The Major Themes in The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

1. The Major Themes in The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

2. Keeping Up Appearances • Dr. Jekyll goes to the greatest lengths to prevent his Hyde identity from being discovered • Takes Place in Victorian England • Main characters are all male members of British upper class • Utterson protects Jekyll

3. Keeping Up Appearances • Pair Share: With your partner, give an example of Utterson protecting Dr. Jekyll from Mr. Hyde’s identity—take two minutes:

4. The Duality of Human Nature • Jekyll, a combination of good and evil • Hyde, pure evil • London, also a duality: • Foggy, dreary, nightmarish place • Well kept, bustling city of commerce • Pair Share: • Give one example of the duality of man:

5. The Escalation of Violence indicates loss of Control • Hyde, thoroughly enjoys rush of excitement from violence • Jekyll, helpless to stop it • Three examples of violence:

6. Victorian Era Females portrayed as victims • Young girl— • The maid who witnesses Sir Danvers Carew’s murder— • Jekyll’s servant--

7. The Characters in the novella have a lack of direct communication • Jekyll writes his final confession in a letter to Utterson—does not share his secret in person • Dr. Hastie Lanyon--

8. The Rational vs. the Supernatural or the Irrational • Highly rational and socially respected characters • Novel’s conclusion is supernatural, a nightmare world where Hyde exists—and no one else

9. The City of London as a backdrop for Jekyll’s experiment • Hyde needs the anonymity of the masses to commit his crimes • He has anonymous freedom to what he wishes • The growing city gives him the cloak he needs to hide away from society, to be the “troglodyte” he is