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Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Cheat Sheet (DRAFT) by

Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson notes

This is a draft cheat sheet. It is a work in progress and is not finished yet.

Intro

Author:
Robert Louis Stevenson
Published:
1886
Genre:
Gothic fiction, Horror, Psycho­logical thriller
Setting:
London, late 19th century
Narrative Style:
Third-­person limited, with key sections in first-­person narrative (letters and confes­sions).

Historical and Literary Context

Victorian Era:
Social and Moral Values: The Victorian era was charac­terized by a strict social code and an emphasis on propriety, morality, and respec­tab­ility. This period also saw the rise of the middle class and increasing urbani­zation, which led to concerns about crime, poverty, and the darker aspects of city life.
 
Double Life: Many Victorians led double lives, outwardly conforming to society’s moral standards while secretly indulging in behaviors that were considered immoral or scanda­lous. The duality of human nature, repres­ented by Jekyll and Hyde, reflects this social hypocrisy.
Gothic Tradition:
Gothic Elements: The novel draws heavily on Gothic conven­tions, such as dark, foreboding settings, mysterious charac­ters, and the explor­ation of the darker aspects of the human psyche. It also features the theme of the supern­atural, though this is presented through the lens of science rather than tradit­ional Gothic elements like ghosts or curses.
 
The Urban Gothic: Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde introduces a new Gothic setting: the city. The foggy, labyri­nthine streets of London serve as a backdrop for the story’s explor­ation of the duality of man and the hidden evils lurking beneath the surface of respec­table society.
Scientific Advances and Fears:
Evolution and Degene­ration: The public­ation of Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species (1859) raised questions about humanity’s place in the natural world and fears of degene­ration, the idea that human beings could regress to a more primitive state. Hyde’s brutish appearance and behavior tap into these anxieties.
 
Psychology and the Uncons­cious: The novel predates Freud’s theories of the uncons­cious, but it reflects contem­porary interest in the divided self and the idea that an individual could harbor multiple, confli­cting aspects of their person­ality.

Plot Summary

Exposi­tion:
Introd­uction to Mr. Utterson: The novel begins with Mr. Gabriel John Utterson, a lawyer, and the primary narrator, who is concerned about the will of his friend Dr. Henry Jekyll. The will stipulates that in the event of Jekyll’s death or disapp­ear­ance, all his posses­sions should be handed over to a certain Mr. Edward Hyde.
 
Enfield’s Tale: Mr. Richard Enfield, a distant cousin of Utterson, recounts a disturbing incident where Hyde tramples a young girl in the street and pays off her family using a cheque signed by Dr. Jekyll.
Rising Action:
Utterson Invest­igates: Utterson’s curiosity about Hyde grows, leading him to invest­igate Hyde’s connection to Jekyll. He learns from Dr. Lanyon, another friend, that Jekyll has been engaging in strange experi­ments.
 
The Murder of Sir Danvers Carew: Hyde brutally murders Sir Danvers Carew, a respected gentleman. The brutality of the crime shocks London, and Hyde disapp­ears. This event intens­ifies Utterson’s concern for Jekyll.
Climax:
Jekyll’s Reclusion: Jekyll becomes increa­singly reclusive, causing Utterson to fear for his friend’s safety. Eventu­ally, Jekyll’s butler, Mr. Poole, seeks Utterson’s help, leading them to break into Jekyll’s labora­tory, where they find Hyde dead, dressed in Jekyll’s clothes.
Falling Action:
Lanyon’s Letter: After Hyde’s death, Utterson reads a letter from Dr. Lanyon, which reveals that Lanyon witnessed Hyde transform into Jekyll. The shock of this revelation led to Lanyon’s death.
Resolu­tion:
Jekyll’s Full Statement: The novel concludes with Jekyll’s confes­sion, explaining how he created a potion to separate his good and evil natures, resulting in the creation of Hyde. Over time, Hyde became stronger, and Jekyll lost control, leading to the tragic events of the story.
 

Main Characters

Dr. Henry Jekyll:
Character Overview: A respected scientist and doctor who struggles with the duality of his nature. Jekyll is the embodiment of the Victorian gentleman, outwardly respec­table but hiding darker desires and impulses.
 
Role in the Plot: Jekyll’s desire to separate his good and evil sides leads to the creation of Hyde. His experiment reflects the dangers of tampering with human nature and the conseq­uences of repressing one’s darker impulses.
Mr. Edward Hyde:
Character Overview: The evil alter ego of Dr. Jekyll, Hyde is described as small, deformed, and repulsive. He represents the pure embodiment of Jekyll’s darker instincts, unrest­rained by societal norms or consci­ence.
 
Symbolism: Primal Instincts: Hyde symbolizes the primal, base instincts that civili­zation seeks to repress. His physical appearance and behavior reflect the Victorian fear of degene­ration and the idea that beneath the veneer of civili­zation lies something monstrous.
 
Symbolism: The Double: Hyde is often seen as Jekyll’s doppel­gänger, repres­enting the darker side of Jekyll’s person­ality. The concept of the double, or doppel­gänger, is a common motif in Gothic litera­ture, symbol­izing the conflict between different aspects of the self.
Mr. Gabriel John Utterson:
Character Overview: A lawyer and Jekyll’s close friend, Utterson serves as the novel’s central figure and detective. He is rational, moral, and concerned for his friend’s well-b­eing, embodying the values of the Victorian gentleman.
 
Role in the Plot: Utterson’s invest­igation into the relati­onship between Jekyll and Hyde drives the narrative. His logical approach contrasts with the supern­atural elements of the story, grounding the narrative in reality while also highli­ghting the limits of reason.
Dr. Hastie Lanyon:
Character Overview: A former friend and colleague of Dr. Jekyll, Lanyon is a rational scientist who is horrified by Jekyll’s experi­ments. He represents the scientific commun­ity’s rejection of Jekyll’s unorthodox methods.
 
