Jekyll and Hyde

In many ways, Stevenson’s novel explores the darker side of human nature. Explore Stevenson’s portrayal of the nature of ‘good’ and ‘evil’ and the dual nature of man’s personality in the novel.

Stevenson’s novel, Jekyll and Hyde, was published in 1886. This was a time of change in England. The country was split into two, the lower class and upper class; this novel reflects the duality of England in this period of time. In the Victorian period, normal Victorian people would go about their everyday lives, but at night, the hidden secrets would emerge, including prostitution, crime, gambling, alcoholism and drugs. These times had lots of poverty; women had no rights and child labour existed. Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution was introduced, which shocked many as it challenged the Christian views with science, which explained that humans had evolved from apes, rather than being created by God. Society was terrified. The novel Jekyll and Hyde reflects the good and evil of the time, and the duality of man as the character Dr Jekyll has two parts, one as the respectable doctor, Dr Jekyll, and one as the feared criminal, Mr Hyde. In this essay, I will explore the dark side of human nature, the portrayal of good and evil through characters and events. Furthermore, we can explain that nature takes on qualities of both good and evil and Stevenson’s physical descriptions of characters and how he links them to other areas in the novel.

During the Victorian period, alcoholism was very common. Alcohol is used as an escapism away from everyday life, to relax oneself and for enjoyment. Many of the characters use alcohol for these reasons; the first we are introduced to is a lawyer, Mr Utterson. He uses drink as an escape, ‘He was austere with himself; drank gin when he was alone, to mortify a taste for vintages…’ From this, we understand that he drinks gin, which is known as a depressant, this may also lead us to understand that Mr Utterson feels he needs a stronger drink than most to escape his life for some time. We know this is a darker side of a person’s lifestyle. As this is introduced so early on in the novel, it leaves the reader in suspense, and asking questions. We want to know what Mr Utterson is escaping from, and why.

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The subject of the door is also introduced very early on to the reader, and its mentioned more throughout Stevenson’s novel. ‘The door which was equipped with neither bell nor knocker…’ this explains that the owner of the house did not want any visitors; no one could get the tenants attention from the outside. The door may also been seen as a barrier between society outside, and the secrets which may lie within. ‘was blistered and distained…’ this may symbolise Hyde, as the door is obviously neglected and its appearance is battered and ugly like Mr Hyde’s. It also shows that the owner of the house did not care about the state of the house. Stevenson also describes the building that ‘showed no window…’ this means that no one can see in, or out of the building, concealing whatever is inside from the outside world. Holding secrets can be associated with the dark and evil side of life. This shows that who ever owns the house has something to hide from everyone else, and has no intention of revealing it.

It is interesting to point out that the word ‘Hyde’ has three different meanings, there is ‘hide’ as in to conceal away, another is ‘Hyde’ as in the character, Mr Hyde. Lastly there is ‘hide’ as in an animals skin, this is particularly interesting as there is another quotation which says ‘Mr Hyde shrank back with a hissing

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intake of the breath…’ compares Mr Hyde to a snake, which is an animal traditionally associated with evil. Throughout the novel, Mr Hyde is given animalistic characteristics, including the incident when Mr Hyde tramples on a young girl with ‘ape-like fury…’ we know that this act would have been very aggressive as apes can be very destructive when they are agitated. It also links back to Charles Darwin’s theory that man evolved from apes. Mr Hyde is portrayed as a very violent character, along with the murder of Carew; Mr Hyde murdered him with a stick. The stick leads on to expose the duality of man even more. The stick ‘was of some rare and very tough and heavy wood had broken in the middle…’ The rare wood could describe Dr Jekyll, as he was upper class and only upper class people would be able to afford such wood as it was expensive, whereas the tough wood would describe Mr Hyde’s character as he was a tough man, as he was mean and violent. It represents the duality of man because the stick splits into two halves, where the wood was once combined as one. ‘…One splintered half had rolled into a neighbouring gutter, the other, without doubt had been carried away…’ this makes us understand that Mr Hyde is the half which rolled into the gutter as he is a lower person than Dr Jekyll, and people who are low are sometimes described as being ‘in the gutter’, whereas the other half is Dr Jekyll. The event mirrors the concept of the dual nature of man.

