Jekyll and Hyde Theme : Good and Evil

Good and Evil Topic sentence 1 and Evidence

• Jekyll is presented as a man with a reputation and a respected member of society representing good, while Hyde is depicted as a manifestation of evil:

  • In Jekyll’s view, “man is not truly one, but truly two” and while he is aware of his good side, he also acknowledges there is evil within him

• Jekyll believes that it is the “curse of mankind” that good and evil are bound together within him and the two parts are in direct conflict with one another:

  • Stevenson aims to highlight this idea of an innate duality and the implications of giving in to one’s own evil side

• Hyde’s sinister presence and actions are a constant reminder of the power of evil throughout the novella:

  • He invokes terror in other characters and again this may hint at the possibility of the inner evil and depraved nature that resides within each person

• Stevenson depicts Hyde as an inherently violent character and he displays no remorse for his crimes:

  • Both of Hyde’s victims are presented as innocent and vulnerable which elicits sympathy from the reader and makes them horrified at the wickedness of Hyde’s actions

• All of the characters who encounter Hyde are repulsed by the sense of evil that he exudes:

  • For example, Stevenson uses contrasting imagery to describe Carew and Hyde to highlight the difference between what we could infer is the “good” character of Carew and the “evil” character of Hyde:

    • The imagery associated with Carew is linked to lightness and innocence: for example, “an aged and beautiful gentleman with white hair” while Hyde is depicted as having an “ape-like fury”

• Hyde is described in terms of animalistic imagery which strengthens as the novella develops: for example, “savage”, “snarled”, “ape-like fury” and “hardly human” all allude to his aggressive, predatory and primitive nature:

  • Stevenson’s deliberate use of animal imagery is used to suggest Hyde’s separateness from human society and his unrestricted nature

• Stevenson associates Hyde with Christian ideas about Hell and Satan and Jekyll repeatedly refers to him as “my devil”

• Further, Stevenson presents evil through Hyde’s manner and appearance but he deliberately chooses to make that evil to remain somewhat undefined:

  • This lack of a clear definition of evil in the novella makes it appear more pervasive and more terrifying

• Stevenson presents good and evil as a constant duality throughout the novel and portrays it as a natural facet of the individual, which results in an ongoing battle between the two

• Stevenson proposes that the inherent evil aspect of man is merely suppressed by society and he attempts to explore the consequences of attempting to separate one from the other