Lanyon - Jekyll and Hyde

Intro

-Presented as a rational and traditional but ultimately tragic character

-Stevenson uses Lanyon to explore science v religion, friendship and limits of human understanding

-He acts as a foil to Jekyll showing the cautious approach to science

-Through his downfall, Stevenson shows the psychological cost of uncovering truths that defy natural order

Lanyons rejection to J’s scientific work is key to his character

-He refers to it as ‘unscientific balderdash’

-This shows great disapproval in J’s interest in supernatural experimentation which leads to the breakdown of their friendship

-Stevenson presents Lanyon as someone who values logic and reason above all making him representative of a rational world view that can’t accept existence of evil beyond physical

Lanyons importance is shown in his reaction to J’s transformation

-When he sees Hyde turn into Jekyll, hes traumatized saying ‘my life is shaken to its roots’

-This metaphor shows his entire belief system has collapsed which becomes a turning point

-Lanyon becomes a tragic figure whose exposure to forbidden knowledge destroys him

-Stevenson uses this to warn of phycological dangers of pursuing truths that challenge accepted reality

After seeing the transformation, Lanyon isolates himself and dies

-This is after he refers to what he saw as something ‘that threatens me with death’

-His physical and mental detoriation highlights the fragility of human mind when confronted with the unnatural

-Stevenson presents Lanyon as someone who dies from horror not illness

Conclusion

-Lanyon is represented as a symbol of rational and Victorian science. This is a powerful gothic element reinforcing the theme of science going too far

-His tragic fate whilst witnessing the supernatural shows the limits of human understanding and dangers of pushing beyond moral and natural boundaries

-Lanyons downfall acts as a warning about the cost of knowledge and terror of confronting your deepest fears