Jekyll and Hyde

• “man is not truly one, but truly two” – Jekyll, Chapter 10- duality

  Meaning and context

  • In the final chapter of the novella, Jekyll considers the duality of man, which is revealed in his letter

  Analysis

  • 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
  • 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
• “My devil had long been caged; he came out roaring” – Jekyll, Chapter 10- good and evil

  Meaning and context

  • In the final chapter, Jekyll considers the duality of man, which is revealed in his letter

  Analysis

  • Stevenson associates Hyde with Christian ideas about Hell and Satan and Jekyll repeatedly refers to him as “my devil”
  • 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
• “My devil had long been caged; he came out roaring” – Jekyll, Chapter 10

  Meaning and context

  • In the final chapter, Jekyll considers the duality of man, which is revealed in his letter

  Analysis

  • Stevenson associates Hyde with Christian ideas about Hell and Satan and Jekyll repeatedly refers to him as “my devil”
  • 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
• Narrator: '"Though he enjoyed the theatre, [Mr Utterson] had not crossed the doors of one for twenty years"'- secrecy and reputation
• This quote


  Is from Chapter I of the novella and describes the character of Utterson
• Utterson


  • Highly moral and devout Christian
  • Model Victorian gentleman
• Utterson is described as

  • Austere with himself
  • Restricting his pleasures
• Utterson enjoyed attending the theatre


  But had not frequented one for twenty years
• Utterson's restriction of theatre attendance

  Due to their somewhat poor reputation
• Utterson's desire for theatre

  He has repressed it as the enjoyment of theatre may lead him to sinful thoughts
• • “something eminently human beaconed in his eye”Narrator, Chapter I

  Meaning and context

  • This quote is from Chapter I of the novella and describes the character of Utterson

  Analysis

  • Gabriel Utterson is presented as having “an approved tolerance for others” and Stevenson suggests he is a kind and genial character
  • Stevenson presents Utterson as a respectable lawyer and as a trustworthy, discreet and loyal friend to Jekyll
  • He is presented as both rational and calm and through his objective perspective, Stevenson enables the reader to judge the evidence alongside him
• Narrator: '"My Hyde was pale and dwarfish, he gave an impression of deformity"'- science and religion
• Narrator: '"And next moment, with ape-like fury, he was trampling his victim under foot"'- science and religion
• Meaning and context


  Both of these quotes describe the character of Hyde to the reader
• Analysis


  • Hyde is described throughout in terms of animalistic imagery which increases as the novella develops: "savage", "snarled", "with 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 unrestrained nature
  • It could also be an allusion to Charles Darwin's ideas about evolution: That human being are descended from apes
  • Stevenson suggests that "he gives a strong feeling of deformity" though he does not specify what this deformity is
  • This casts an uncertainty as to Hyde's character and also hints at a supernatural element as the descriptions of him are quite ambiguous
• Lanyon: '"My life is shaken to its roots"'- science and religion
• Lanyon: '"I ask myself if I believe it, and I cannot answer"'- science and religion
• Meaning and context


  This quote appears in Lanyon's letter which Utterson reads in Chapter IX and it reveals Lanyon's final encounter with Jekyll
• Analysis


  • 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 accept what he has witnessed
  • 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"
  • Lanyon's shock at Jekyll's experiment is so great that it leads to his own physical and mental deterioration and subsequent death
• “all human beings … are commingled out of good and evil” – Jekyll, Chapter 10- good and evilMeaning and context

  • In this quote, Jekyll reveals the duality of good and evil in all human beings

  Knowledge and evidence:

  • Stevenson explores the tension which exists between good and evil and presents the temptation and allurement of evil within the novella
  • 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
• • “something eminently human beaconed in his eye” Narrator, Chapter I secrecy and reputation

  Meaning and context

  • This quote is from Chapter I of the novella and describes the character of Utterson

  Analysis

  • Gabriel Utterson is presented as having “an approved tolerance for others” and Stevenson suggests he is a kind and genial character
  • Stevenson presents Utterson as a respectable lawyer and as a trustworthy, discreet and loyal friend to Jekyll
  • He is presented as both rational and calm and through his objective perspective, Stevenson enables the reader to judge the evidence alongside him
• Chapter I - Story of the Door

  • While out on a stroll in London, Mr Utterson, a lawyer, and his cousin Mr Enfield come across a peculiar door, which turns out to be the entrance to Dr Jekyll's laboratory
  • Enfield recounts a tale about the door: he witnessed a young girl being trampled by a man, whom Enfield then pursued
  • The man proposes to compensate the girl and unlocks the door and reappears with a cheque
  • Enfield assures Utterson that the man in question used a key to unlock Jekyll’s door
• Chapter II - Search for Mr Hyde

