Grade 8/9

• Karl Marx

  Philosopher and economist who developed the theory of class struggle between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat
• Bourgeoisie


  The wealthy and socially privileged class, to which Dr. Jekyll belongs
• Proletariat


  The working class, including the servants and poor people surrounding Hyde's entrance
• Divide in class


  • Jekyll and his friends (bourgeoisie)
  • Servants and poor (proletariat)
• Servants' reaction to Utterson's arrival

  • Huddled together and trembling in terror
• Lower class

  Incapable of taking action without the help of people with higher social standing
• Utterson states that Jekyll would be disappointed in the state of his help


  The lower class is not supposed to let their emotions interfere with their work
• Bourgeoisie hide their problems


  To maintain rule over the proletariat (reputation!)
• Hyde's clothes and manner

  Suggested to be more working-class
• Hyde's violent rebellion against his oppression/confinement

  Symbolises how the oppression of the proletariat leads to conflict
• Carl Jung

  Hyde is the villain who gives into his dark side/ urges and is devoid of sympathy. 

  ...Jekyll is ‘the creator’ as he seeks to experiment and to realise a vision through creativity.

  ...Jekyll gives into his dark side and embraces it to become Hyde

  …Hyde is Jekyll’s ‘shadow’ that is controlling him.  

  …Utterson is ‘the sage’ as he seeks truth and understanding.
• Simone De Beauvoir

  the Victorian society that Dr. Jekyll inhabits is inherently sexist, and the lack of women reflects this: the only female character is Jekyll’s maid. In Victorian society, women of the lower classes complete back breaking work, and even the children are sent out to work; women of the higher classes are not allowed to work, and all skilled jobs are fulfilled by men.

  … women of the lower classes are seen as two-dimensional victims (the girl ‘trampled’ by Hyde) or as those of a ‘romantic’ sentiment who then are reduced to tears by the sight of Carew’s murder (the maid)
• Sigmund Freud

  Dr. Jekyll's id and superego split the novel: Hyde is ruled by his id and his desire to satisfy his darkest desires. Dr Jekyll is outwardly ruled by his superego as he is well respected and a pillar of the community. The repression of his id leads to Dr. Jekyll’s demise.  
• Aristotle

  Dr Jekyll could be considered the tragic hero, he acts as a source of pathos for the reader, as his suffering increases throughout the novel. 

  ...the negative resolution of the novel means that there is catharsis for the audience, the mystery is solved and Hyde finally overtakes Jekyll. Evil defeats good. 
• Darwin's theory of evolution


  Scared Victorian society
• Hyde's animalistic features


  Link to Darwin's theory of evolution
• Hyde


  • Reckless
  • Challenged society's values at the time
  • Risks everything but for his own satisfaction rather than for the good of society
• Utterson


  • Shows signs of being a superhuman by trying to solve the mystery of Jekyll and Hyde
• Jekyll


  • Attempts to become an ubermensch by risking all to change the way humans are constructed
  • Unsuccessful
  • Uses repeated references to religion (especially 'hell' and 'the devil') as an excuse for his own failure
• Jacques Derrida

  French philosopher
• Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

  • They act as a binary pair
  • They emphasise and amplify the different attitude embodied by each character
• Dr. Jekyll conceals Mr. Hyde


  This juxtaposition of the good Jekyll and the baleful appearance of Mr. Hyde emphasises the secret nature of society at that time and the duality of man
• The binary opposition of Jekyll/Hyde and Utterson


  Is used by Stevenson to generate conflict
• Though Utterson would seem to emerge victorious through surviving and finding out the truth

  The fact that Hyde commits suicide could suggest that he 'has the last word' and has a higher place in the hierarchy
• John Locke: 'When Dr. Jekyll gives his full account, he alludes to the seeds of his evil being sown at a young age; therefore, not being innate. He became annoyed by people perceiving him as 'light hearted'. Jekyll decides to 'conceal' all of his 'pleasures'. There are numerous references to his past actions and the consequences of these throughout the novel.'
• Jekyll speaks of evil being a small part of man (hence Hyde's size) and that there are many qualities that make man whole. It is the repression of Jekyll's desire that leads to Hyde. Jekyll was thus not born sinful but shaped by his experiences.
• Hyde is a product of Jekyll's upbringing and the oppressive society around him- Jekyll was not born with these evil aspects