Jekyll amd hyde
Main Characters:
Dr. Henry Jekyll – A respected scientist who creates a potion to separate his good and evil sides. He is well-known and highly regarded in society.
Mr. Edward Hyde – Jekyll’s violent, amoral alter ego created by the potion. He is smaller and younger than Jekyll, reflecting his repressed nature. His appearance is inherently disturbing.
Mr. Gabriel Utterson – A lawyer and Jekyll’s friend who investigates the mystery. He is rational, reserved, and a man of strong moral principles.
Dr. Hastie Lanyon – Jekyll’s old friend and a fellow scientist who witnesses the transformation and is shocked to death. He represents traditional, skeptical science.
Mr. Enfield – Utterson’s distant cousin who first tells of Hyde’s brutality, setting off the mystery.
Plot Summary:
Mystery: Mr. Hyde is seen committing violent acts, such as trampling a young girl. Utterson investigates his connection to Jekyll, spurred by a strange will.
Suspicion: Jekyll becomes reclusive; Hyde seems to come and go, committing more crimes. Utterson grows increasingly concerned about Jekyll’s well-being and behavior.
Revelation: Hyde murders Sir Danvers Carew, a respected member of Parliament. Jekyll disappears, increasing the mystery and Utterson’s determination to uncover the truth.
Truth: Lanyon’s and Jekyll’s letters reveal Hyde is Jekyll’s creation and alter ego. Lanyon dies from the shock of witnessing Hyde's transformation back into Jekyll, unable to reconcile the supernatural event with his scientific worldview.
Ending: Jekyll loses control over Hyde. Both identities die when Jekyll takes his own life, unable to contain Hyde and facing imminent exposure and ruin.
Themes:
Duality of Human Nature – Everyone has both good and evil within. The story explores how these aspects can be separated and the consequences of doing so, highlighting the struggle between one's higher and lower natures.
Repression and Society – Victorian values forced people to hide their true desires, leading to a dangerous build-up of suppressed emotions. The story critiques the hypocrisy and constraints of Victorian society.
Science and Ethics – Jekyll’s experiment shows the dangers of unchecked scientific ambition and the ethical responsibilities of scientists. It questions the boundaries of scientific inquiry and the potential for misuse of knowledge.
Identity and Transformation – Jekyll’s physical change into Hyde symbolizes inner moral decay and the loss of control over one’s darker impulses. It explores themes of identity, self-control, and the consequences of tampering with human nature.
Symbols:
The Door – The divide between Jekyll’s public face and hidden evil, representing the hidden aspects of human nature and the barriers between public and private selves.
The Potion – Science as a way to unleash inner demons, symbolizing the potential for science to corrupt and reveal the darker side of humanity. It represents the transformative but dangerous power of science.
Hyde’s Appearance – Represents moral ugliness and evil, showing the physical manifestation of inner corruption and degradation.
Narrative Style:
Third-person (mainly through Utterson) and first-person (Jekyll’s and Lanyon’s letters). The multiple perspectives add depth and mystery, providing different viewpoints on the unfolding events.
Builds suspense and mystery through gradual revelations, keeping the reader engaged and curious. The story unfolds through a series of discoveries and revelations, maintaining a sense of suspense.
Context:
Written during the Victorian era, a time of significant social and scientific change, influencing the story’s themes of morality, repression, and the impact of science.