked, will help to increase your fluency and assurance in writing about the novella.

Below are some ideas which could be explored in the Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. This list is not exhaustive and you are encouraged to identify other ideas within the novella.

• Duality

• Good and evil

• Secrecy and reputation

• Science and religion

Duality

The theme of duality is one of the most prevalent themes in the Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Although the theme does not become fully evident to the reader until the final chapter, Stevenson presents clues and references to this duality throughout the narrative.

Knowledge and evidence:

• Stevenson presents the theme of duality primarily in the character of Jekyll as his inner sinister desires and his outward respectable persona are in conflict with each other, leading to his creation of Hyde:

  • Hyde appears in the narrative before Jekyll which reinforces the reader’s perception that he is a separate entity rather than merely the alter-ego of Jekyll

  • Jekyll admits in the final chapter of the novella, that without Hyde, Jekyll lives a life of “profound duplicity”

• While Jekyll is presented as a respectable gentleman, Stevenson hints at his cunning, secretive and deceitful nature by the manner in which he is first described, further alluding to the dual aspect of his character:

  • Jekyll is not simply portrayed as a purely good character, which reinforces Stevenson’s idea that human nature itself is both complex and multifaceted

• Throughout the novella, 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. However, he also yearns to engage in malevolent acts

• Duality is further revealed in the novella’s setting of London:

  • Stevenson presents the city of London with contrasting descriptions where affluent streets exist next to areas of degradation and poverty

• The description of Jekyll’s house is also used to reveal a duality:

  • Stevenson presents the door at the front as having a “great air of wealth and comfort” leading to the reputable Jekyll; while the door at the back, which has an impression of “sordid negligence” leads to the repungant Hyde

  • The door is used as a metaphor for the inner struggles between their two identities:

    • Stevenson uses this to comment on the deceptive outward appearance of upper Victorian society

• Stevenson also hints at the concept of duality in other characters:

  • Utterson is described as a man having “a rugged countenance that was never lighted by a smile”, but also a man of “soundness of mind and ease of manner”

  • Stevenson hints that Enfield has all the exterior of a gentleman, though may also have sinister secrets of his own

• By the end of the novella, Jekyll acknowledges "the thorough and primitive duality of man"

• Stevenson continually uses contrasts to further underscore the aspect of duality throughout the novella: for example, rich/poor; light/dark; honesty/secrecy; night/day; inside/outside; respectability/notoriety

What is Stevenson’s intention?

• Stevenson is concerned about the duality of human nature and society in general and considers the idea that everyone is capable of good and evil deeds

• Stevenson may also have used the dualities in the novella to reflect a society rapidly moving from the past into a new modern world

Good and evil

The theme of good and evil is closely linked to ideas about duality. Stevenson explores the tension which exists between good and evil and presents the temptation and allurement of evil within the novella.

Knowledge and evidence:

• Jekyll is presented as a man with a reputation and a respected member of society representing good, while Hyde is depicted as a manifestation of evil:

  • In Jekyll’s view, “man is not truly one, but truly two” and while he is aware of his good side, he also acknowledges there is evil within him

• Jekyll believes that it is the “curse of mankind” that good and evil are bound together within him and the two parts are in direct conflict with one another:

  • Stevenson aims to highlight this idea of an innate duality and the implications of giving in to one’s own evil side

• Hyde’s sinister presence and actions are a constant reminder of the power of evil throughout the novella:

  • He invokes terror in other characters and again this may hint at the possibility of the inner evil and depraved nature that resides within each person

• Stevenson depicts Hyde as an inherently violent character and he displays no remorse for his crimes:

  • Both of Hyde’s victims are presented as innocent and vulnerable which elicits sympathy from the reader and makes them horrified at the wickedness of Hyde’s actions

• All of the characters who encounter Hyde are repulsed by the sense of evil that he exudes:

  • For example, Stevenson uses contrasting imagery to describe Carew and Hyde to highlight the difference between what we could infer is the “good” character of Carew and the “evil” character of Hyde:

    • The imagery associated with Carew is linked to lightness and innocence: for example, “an aged and beautiful gentleman with white hair” while Hyde is depicted as having an “ape-like fury”

• Hyde is described in terms of animalistic imagery which strengthens as the novella develops: for example, “savage”, “snarled”, “ape-like fury” and “hardly human” all allude to his aggressive, predatory and primitive nature:

  • Stevenson’s deliberate use of animal imagery is used to suggest Hyde’s separateness from human society and his unrestricted nature

• Stevenson associates Hyde with Christian ideas about Hell and Satan and Jekyll repeatedly refers to him as “my devil”

• Further, Stevenson presents evil through Hyde’s manner and appearance but he deliberately chooses to make that evil to remain somewhat undefined:

  • This lack of a clear definition of evil in the novella makes it appear more pervasive and more terrifying

What is Stevenson’s intention?

