Lecture on "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde": Top Quotations and Themes

Introduction

• Discussing 10 top quotations from "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" by Robert Louis Stevenson.
• These quotations serve to explore every essay theme related to the novel.

Key Quotations and Themes

1. "It was like some damned Juggernaut"

• Character Description: First description of Hyde by Mr. Enfield.
• Christian and Hindu Imagery: 'Damned' suggests hell, while 'Juggernaut' refers to Jagannath, a Hindu deity.
  • Stevenson subtly suggests alternative views to Christian prejudice.
  • Challenges the inherent perception of Hyde as evil.

2. "I saw that sore bones turn sick and white with the desire to kill him"

• Violence and Hypocrisy: Enfield and the doctor exhibit more murderous intent than Hyde.
• Original Sin Theme: Society's characters are portrayed as more evil than Hyde.
• Science vs. Christianity: Fear of evolutionary science that threatens Christian doctrine.

3. Utterson’s Repressed Desires

• Repression: Utterson's dreams about Jekyll suggest hidden desires, potentially homosexual.
• Homosexuality in Victorian Era: Novel possibly criticizes the 1885 act against homosexuality.
  • Blackmail Theme: Utterson fears public scandal regarding Jekyll's relationship with Hyde.

4. "I read Satan's signature upon a face"

• Evil and Perception: Hyde is perceived as having Satan's signature despite unclear descriptions.
• Dual Nature: Every person has good and evil, a concept aligning with Christian doctrine of original sin.

5. "Ape-like Fury hailing down a storm of blows"

• Gothic Elements: Exaggerated violence in Hyde's murder of Sir Danvers Carew.
• Fear of Evolution: Hyde's primitive nature terrifies Victorian readers, linking to fears of regression.

6. Soho and London’s Geography of Hypocrisy

• Setting Analysis: Proximity of respectable and disreputable areas symbolizes societal hypocrisy.
• Fear of Foreign Influence: Description of Soho reflects xenophobic attitudes of the era.

7. Utterson's Criminal Hypocrisy

• Legal and Moral Complicity: Utterson hides evidence of Hyde's crimes to protect reputations.
  • Critique of Society: Stevenson exposes hypocrisy in society's upholding of law and order.

8. Death of Dr. Lanyon

• Science vs. Religion: Lanyon's horror at Jekyll's transformation reflects fear of scientific overreach.
• Christian Allegory: Lanyon as a figure yielding to temptation, rejecting life and scientific progress.

9. "His love of life is wonderful"

• Hyde's Passionate Nature: Hyde’s experiences are intense and fulfilling contrary to societal norms.
  • Criticism of Repression: Suggests that repressive society creates criminal behavior.

Conclusion

• Stevenson's Critique: Challenges Victorian social norms, particularly against homosexuality and repression.
• Themes of Dual Nature and Hypocrisy: Central to understanding the novel’s critique of societal values and human nature.