Isolation and Loneliness- Jekyll & Hyde

Introduction

-Themes reflect psychological consequences of secrecy, repression and moral conflict

-Characters who hide parts of themselves or break from society’s expectation become increasingly cut off from others leading to mental, emotional and physical destruction

-Through this, S critiques Victorian values that encouraged people to suppress their true identities and he shows that isolation is often self-inflicted and socially imposed

Dr Jekyll is the most prominent example of isolation

-Deliberately separates himself from society in order to privately carry out his experiments by retreating into his laboratory which becomes a symbol of his growing detachment from the world

-S describes how J began to ‘shut his door to his friends’ showing how his secret double life leads to him to withdraw from meaningful relationships

-Increasing loneliness mirrors his moral decline and his transformation into H not just physical but also a symbol of complete separation from human connection

Similarly, Hyde is portrayed as a deeply isolated and anti-social figure

-He is described as giving a ‘strong feeling of deformity’ and his actions like trampling a child or murdering Carew are entirely without remorse or empathy

-Stevenson uses H to represent the dangers of complete emotional and social detachment

-As H gains more control, J becomes even more isolated suggesting that indulging in one’s darker instincts results in the loss of identity and human contact

Even J’s relationships with his friends like Lanyon and Utterson are damaged by secrecy and pride

-When Lanyon learns the truth about J’s experiments he becomes horrified and withdraws ‘I have had a shock, I shall never recover’

-His final days are spent in isolation having rejected his former friend

-S uses Lanyon to show that the discovery of dark truths can isolate the most rational and moral individuals suggesting isolation is a consequence of confronting the hidden realities of human nature

Conclusion

-Isolation and loneliness are important because they reflect the emotional cost of repression, secrecy and fear of social judgement

-S suggests cutting oneself off from society whether emotionally or physically leads to destruction

-Novel is a powerful warning about the dangers of living a double life and the tragic consequences of being unable or unwilling to connect with others