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How does the Victorian context shape the theme of science?
Rapid scientific development after the Industrial Revolution caused social unease, which Stevenson manipulates throughout the text. (Context)
How did Darwin’s work influence Victorian fears?
Darwin sparked anxieties about ‘devolution’, reflected in Hyde’s animalistic nature. (Context)
How does Stevenson subvert Victorian stereotypes of professions?
Scientists were seen as trustworthy and lawyers deceitful, but Stevenson reverses this to heighten tension. (Throughout)
How does Jekyll’s scientific work unsettle others?
His metaphysical research makes the scientific community uncomfortable, transferring anxiety to the reader. (Chapter 2)
What does the phrase ‘war of attitudes’ reveal?
Violent lexis shows conflict within the scientific community over Jekyll’s unconventional work. (Chapter 2)
What does Lanyon mean by ‘unscientific balderdash’?
He rejects Jekyll’s experiments as irrational, highlighting the divide between material science and metaphysics. (Chapter 2)
How does the conflict between Lanyon and Jekyll reflect society?
Their disagreement mirrors Victorian tensions between religion and science. (Throughout)
How does Stevenson blur the line between science and the supernatural?
Jekyll’s experiments use scientific language like ‘added one of the powders’ but resemble spells or witchcraft. (Chapter 9)
What is the effect of the phrase ‘began, in proportion as the crystals melted, to brighten in colour’?
The illogical syntax creates unease and reflects Jekyll’s irrationality beneath scientific rationality. (Chapter 9)
How does the narration contribute to scientific uncertainty?
Three narrative voices force the reader to piece together events, creating ambiguity. (Throughout)
How does Utterson’s narration affect the theme of science?
Chapters 1–8 use third person, presenting Utterson as rational and reliable, grounding the mystery in logic. (Chapters 1–8)
How does Lanyon’s letter affect the reader’s perception of science?
As the first first‑person chapter, it signals unreliability and foreshadows irrational events. (Chapter 9)
What is the effect of Jekyll’s final confession?
It provides a subjective, emotional account that complicates the scientific explanation of events. (Chapter 10)
How does the shifting narration create uncertainty?
Different viewpoints force the reader to decide what to believe, mirroring scientific doubt. (Throughout)
