The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Question 1

Examples of the theme science, reason and supernatural

Answer 1

1. Dr. Jekyll’s scientific experimentation.
   Dr. Jekyll uses science to separate his good and evil sides, creating Mr. Hyde through a mysterious chemical formula. This act of scientific overreach pushes the boundaries of natural law, mixing rational science with supernatural transformation. It reflects Victorian anxieties about new scientific discoveries—especially around psychology, evolution, and the limits of human control. Jekyll initially believes he can control the supernatural through scientific reason, but ultimately fails.
2. Lanyon’s reaction to Hyde’s transformation.
   Dr. Lanyon, a traditional, rational scientist, witnesses Hyde transform into Jekyll and is so shocked that it leads to his death. His reaction shows the clash between reason and the supernatural, and how some truths are too horrifying for the rational mind to endure.
3. Hyde is not just another personality; he is physically and morally separate, described as inhuman, evil, and animalistic. His very presence causes unease, which suggests that he is unnatural or even demonic: “There is something wrong with his appearance; something displeasing, something downright detestable.”

Question 2

Jekyll initially believes he can control the supernatural through scientific reason, but ultimately fails. Which quote belongs to this moment?

Answer 2

“The moment I choose, I can be rid of Mr. Hyde. I give you my hand upon that; and I swear to you that I will never set eyes on him again.”

Question 3

Examples of the theme the duality of human nature

Answer 3

1. Jekyll’s inner conflict.
   Dr. Jekyll believes that humans are not one person, but two: one moral and respectable, the other impulsive and sinful. He creates a potion to separate these two selves, thinking he can indulge in wickedness without guilt by becoming Mr. Hyde. “Man is not truly one, but truly two.”
2. Mr. Hyde as Jekyll’s dark self.
   Mr. Hyde is not just a disguise; he is a physical and moral manifestation of Jekyll’s darker instincts. When Jekyll becomes Hyde, he feels liberated, free from social judgment and conscience. Jekyll initially enjoys being Hyde, showing how tempting the dark side can be when separated from moral responsibility.
3. The loss of control.
   At first, Jekyll can control his transformations, but eventually Hyde begins to appear without the potion, especially during moments of stress or temptation. This shows that evil, once embraced, can overpower the good, and that human nature is not so easily divided or contained. “I was slowly losing hold of my original and better self.”

4 Jekyll vs. Hyde as symbolic duality.
The two personas reflect the social and moral duality of Victorian society:
* Jekyll is the respectable, well-mannered gentleman.
* Hyde is the secret, animalistic self that society forces people to repress.
Stevenson is criticizing how society encourages outward appearances of virtue while ignoring or hiding private vice. “I concealed my pleasures; and when I reached years of reflection… I stood already committed to a profound duplicity of life.” Jekyll admits that his public respectability hid private desires, echoing the hypocrisy of the time.

Question 4

The theme innocence and violence

Answer 4

1. Hyde’s unprovoked acts of violence.
   One of the first shocking moments in the story is Hyde trampling a young girl in the street, seemingly without motive.
   “The man trampled calmly over the child’s body and left her screaming on the ground.” The innocence of the child makes the violence more jarring and unnatural. Hyde’s lack of remorse reveals his complete moral corruption.
2. The murder of Sir Danvers.
   Sir Danvers is described as an elderly, kind, and gentle man; the very picture of innocence and respectability. Hyde kills him brutally with a cane, highlighting how pure innocence can be destroyed by random, senseless violence. The savagery of the act, especially committed against someone so inoffensive, emphasises Hyde’s animalistic evil and contrasts with Jekyll’s supposed refinement.
3. The internal violence of Jekyll’s conflict.
   Jekyll’s inner struggle to suppress Hyde can also be seen as a form of psychological violence; he is at war with himself, and this self-inflicted torment takes a toll on his mind and body. The violent consequences of his experiment aren’t just external (the murders) but internal and spiritual, leading to his ultimate self-destruction. Jekyll experiences moral anguish over his dual nature, and the violence of Hyde is a reflection of this internal collapse.

Question 5

The theme reputation, secrecy and repression

Answer 5

1. Reputation: the public vs. private self.
   Dr. Jekyll is a respected gentleman, known for his charity and manners. He values how others see him and works hard to protect his social image.
   However, he feels trapped by the expectations of his reputation and creates Hyde as a way to indulge in darker desires without damaging his public self. Jekyll hides his immoral impulses to preserve the image of a respectable man, revealing the hypocrisy in society’s obsession with appearance.
2. Secrecy.
   Much of the novel is built on mystery and secrecy. Jekyll keeps his experiments hidden. Utterson investigates silently. Lanyon refuses to reveal what he saw until after death.
   Jekyll’s decision to lock away Hyde—both literally and figuratively—creates suspense but also shows how secrecy is used to avoid facing shame or moral failure.
3. Repression: suppressing desires.
   Jekyll’s transformation is rooted in the repression of his darker instincts. He believes that creating Hyde will let him explore his immoral desires without guilt or consequence. Victorian society demanded strict moral behaviour, so Jekyll represses his urges, only for them to re-emerge violently through Hyde.

Question 6

Allusion

Answer 6

The allusion to “Cain’s heresy” in the first chapter can be tied most strongly to the theme of reputation, secrecy, and repression.

Utterson’s quote—“I incline to Cain’s heresy… I let my brother go to the Devil in his own way”—suggests a deliberate refusal to judge or interfere in others’ moral failings, even while maintaining a strict personal code of behavior.

This highlights the Victorian tendency to repress uncomfortable truths to preserve outward appearances and avoid scandal.

Question 7

What is a common Victorian tendency?

Answer 7

To suppress uncomfortable truths.

Question 8

Mood

Answer 8

The story has an ominous and intense mood, created in part by its depiction of emotion.

Question 9

How is the story Gothic?

Answer 9

In keeping with the Gothic tradition, emotions are explicit and theatrical. Take, for example, when Lanyon sees Jekyll transform:

“O God!” I screamed, and “O God!” again and again, for there before me […] stood Henry Jekyll.

Question 10

Gothic metaphor

Answer 10

In the second chapter, Utterson returns home after hearing about Hyde’s crimes in London, and he begins to put the pieces together regarding his character:

Out of the shifting, insubstantial mists that had so long baffled his eye, there leaped up the sudden, definite presentment of a fiend.