Nature plays a role in the novel too. Stevenson uses nature to emphasise what is taking place. ‘It was by this time about nine in the morning and the first fog of the season. A great chocolate pall lowered over heaven…’ This description gives strong imagery to the reader; we can imagine a dark and murky landscape. It can also link back to the idea of the door from the beginning of the novel; the fog can also be seen as a type of barrier or shield to hide the mysteries of the unknown. A ‘pall’ is a type of cover, which is used to cover coffins; this suggests more death and evil may follow in the future, maybe with some of the main characters in the novel. Stevenson goes on to describe the town of Soho, ‘a dingy street, a gin palace, a low French eating house, a shop for the retail of penny numbers and two-penny salads…’ these are all examples of the lower class side of the town, the side where the dark secrets are held, the evil events. ‘A gin palace…’ a place for alcoholics to spend their time, and to drown their sorrows, ‘to have a morning glass…’ suggests that society started to drink early on in the day, and then carry on into the evening. Stevenson gives an impression that Soho is a town full of the evil sides of the Victorian lifestyle. This impression was true at in the Victorian period, as there was prostitution, alcoholism, drug use and high crime rates in the area.

In the last night, Dr Jekyll knows for sure he is losing control over Mr Hyde. Before, he believed he was the stronger of the two characters, but the evil started to dominate the good, ‘…an expression of such abject terror and despair, as froze the very blood of the two gentleman below…’ this description is very vivid, the word ‘terror’ alerts the reader as we know that Dr Jekyll’s expression must be horrifying. This is the point in the novel when Stevenson shows that Dr Jekyll no longer has control over Mr Hyde, Jekyll is afraid that Hyde can take control whenever he pleases. At this point in the story, Dr Jekyll is having a conversation with friends, when Hyde tries to take control;

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he suddenly slams the window and runs away to conceal his secret once again. From here, we ask if evil will dominate over good once and for all.

At the end of Stevenson’s novel, the secret is finally exposed. Mr Utterson and Poole decide to break down the door to the cabinet, where Dr Jekyll has secluded himself for many days, Stevenson uses a dramatic description to demonstrate this to his reader, ‘…the panels crashed and the frame bounded; four times the blow fell; but the wood was tough and the fittings were of excellent workmanship; and it was not until the fifth, that the lock burst and the wreck of the door fell inwards on the carpet…’The destroying of a door of such fine workmanship may symbolise Dr Jekyll being broken down and dominated by Hyde. The door is broken down, breaking the barrier between the secret and the outside world, it had protected Jekyll, but now his secret was out for all to see. Dr Jekyll realises to kill Mr Hyde, he must kill himself, in his letter he writes ‘…as I lay down my pen, and proceed to seal up my confession, I bring my life of that unhappy Henry Jekyll to an end…’ he feels that suicide is the only way out, this shows that evil overcame good. This makes the reader feel sorry for Jekyll, as he seems so despairing in his last words.

The duality of man is a prime subject throughout the novel, and how to describe this. It is played throughout through the dual character of Mr Hyde and Dr Jekyll, on one hand, Dr Jekyll can be a loving man, and on the other hand, he is evil. This is best summed up in Jekyll’s last words ‘…I learned to recognise the thorough and primitive duality of man…’ This explains that Dr Jekyll was fully aware what was happening, but he enjoyed it ‘…I had learned to dwell with pleasure, as a beloved daydream, on the thought of the separation of these elements…’ Dr Jekyll enjoyed the dark side of the Victorian lifestyle, and this was the only way he could go about his business without tarnishing his good reputation. His last letter exposes the truth behind the strange happenings, and pieces the novel together, letting the reader fully understand the twists and turns.

Stevenson’s novel, Jekyll and Hyde is written to reflect society at that period, and to explain his way of life fighting his medical condition through a range of drugs. It shows that the Victorian lifestyle was clearly split into two. The characters, Jekyll and Hyde show this duality of man, and the symbols such as the door. Dr Jekyll shows the good side, a warm, good hearted man who is a respected doctor in a high class, whereas Mr Hyde shows the dark evil side of man, he is evil, low class, unsafe and impure. Stevenson showed the difference between the two by using night and day, night being evil, and day being good. Nature played a dramatic role in symbolising this, and was shown in many different ways. Stevenson explores the dark side of human nature, in such a method that the story can sometimes shock the reader. The novel raises many questions, for example, is man really dual? Can the human race really have two sides, each being so drastically different? Stevenson brought the dark secrets of the time together into a book, with a powerful meaning.