How does Stevenson use setting in the novel to explore the main themes?

practice intro

In Stevenson’s gothic novella, he uses setting in Jekyll’s house, and the contrasting descriptions of London and Soho to explore ideas of duality and the conflict between good and evil. Perhaps he does this to present Victorian society how Gentlemen have the capability of evil.

BP: House, London vs Soho, Weather

Moments: London, Soho, doors, laboratory

Structure links:

Context: Duality of man, Appearance vs Reality (Gentlemen), Inner Evil + conflict

2 doors - Good vs Evil

front door - Jekyll ch1

back lab door - Hyde ch1

Laboratory - transgressive science ch 5 → a part of Jekyll’s house → duality of good gentlemen reputation and inner dark desires

• light falling dimly through the foggy cupola (ch 5)]

• once crowded with eager students and now lying gaunt and silent (ch 5)

House: ch1, ch5, ch 7

doors, labs, window

London vs Soho - duality of good and evil, secrecy

Soho = Hyde

• a district of some city in a nightmare

• first fog of the season

London = Jekyll

Weather - duality - growing evil, weakening goodness, ch4, ch 8

wind = Hyde

moon = Jekyll

PLAN

p1: Jekyll’s house - appearance vs reality, good vs evil, repression → Victorian Gentlemen capability of evil

ch1: 2 doors - good vs evil

• Blistered and distained, Neither bell nor knocker

• It wore a great air of wealth and discomfort

ch 5: laboratory appearance vs reality

• once crowded with eager students and now lying gaunt and silent

• light falling dimly through the foggy cupola

ch 7: window repression

• like some disconsolate prisoner

p2: Weather - growing evil →