  • Concerned by Enfield’s account, Utterson removes a will from his safe which belongs to Jekyll
  • that all possessions pertaining to Jekyll should be given to Hyde, in the event of Jekyll’s disappearance
  • Utterson visits Dr Lanyon who confirms he does not know Hyde and has not seen Jekyll in ten years
  • Utterson decides to keep watch on the entrance to Jekyll’s laboratory and witnesses Hyde opening the door
  • Utterson attempts to warn Jekyll though is informed by his servants that he is absent that they have been given orders to obey Hyde
• Chapter III - Dr Jekyll Was Quite at Ease

  • Two weeks later, at a dinner gathering at Jekyll's house, Utterson questions him about his will
  • Despite Utterson’s persistence, Jekyll dismisses Utterson's concerns
  • Jekyll makes several cryptic allusions to a peculiar bond between himself and Hyde, though he is reluctant to provide any specifics
  • Jekyll insists the will must be adhered to and attempts to reassure Utterson by proclaiming: "I can get rid of Hyde whenever I choose"
• Chapter IV - The Carew Murder Case

  • One year later, Hyde viciously bludgeons an elderly man and former politician, Sir Danvers Carew, to death in the street, which is witnessed by a maid who recognises Hyde
  • Utterson recognises the murder weapon (part of a walking cane that he had given previously to Jekyll) and learns that Hyde is the murderer
  • Utterson directs the police to Hyde’s house though they are informed he has not been there for two months
  • After a search of the house, the remaining part of the murder weapon is discovered 
• Chapter V - Incident of the Letter

  • Utterson visits Jekyll and upon observing his sickly appearance, he queries Jekyll as to whether he is hiding Hyde
  • Jekyll insists he will never see Hyde again and shows Utterson a letter from Hyde confirming this
  • Utterson asks his clerk, Mr Guest, to compare the handwriting on the letter with that of Jekyll’s and uncovers a similarity between the two 
  • Utterson presumes Jekyll forged the letter in order to protect Hyde
• Chapter VI – Remarkable Incident of Dr Lanyon

  • The police are unable to locate Hyde and Jekyll returns to his former social pursuits
  • All of a sudden, Jekyll demonstrates signs of depressions and refuses to see Utterson
  • Concerned by Jekyll’s behaviour, Utterson visits Lanyon and discovers Lanyon is seriously ill
  • Utterson writes to Jekyll, Jekyll is in a troubling state 
  • Lanyon dies and leaves a letter for Utterson which is marked: "Not to be opened until the death or disappearance of Dr Henry Jekyll"
  • Utterson complies and places the letter in his safe
  • Poole, claims he is living in isolation
• Chapter VII - Incident at the Window

  • Utterson and Enfield go for a stroll one evening and pass by Jekyll’s house
  • They see Jekyll at the window and are disturbed by his appearance
  • Utterson calls out to Jekyll though Jekyll’s expression changes and he is overcome by something
  • Utterson and Enfield both depart
• Chapter VIII - The Last Night

  • Utterson receives a visit from Poole, appealing to him to go to Jekyll's home
  • Unable to enter the locked laboratory, both men believe
  • Utterson and Poole force their way into the laboratory and discover a body inside, clutching a vial
  • Jekyll’s will is discovered on the table which leaves everything to Utterson
  • A package is also discovered which contains Jekyll’s confession and a letter requesting Utterson to read the letter Lanyon left for him
  • Utterson leaves to read through the letters and assures Poole he will return before midnight
• Chapter IX - Dr Lanyon's Narrative

  • The contents of Lanyon's letter are revealed which detail how Lanyon had received instructions from Jekyll for him to collect chemicals and other items from his laboratory
  • The items were to be given to a visitor who would visit Lanyon at midnight
  • The visitor appears and offers Lanyon a choice to send him away with his chemicals or to let him stay and witness the result
  • Lanyon agrees for the man to stay. The man drinks the chemical concoction and transforms into Jekyll 
  • Horrified by what he has witnessed, Lanyon becomes seriously ill
• Chapter X – Henry Jekyll's Full Statement of the Case

  • The contents of Jekyll’s letter are revealed and he details his transformation into Hyde
  • He admits to having mixed chemicals in order to separate the two sides of his personality
  • Jekyll describes his fear when he turned into Hyde without his concoction and after the murder of Carew, he battled to keep his identity as Jekyll
  • Sealing his confession, Jekyll takes one last concoction and awaits his transformation into Hyde
• Duality


  The coexistence of two opposing or contradictory elements
• Duality in Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde


  • One of the most prevalent themes
  • Becomes fully evident to the reader in the final chapter
  • Stevenson presents clues and references to this duality throughout the narrative
• Jekyll's character

  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

  Reinforces the reader's perception that he is a separate entity rather than merely the alter-ego of Jekyll
• Jekyll: 'Without Hyde, Jekyll lives a life of "profound duplicity"'
• Jekyll's character

  • Presented as a respectable gentleman
  • Hints at his cunning, secretive and deceitful nature
• Jekyll is not simply portrayed as a purely good character, which reinforces Stevenson's idea that human nature itself is both complex and multifaceted
• Jekyll's double life

  • He wishes to be a respected doctor adhering to the highest moral standards
  • He also yearns to engage in malevolent acts
• London setting


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