Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde - CHARACTER STUDIES

Dr Henry Jekyll - character study

A respected Victorian gentleman + scientist. Jekyll’s curious about the duality of human nature + creates a potion to separate his good + evil sides, which leads to the creation of Mr Hyde.

“Man is not truly one, but truly two.” - antithesis/juxtaposition - “one” vs “two” emphasises the core theme of duality of man. Suggests Jekyll believes all humans have a split nature: both moral + immortal tendencies.

“The moment I choose, I can be rid of Mr Hyde.” - irony - he believes he has control, but this is ultimately false. This reflects victorian anxieties about science + control over human nature.

Duality of man

Science + religion

Repression + morality

Appearance vs reality

Mr Edward Hyde - character study

The violent, cruel + primitive alter ego of Dr Jekyll. He embodies pure evil + lacks any conscience / empathy.

“With ape-like fury, he was trampling his victim under foot.” - animal imagery - “ape-like” dehumanises Hyde + links to Darwinian fears of de-evolution- suggests regression to a more primitive, savage state (cavemen). Violent verb “trampling” emphasises brutality + lack of remorse.

“There is something wrong with his appearance; something displeasing, something downright detestable.” - repetition of vague negatives - shows how Hyde’s evil’s almost supernaturally recognisable. Reflects theme of appearance vs reality + instinctive moral revulsion.

Evil + violence

Duality

Dehumanisation

Science + evolution

Mr Gabriel Utterson - character study

Jekyll’s lawyer + the novel’s main narrator. He represents rationality, loyalty, + Victorian morality. He seeks to protect his friend’s reputation.

“A man of rugged countenance… yet somehow lovable.” - contradictory description (reflects how even those who appear cold can be caring). This reflects victorian restraint - men were expected to hide emotion.

“I let my brother go to the devil in his own way.” - metaphor - suggests a belief in free will but also moral decay, highlights Utterson’s tendency to avoid confrontation but also shows loyalty.

Reputation

Friendship + loyalty

Rationality vs emotion

Silence + secrecy

Dr Hastie Lanyon - character study

A traditional scientist + former friend of Jekyll. He becomes horrified by Jekyll’s experiments + dies of shock after witnessing Hyde’s transformation.

“Unscientific balderdash.” - dismissive tone, shows how Lanyon represents rational, conventional science. Conflict between Lanyon + Jekyll reflects the divide between empirical science + metaphysical curiosity.

“The creature who crept into my house… something seizing, surprising and revolting.” - sibilance in “seizing, surprising” adds a sinister tone. Lanyon’s horror at Hyde implies Hyde is more than just physically unpleasant - he represents unnaturalness.

Science vs religion

Rationality vs the supernatural

Horror + the unknown

Friendship turned estrangement

Mr Enfield - character study

A distant cousin + friend of Utterson. He recounts Hyde trampling a girl + is a man of discretion, revealing the Victorian tendency to suppress scandal.

“The more it looks like Queer Street, the less I ask.” - colloquial metaphor, “Queer Street” implies suspicious / immoral behaviour. Illustrates theme of repression + silence - he avoids curiosity for the sake of respectability.

Repression

Reputation

Silence + secrecy