Role in the Plot: Lanyon’s role is pivotal in revealing the truth about Jekyll and Hyde. His shock at witnessing the transf­orm­ation contri­butes to his death, unders­coring the novel’s theme of the dangers of forbidden knowledge.
Mr. Richard Enfield:
Character Overview: A distant cousin of Utterson and a minor character who introduces the mystery of Hyde through his recounting of the trampling incident. He represents the Victorian concern with reputation and the social conseq­uences of immoral behavior.
 
Role in the Plot: Enfield’s account of Hyde’s violence sets the plot in motion and highlights the novel’s theme of the hidden, darker side of human nature.
Poole:
Character Overview: Dr. Jekyll’s loyal butler, who plays a key role in the discovery of the truth about Jekyll and Hyde. Poole is a minor character, but his actions are crucial in the novel’s climax.
 
Role in the Plot: Poole’s concern for Jekyll’s safety and his decision to seek Utterson’s help lead to the discovery of Hyde’s death and the unraveling of the mystery.

Major Themes

Duality of Human Nature:
The central theme of the novel is the duality of human nature. Stevenson explores the idea that every individual has both good and evil aspects, and that these aspects are in constant conflict. Jekyll’s experiment to separate these two natures results in the creation of Hyde, who represents the unchecked, amoral side of his person­ality.
The Repression of Sinful Desires:
The novel reflects Victorian concerns about the repression of sinful or immoral desires. Jekyll’s transf­orm­ation into Hyde can be seen as an allegory for the dangers of repressing one’s darker impulses. Hyde acts out Jekyll’s repressed desires without regard for societal norms, highli­ghting the conseq­uences of such repres­sion.
The Limits of Scientific Experi­men­tation:
Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde questions the ethical limits of scientific experi­men­tation. Jekyll’s use of science to tamper with human nature leads to catast­rophic results, suggesting that some aspects of humanity are not meant to be altered or contro­lled.
The Nature of Evil:
The novel explores the nature of evil, suggesting that it is an inherent part of the human condition. Hyde is not a separate being but an extension of Jekyll, indicating that evil is not external but resides within every indivi­dual.
Identity and the Self:
Stevenson delves into questions of identity and the self. Jekyll and Hyde are two sides of the same person, raising questions about the nature of identity and whether an individual can truly be divided into separate selves.
Appearance vs. Reality:
The novel also explores the theme of appearance versus reality. Jekyll appears to be a respec­table gentleman, but beneath the surface, he harbors a dark, violent nature. Hyde’s appearance is a manife­station of this inner evil, and his existence challenges the notion that outward appear­ances reflect inner virtue.

Narrative Structure and Style

Multiple Perspe­ctives:
The novel is structured as a series of narrat­ives, including third-­person descri­ptions and first-­person accounts (letters and confes­sions). This structure allows Stevenson to present different perspe­ctives on the events and to gradually reveal the truth about Jekyll and Hyde.
Use of Mystery and Suspense:
Stevenson uses elements of mystery and suspense to engage the reader and build tension. The identity of Hyde and his connection to Jekyll are slowly revealed, creating a sense of antici­pation and dread.
Gothic Elements:
The novel’s style is heavily influenced by the Gothic tradition, with its dark, foggy setting, themes of horror and the supern­atural, and focus on the psycho­logical and moral dilemmas of the charac­ters. The use of Gothic imagery enhances the novel’s explor­ation of the duality of human nature and the hidden evils within.
Symbolism:
The Fog: The persistent fog in the novel symbolizes the moral ambiguity and obscured truths that pervade the story. It represents the confusion and lack of clarity surrou­nding Jekyll’s actions and Hyde’s true nature.
 
Hyde’s Appear­ance: Hyde’s physical deformity symbolizes the moral deformity that he embodies. His ugliness reflects the corruption of Jekyll’s soul and the evil that lies within.
 

Reception and Legacy

Initial Reception:
Upon its release, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde was an immediate success, both critically and commer­cially. It was praised for its origin­ality and its explor­ation of complex psycho­logical and moral issues. The novel tapped into contem­porary anxieties about science, morality, and identity, resonating with readers of the time.
Influence on Literature and Culture:
The novel has had a lasting impact on literature and popular culture, with the character of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde becoming iconic. The story has been adapted into numerous films, plays, and other media, often interp­reted as a commentary on the duality of human nature and the dangers of repres­sion.
 
The concept of “Jekyll and Hyde” has entered the English language as a term to describe a person with a dual person­ality, one aspect of which is good and the other evil.
Psycho­logical and Moral Interp­ret­ations:
The novel has been the subject of extensive analysis, partic­ularly in the fields of psychology and moral philos­ophy. It is often read as an explor­ation of the divided self and the struggle between the conscious and uncons­cious mind. Some interp­ret­ations focus on the novel as a critique of Victorian hypocrisy and the dangers of repressing one’s true nature.
Enduring Relevance:
The themes of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde remain relevant today, partic­ularly in discus­sions about identity, the nature of evil, and the ethical implic­ations of scientific experi­men­tation. The novel’s explor­ation of the darker aspects of the human psyche continues to resonate with modern readers and scholars.

Conclusion

Summary:
Robert Louis Steven­son’s Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is a powerful explor­ation of the duality of human nature and the dangers of repressing one’s darker impulses. Through its Gothic elements, complex charac­ters, and psycho­logical depth, the novel offers a profound commentary on the moral and ethical dilemmas of its time, many of which remain relevant today.