• Stevenson presents good and evil as a constant duality throughout the novel and portrays it as a natural facet of the individual, which results in an ongoing battle between the two

• Stevenson proposes that the inherent evil aspect of man is merely suppressed by society and he attempts to explore the consequences of attempting to separate one from the other

Secrecy and reputation

Stevenson’s narrative explores the uncovering of Jekyll’s secret and the mystery of Hyde’s actions and identity. Other characters also display hints of secretive behaviour and the lengths they are determined to go to in order to preserve and protect their reputation and those of others.

Knowledge and evidence:

• The deepest secret in the novella is the relationship between Jekyll and Hyde which Stevenson uses to create tension and suspense

• Jekyll is depicted as a respectable, model gentleman: he is courteous, has a wide circle of acquaintances, is charitable and supports the Church:

  • Underneath this veneer of respectability, Jekyll retains his dark secret, for if exposed to society, it would result in his utter ruination 

• Stevenson also presents other characters who appear to retain secrets or fail to disclose information about their behaviour:

  • Lanyon refuses to tell Utterson as to why he had a disagreement with Jekyll; Enfield and Carew do not disclose why they are out walking the London streets late at night:

    • This heightens the sense of secrecy and suspicion within the novella, as characters withhold information in order to protect their reputation or the reputation of others 

• As a character, Utterson attempts to only do good though he desperately tries to avert any form of scandal which could impair Jekyll’s reputation

• All the way through the novel, Utterson does not share his suspicions about Jekyll because he wants to protect his friend’s reputation:

  • For example, when he suspects Hyde’s letter has been forged or believes Jekyll is hiding Hyde, he keeps it a secret in order to shield Jekyll from any public disgrace

  • Further, Utterson is motivated to maintain the appearance of respectability and propriety even though he is aware of the depravity of Hyde’s actions

  • Even at the conclusion of the novella, Utterson remains steadfast in his belief that Jekyll’s reputation must be upheld: for example, “I would say nothing of this paper. If your master has fled or is dead, we may at least save his credit”

• Ideas relating to secrecy are also revealed through descriptions and events within the narrative:

  • Stevenson continually references locked doors and windows, and letters with information that must not be read, which all heighten the sense of mystery of what is not being revealed to the reader:

    • In Chapter I, “The Story of the Door” Stevenson uses the door and lock to suggest how it can prevent the true nature of a person from being revealed

    • For example, “The door was very strong, the lock was excellent” underscores how deeply hidden and protected Jekyll’s secret appears to be that it cannot be easily penetrated

• Further, pathetic fallacy and the descriptions of the fog are used to create an atmosphere of concealment

What is Stevenson’s intention?

• Stevenson conveys how reputation is based merely on one’s appearance to society, rather than one’s actual conduct and this leads to ideas about hypocrisy

• Stevenson demonstrates the extent to which the characters place reputation and respectability above responsibility

Science and religion

As science was considered new and unpredictable in the Victorian period, this led to increased anxieties about it. Stevenson uses the Victorians’ fear and uncertainty of science to make Jekyll’s experiment appear more frightening to his readership. 

Knowledge and evidence:

• Stevenson uses fear of the unknown to create anxiety and terror in the novella:

  • Victorian concerns about the progress of science makes Jekyll’s experiment even more terrifying as they would have feared his experiment might have been possible 

• Jekyll is presented as a highly intelligent scientist with an inquiring mind:

  • His motivation for creating Hyde demonstrates his ability to question societal beliefs about science and religion

• Jekyll’s experiments lead to a feud with his friend, Lanyon, as he believes Jekyll’s experiments are morally objectionable and should not be conducted:

  • Lanyon is a respectable and conventional scientist and stands in contrast to Jekyll, as he views Jekyll’s experiments as dangerous and describes them as “scientific balderdash”

• He is also established as one of Jekyll’s “oldest friends” and as his “colleague and old-school companion”:

  • Stevenson does so in order to depict how repulsed Lanyon is about Jekyll’s experiments, as he distances himself completely from his former friend

  • Lanyon is unable to reconcile his opposition to Jekyll’s experiments and as a result, their friendship ceases to exist

• Lanyon is presented as conservative and traditional in his approach to science:

  • Stevenson positions Lanyon as the only character to witness Jekyll’s transformation, as his belief in the laws of science does not enable him to comprehend what he has witnessed: for example, he states “My life is shaken to its roots"

  • Lanyon’s shock at Jekyll’s experiment is so great that it leads to his own physical and mental deterioration and subsequent death

• Stevenson presents Utterson as a highly moral and devout Christian and he is depicted as a model Victorian gentleman:

  • He is described as being “austere with himself” and that he restricts his pleasures: for example, he enjoys attending the theatre though had not frequented one for twenty years, due to their somewhat poor reputation

• Jekyll could be viewed as using science to access the supernatural and could be viewed as ‘playing God’ by interfering with it

• Further, the threat of the modern world of science is evident in the depiction of Carew as he is described as “innocent” and having an “old-world kindness of disposition”:

  • Carew’s world of tradition, politeness and decorum could be seen to be under threat by Jekyll’s scientific experiments and its alignment with modernity

What is Stevenson’s intention?

• Stevenson could be viewed critiquing the dangers of science 

• Alternatively, Stevenson could also be suggesting that repressing natural urges and instincts will eventually lead to harm and injury