In the novella social and historical context plays an important part in defining how the story is related to the time it was set in. As the story is set in the 19th century, people did things much differently and had different opinions than we do now; for instance people would have had ideas about good and evil, even as far as you could humanly control it. As it was some where in the 19th century it would have been the Victorian period, the Victorians were particularly interested in psychology and science. Jekyll’s discoveries were closely linked to the Victorian’s fascination with science, “even before the course of my scientific discoveries had begun to suggest the most naked possibility of such a miracle”. As the Victorians took their lives very seriously, Jekyll had to do so to, “in the course of my life, which had after all, nine-tenths a life of effort, virtue and control”. This meant that Jekyll had to repress his darker more fun loving side to remain in the standing that he did.
Throughout the novella there is a constant power struggle between Jekyll and Hyde, which Hyde eventually wins but Jekyll finishes by taking his and his counterpart’s life. In the beginning Jekyll is in full control, all he has to do is drink the potion and “Edward Hyde would pass away like a stain of breath upon a mirror”. Also another important discovery to know was that in the beginning there was only pain turning into Hyde but as committed more atrocities, Jekyll became more consumed by evil, finding it hard to become himself again. Jekyll soon comes upon the theory that Hyde is smaller in person because Jekyll’s evil side has been “less exercised”, but as Hyde commits more wrongs his stature becomes stronger. Two weeks before the murder of Sir Danvers, Jekyll is in bed in Soho when he falls back to sleep and wakes up as Hyde, showing the first signs he is losing control. Soon afterwards Jekyll has to double then treble the potion’s amount to become the “honest man” Jekyll again. Eventually Jekyll has to take both their lives in order to stop Hyde committing anymore evil and gaining ultimate control.
Throughout the book Stevenson uses excessive detail in the imagery, used to describe even ordinary things. One particularly well described is the door described in the “Story of the Door”, it “was blistered and distained”. The door is the mysterious side of Jekyll’s house, his hidden evil side, “prolonged and sordid negligence”. Another important imagery is of Hyde as having feral emotions and actions; this side of Hyde soon “comes roaring out”. The importance of this is that Hyde is so evil that he has more “bestial avidity” than human.
In conclusion, the book often compares things to having a good or evil side, even in the imagery of simple objects. There are strong connections to each person containing a good and evil side, which I believe Stevenson fully thought. I also believe that a person has a good and evil parts, it just depends on which path you choose to follow in your life.
