Science and religion

• Stevenson's use of fear of the unknown

  • Creates anxiety and terror in the novella
• Victorian concerns about the progress of science

  Makes Jekyll's experiment even more terrifying
• Jekyll


  Highly intelligent scientist with an inquiring mind
• Jekyll's 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
• Lanyon


  Respectable and conventional scientist who stands in contrast to Jekyll
• Lanyon's view of Jekyll's experiments

  Dangerous and described as "scientific balderdash"
• Lanyon is one of Jekyll's "oldest friends" and "colleague and old-school companion"
• Lanyon's opposition to Jekyll's experiments

  Leads to the cessation of their friendship
• Lanyon


  • Conservative and traditional in his approach to science
• Lanyon witnessing Jekyll's transformation

  His belief in the laws of science does not enable him to comprehend what he has witnessed
• Lanyon's shock at Jekyll's experiment

  Leads to his own physical and mental deterioration and subsequent death
• Utterson


  Highly moral and devout Christian, depicted as a model Victorian gentleman
• Utterson's restrictions on pleasures


  For example, he enjoys attending the theatre though had not frequented one for twenty years, due to their somewhat poor reputation
• Jekyll's use of science

  Could be viewed as accessing the supernatural and 'playing God' by interfering with it
• Carew


  • 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
• Stevenson could be viewed critiquing the dangers of science
• Stevenson could also be suggesting that repressing natural urges and instincts will eventually lead to harm and injury