Themes
Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde

Science vs Religion

Darwinism

Femininity

Repression

Duality

Good vs Evil

Links to Duality and Science vs Religion

" 'Man is not truly one but two.' " - Jekyll

  • Common theme throughout the novella

Links to Good vs Evil

Dr Jekyll:
~ Well respected doctor
~ Well dressed
~ Rich
~ Intelligent
~ Has good morals

Mr Hyde:
~ Ugly
~ Animalistic
~ Evil
~ Violent
~ Criminal

Links to Science vs Religion and Duality

  • Stevenson was 9 when the Origin of Species book by Charles Darwin was released

"ape-like fury"

  • Theme helps shw we all still have an animalistic and primal instinct inside of us
  • Female characters in the book are passive and weak
  • Reflects the beliefs of what people thought of woman in the era it was written (Victorian Era)
  • Femininity is showed in the book when the young girl is trampled on
  • Femininity is also shown when the maid faints when watching the murder of Sir Danvers Carew
  • Hyde has no morals whereas Jekyll does as he helps people as a Doctor
  • Indisputably a cause of the troubles in the play
  • In Victorian England, sexual desires, violence and great amounts of emotion were frowned upon
  • People in this ear often had many secrets or went out alone at night to fulfill their desires whether they be sexual, criminal
  • One of the biggest themes in Jekyll and Hyde
  • Jekyll has left behind rational scientific thinking
  • Science in the Victorian Era was frowned upon because it clashed with religious beliefs

" 'troglodyte' " - Utterson

  • Mr Utterson is a strong follower of religion

Jekyll being very scientific contrasts Dr Lanyon who is very religious

  • Hyde represents scientific experimentation or what people thought scientific experimentation would cause

Links to Darwinism

  • Represents how people in the Victorian Era thought Science was Evil and Religion was Good
  • People in the Victorian Era didn't like Darwin's theory as it implied religion was fake and incorrect

"with a hissing intake of breath"

  • "with a hissing intake breath" symbolises Hyde is a snake which could represent he is the devil