Religion

• Religious symbolism


  Universally understood by the readers of Jekyll and Hyde
• Gothic fiction


  • Religious references serve to contrast with and highlight the immoral events occurring
  • References to the Bible add an element of seriousness to the text which juxtaposed the fantastical concepts explored within it
• Biblical allusions


  • "really like Satan"
  • "Cain's heresy"
  • "if ever I read Satan's signature upon a face, it is on that of your new friend"
• Cain and Abel


  First two sons of Adam and Eve, Cain murders his brother Abel as he is jealous that God prefers Abel's sacrifices
• Comparison to Cain and Abel


  Symbolic of the duality found within Jekyll and Hyde
• The story implies that evil is intrinsic to human nature
• "law of life"


  Juxtaposition of human dictated justice in "law" and natural connotations of "life" implying that he sees society to be at odds with God
• By considering life this deeply, a contemporary reader may argue that Jekyll has earned his punishment by meddling with God's business
• Religious allusions


  • Work to solidify the theme of religion vs science within the text
  • Ensure that the reader is always aware of this juxtaposition within their own society