Good vs. evil is basically the novel’s
biggest theme. More specifically, Dr.
Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is
easily viewed as an allegory about the good and evil that exist in all men, and
about our struggle with these two sides of the human personality. In this book,
then, the battle between good and evil rages within the individual.
Repression
Repression is indisputably a cause of the
troubles in Dr. Jekyll and
Mr. Hyde. The repression here is that of Victorian England. Everything is sober and dignified, and you’re
really not supposed to be happy. (That would somehow take away from your focus
on morality).
Friendship
Friendship in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde serves to drive the plot forward.
Aside from basic curiosity, Mr. Utterson is compelled to uncover the mystery of
the evil man because of his friendship with Dr. Jekyll. In this sense,
friendship acts as both a motivator and an enabler. differences of opinion.
Appearances
Appearances figure in the novel both
figuratively and literally. Dr. Jekyll definitely wants to keep up a façade of
respectability, even though he has a lot of unsavory tendencies. In a literal
sense, the appearances of buildings in the novel reflect the characters of the
inhabitants.
Science
In Dr.
Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Science becomes a cover and justification for
supernatural activities. Dr. Jekyll ostensibly derives his potion in some sort
of scientific manner, as opposed to finding a magical amulet or something that
releases evil as you might find in other stories.
Curiosity
In Dr.
Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Curiosity drives the characters to seek knowledge.
This curiosity is either suppressed or fulfilled in each character. Curiosity
lacks any negative connotations; instead, characters who do not actively seek
to unravel the Jekyll and Hyde mystery may be viewed as passive or weak.
Secrecy and Deception
In Dr.
Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, the plot is frequently driven forward by Secrecy and
Deception; Mr. Utterson doesn’t know the relationship between Dr. Jekyll and
Mr. Hyde, and he wants to find out. Also, by omitting the scenes of Mr. Hyde’s
supposedly crazy debauchery, Stevenson allows our imaginations to run to wild
and eerie places.
Violence
Strange
Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde details
two crimes of Violence against innocent and helpless citizens: first, a little girl,
and second, an elderly man. The violence in the novel centers on Mr. Hyde, and
raises the question of whether or not violence is an inherent part of man’s
nature.
Religion
God and Satan figure prominently in Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr.
Hyde, as well as many general references to religion and works of charity.
As part of their intellectual lives, the men in the novel discuss various
religious works. One sign of Mr. Hyde’s wickedness, for example, is his
defacing Dr. Jekyll’s favorite religious work.
Women & Femininity
Most female characters in Strange
Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde are
passive and weak. The first female we see is a young girl mowed over by Mr.
Hyde. Although she is "not much the worse, more frightened," she
still kicks up an incredible fuss and a large group of people come to her aid. The next woman we see is the maid who
witnessed the Carew murder. After watching Mr. Hyde beat the man to death, she
faints, waking up long after the murderer is gone. She is a passive spectator.
