This novel was written in 1886, at a time of change in the world of fiction as a new form of gothic literature emerged that had elements that differed from previous gothic stories. Stevenson's story is based around various ideas of gothic literature and is mainly focused on exposing the "duality of man" and his struggle to hide it from the outside world. The symbolism of Jekyll and Hyde is truly extended to all with differing parts in all of our bodies.
It was not a new idea as it had been seen in the classic example of a good and bad guardian, a devil on one shoulder and an angel on another, and also in gothic literature before it, such as Frankenstein with the duelling personalities of Frankenstein and the monster, creator and creation which is easily comparable with the roles of Jekyll and Hyde, ". Society saw science as good and a way out of our animal roots, but in Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and Frankenstein, science brings about death and violence. Hyde is described to be like an ape trampling over the victim. Charles Darwin wrote Origins of the Species in 1859, he proposed that man had descended from apes. Hyde represents this uncomfortable idea.
Stevenson had his influences apart from classic novels, his past had a tremendous affect on this novel as the language, used by Jekyll in particular is similar to Stevenson with possible links between the two, gives the reader an insight into his mind. Stevenson was strictly brought up believing that good people went to heaven and sinners went to burn in hell, and the idea of two different sets of people with a divide between them stuck in his mind throughout his life. We can see how the idea intrigued him in this story with Jekyll representing the more innocent, pure side and Hyde becoming the evil, "bestial" side of man.
This novel was also quite relevant at the time of its publishing which happened at the same time as the murders of the infamous Jack the Ripper. This killer obsessed the city of London and the effect of this novel on the people was seen when people gave the police hints that it could have been Mr Hyde. The description given matched the profile of someone suspicious, "the hand that lay on my knee was corded and hairy", and "the brute that slept within me". In the story the vivid description from the onlooker as Hyde brutally murdered Sir Danvers Carew would have struck even more fear into someone reading the book at this time in Victorian society.
Mr. Hyde is described as "the haunting sense of unexpressed deformity with which the fugitive impressed his beholders". As much as he could, Jekyll tried to keep Hyde a secret but when Hyde came out it was mainly at night showing evil as we associate dark with evil. The evil inside Hyde was uncontrollable. Mr Hyde is heartless; he tramples over a young girl without a care, "for the man trampled calmly over the child's body and left her screaming on the ground." This shows that Hyde didn't care that he hurt a child. Also, the phrase "trampled calmly" is a contradiction in terms for a particular effect. The words “trampled” and “calmly” clash with one another. You cannot trample ‘calmly’ because the word ‘trample’ is a very aggressive word, and the word 'calmly' is a very relaxed one. Therefore the words do not match up. The effect the words might have on the reader could be horrifying and confusing. It would be seen as horrifying because when the reader takes their first glimpse of the action it sounds aggressive, especially if it is being done to a child.
The place where Mr Hyde lived is hauntingly silent, "The dismissal quarter of Soho seen under these changing glimpses, with its muddy ways, and slatternly passengers, and its lamps, which had never been extinguished or had been kindled afresh to combat this mournful reinvasion of darkness, seemed, in the lawyer's eyes, like a district of some city in a nightmare”
By giving Hyde this terrifying setting, Stevenson encourages the reader to fear the man. All of the dark and dingy or depressing words add to the theme of good and evil, this makes the reader feel what Utterson is experiencing. When Dr Jekyll turns into Mr Hyde, Hyde takes over Dr Jekyll's mind so that Hyde is in control. This is when the bad and evil things take place. Dr Jekyll is stuck inside Hyde without any control at all. When Dr Jekyll becomes himself again he feels sorry for himself and for the things Hyde has done. He apologises for Hyde's temper to Mr Utterson. Also, Hyde is associated with the murder of Sir Danvers Carew, who is a client of Mr Utterson. Mr Utterson goes to see Dr Jekyll about the situation. Dr Jekyll looks ill and apologises for Hyde: "Utterson I swear to god, I swear to god I will never set eyes on him again. I bind my honour to you that I am done with him in this world. It is all at an end."
Stevenson also shows a keen interest in human nature and the novel portrays a hidden message that in all humans there is good and evil. This is reflected in his background but he was very interested in Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. It is thought that humans originated from apes and there were probably small giraffes but they died of starvation, as they couldn't reach the tall trees. This is present throughout the novel and Stevenson makes several animal references.
"Mr. Hyde shrank back with a hissing intake of breath"
This reflects that Hyde was evil as in Stevenson's day the snake was considered the lowest of all animals. Also as our lives are linked to animals this creates another duality in human nature.
When describing the symbol of ‘the door’, Stevenson is showing the other side of man with ‘the door’ and Jekyll’s door. This would be that, on the face of it, Jekyll is Jekyll (ie. With a nice front door), but underneath it, Jekyll is also Hyde (ie. With the evil-looking, rough door). Therefore, Jekyll would be said to have the duality in man (ie. Two beings). The first being is the social, moral, and respected Dr. Henry Jekyll, and the second being is the anti-social, amoral, and brutal Mr. Edward Hyde.
The symbol ‘fog’ could be representing the ‘eerie’ part of Victorian London by which Mr. Danvers Carew was brutally murdered. On the other hand, it could also represent the ghost of Mr. Carew that has come back to haunt his murderer – Hyde. However, this could be very complicated as Mr. Carew’s ghost would also be haunting Jekyll as Hyde is Jekyll.
In the novel, Jekyll's scientific research is considered morally wrong by one of his old and best friends Dr. Lanyon. Stevenson could be describing Jekyll, as himself about finding out that there is evil inside everyone. Jekyll is very talented in his work and he creates the ultimate beast. Even though Mr. Hyde can reek havoc with the public and commit murder, Stevenson tells how evil can be locked away. Jekyll acts as a lock as it him, which keeps Hyde away but it is shown as windows being shut. Also to keep secrecy Hyde uses ‘the door’ to exit Jekyll's house so the public does not see him. This tells us that people know that they are evil and try to avoid it but it always prevails.
It is known that Stevenson had troubles with his father and he joined an organisation, which disregarded everything their parents taught them. The relationship between Jekyll and Hyde is similar to Stevenson and his father, and Jekyll's relationship with the outside world is also like Stevenson's. In some ways he is portraying himself as the lead character and perhaps the character of Hyde is in fact a personification of his illness that kept him bedridden for a long time. The main force behind this book is the duality of men but this battle raging inside him may also have influenced his story and given Hyde a more disgusting, exaggerated image, "lean, corded, knuckly, of a dusky pllor and thickly shaded with a swart growth of hair. It was the hand of Edward Hyde."
In conclusion, I believe that Hyde was a product of the repressive, Victorian society. This is because Jekyll was also a product of this repressive Victorian society as this made Jekyll feel guilty about not wanting to let his friends and other people know that he did not have a lighter, and more free side to him. As this guilt probably grew by each day, the feeling of wanting to be free also grew. This was the product of Victorian society. Stevenson's story appears to be a subtle attack on the middle classes. He grew up in these and knows all about the concealment and deceit of the “profound duplicity” among society. Jekyll believes himself to be in high society, "endowed besides with excellent parts,…, with every guarantee of an honourable and distinguished future". Apart from more similarities with Frankenstein, we can also see how Jekyll sees himself, and it is interesting that the doctor who already has a vast fortune chooses to gamble with his life, whereas the normal, less well endowed people, such as Poole, do everything to try and save him. Although, I do not believe that Stevenson is saying that the wealthy and rich are mad but that knowledge, money and dreams of fame and recognition can corrupt a good man, such as Jekyll.
