Notes on "The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde"

Introduction

• Themes: Duality of human nature, good vs evil, repression, friendship, science.
• Main Characters: Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hyde, Mr. Utterson, Mr. Enfield, Dr. Lanyon, Mr. Poole, Sir Carew.

Dr. Jekyll

• Religion: Conflicted relationship, turns to God for redemption.
• Social Life: Sociable, well-respected, charitable image.
• Inner Conflict: Suppresses his sinful side, inner "devil" represents deeper desires.
• Transformation: Feels younger and happier without societal restraints.
• Experiments: Encroaches on God's territory, desires to split human psyche.
• End: Loses control to Hyde, tragic ending evokes sympathy.

Mr. Hyde

• Appearance/Behavior: Deformed, animalistic, volatile, selfish.
• Violence: Intentional, brutal acts.
• Society's Reaction: Evokes fear and disgust, considered a criminal by appearance.
• Nature: Represents pure evil, possibly the true essence of Jekyll.

Mr. Utterson

• Character Traits: Trustworthy, reserved, curious.
• Role: Investigates Jekyll's case, emphasizes themes of friendship and duty.
• Professionalism: Values friendship over curiosity, reliable narrator.

Mr. Enfield

• Role: Acts as a foil to Utterson, passive but observant.
• Morality: Suggests duality, may not be as morally strict as he appears.

Dr. Lanyon

• Science vs Belief: Represents traditional science, acts as a foil to Jekyll.
• Reaction to Hyde: Rationality shaken by encounter.
• Relationship with Jekyll: Distances himself due to Jekyll's experiments.

Mr. Poole

• Loyalty: Concerned for Jekyll, familiar with Jekyll's behaviors.
• Role: Propels narrative by involving Utterson in the investigation.

Sir Carew

• Victim: Represents vulnerability and purity, victim of Hyde's violence.
• Role in Plot: Serves as a plot device to highlight Hyde's brutality.

Key Themes

Duality

• Human Nature: Not truly one, but two; Jekyll aware of duality within himself.
• Society: Rigid societal expectations drive characters to conceal true desires.

Repression

• Characters: Show traits of repression, channel passions into work.
• Impact: Leads to creation of Hyde, represents repressed part of Jekyll.

Friendship

• Importance: Utterson stands out for his concern for Jekyll.
• Contrasts: Lanyon's focus on wrongdoing vs. Utterson's concern for wellbeing.

Science

• Conflict: Jekyll's experiments conflict with traditional beliefs.
• Rationality vs. Irrationality: Jekyll's scientific approach is irrational compared to community norms.

Secrecy

• Concealment: Characters conceal true selves, leading to conflict and tragedy.

Appearance vs Reality

• Deception: Characters' appearances often hide true intentions or characteristics.

Violence

• Acts: Perpetrated by Hyde, reflect inner conflict and societal repression.

Religion

• Allusions: Characters compared to biblical figures, showing moral conflicts.

Society

• Influence: Dictates repression, drives Jekyll's downfall.

Conclusion

• Overall Message: Highlights the complexity of human nature, societal pressures, and the consequences of suppressing one's true self.