Explore and analyse the significance of the setting in “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” by Robert Louis Stevenson

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Explore and analyse the significance of the setting in “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” by Robert Louis Stevenson

        The novel I am analysing is “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” and it was written by Robert Louis Stevenson in 1886.  Stevenson was born in 1850 in Edinburgh.  In my opinion, this influenced him to write this novel because, like Jekyll and Hyde, he led a dual life in the respectable New Town by day and the depraved Old Town by night.  It was written in the Victorian Era.  Around this time, electricity had been invented and the scientist, Galvarni, had managed to bring dead cells back to life.  This scientific boom led people to believe anything was possible.  Furthermore, Charles Darwin was around this time, and was bringing new theories about evolution into science.  This caused controversy and in my opinion influenced Stevenson to write a gothic novel that conflicts with the opinions at the time.

        Stevenson uses setting to add authenticity to the novel.  He uses a lawyer and two doctors as credible witnesses to make the book more believable.  Dr. Lanyon uses a complex vocabulary, such as “justify the formality of registration” to show that he is an educated man, and is trusted to tell the truth.  Moreover, Stevenson uses official documents to show authenticity, such as the letter in Chapter 6 and the newspaper in Chapter 4.  These are effective because these styles of writing are not associated with fiction, which makes it authentic.  All this gives the novel a believable setting from the onset.

        The geographical setting of this novel is Soho, London.  At this time, London was split into an Old and New Town.  Interestingly, this represents the dual personality of the eponymous characters Jekyll and Hyde.  The New Town symbolises the respectable, good side, while the Old Town symbolises the evil side.  In particular, this links with Stevenson’s experiences in Edinburgh, and in my opinion the novel is based on Stevenson’s double life when he was younger.

        The allegorical setting indicates the divided classes of the nineteenth century.  It also reflects the dual nature of the main protagonist and this is particularly apparent in Chapter 7 – The Incident at the Window.  The window represents the light outside of the character, which I feel is trying to hide the dark inside and is trying to escape.  The window being half-open is also significant to the setting.  It indicates that Jekyll is half a man and is ready to welcome Hyde.  The weather and time are also important in this chapter.  “The court was very cool and a little damp” suggests that something is about to happen and that it is not wet or dry, it is in between.  “Premature twilight” similarly portrays the image of being in between phases and change.  In my opinion, the twilight represents devolution of the character and that he has no control over the changes, and it will come anyway.  This is in contrast to the contemporary theory of evolution by Darwin.

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        The psychological setting of the novel adds mystery to the story and echoes the unsettled mood of the characters.  Both of these can be linked to Stevenson’s childhood, where his nanny told him folk-tales about people who sinned and consequently gave him nightmares.  This is linked with the gothic genre.  Horror was very popular in the Victorian Era and it gave people the chance to express their repressed feelings.

        Pathetic fallacy is also very important to the setting of the novel.  Stevenson uses the weather and seasons to evoke atmosphere and mood to reflect the plot.  For example, in Chapter ...

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