Christianity and Science

Stevenson's novella offers a critique on both Christianity and contemporary scientific beliefs, reflecting the author's skepticism towards organized religion and pseudoscientific theories of the time.

The description of Hyde's evil nature is presented in exaggerated, biblical language:

Quote: "This was the shocking thing; that the slime of the pit seemed to utter cries and voices; that the amorphous dust gesticulated and sinned; that what was dead, and had no shape, should usurp the offices of life"

Vocabulary: Amorphous - having no definite shape

This hyperbolic language serves to mock the complicated nature of religious beliefs and suggests that Stevenson may not have held strong Christian convictions himself.

The author draws attention to new scientific discoveries, such as the theory of Evolution, which challenged the relevance of the Bible in Victorian society. By questioning the idea of evil through Hyde's character, Stevenson challenges both religious and scientific beliefs of the time.

Highlight: Stevenson's work questions the pseudoscientific belief that a person's appearance could determine their intelligence or moral character.

Setting as Metaphor

The setting in "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" serves as a powerful metaphor for the characters' inner struggles and the duality of human nature. The description of Jekyll's house reflects his own dual nature:

Quote: "The house wore a great air for wealth and comfort"

This personification of the house suggests outward respectability, mirroring Jekyll's public persona. However, the subsequent description reveals a darker truth:

Quote: "Though it was now plunged in darkness"

This darkness symbolizes the evil lurking within both the house and Jekyll himself.

The fog that permeates the city and enters homes serves as a metaphor for the blurring of moral boundaries:

Quote: "For even in the houses the fog began to lie thickly; and there, close up to the warmth, sat Dr Jekyll, looking deadly sick"

This imagery suggests that evil can infiltrate even the most respectable facades, just as Jekyll's darker nature begins to consume him.

The back of the house, where Hyde enters, is described in sinister terms:

Quote: "A certain sinister block of building thrust forward its gable on the street"

Vocabulary: Gable - the triangular upper part of a wall at the end of a ridged roof

This description personifies the building, giving it violent characteristics that reflect Hyde's nature. The lack of windows and the general neglect of this part of the house symbolize the consequences of ignoring one's darker impulses:

Quote: "Blind forehead of discoloured wall on the upper; and bore in every feature, the mars of prolonged and sordid negligence"

Highlight: The deterioration of the house's appearance mirrors the moral decay of its inhabitant, emphasizing the theme that neglecting one's inner darkness can lead to its eventual dominance.