Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

[ Literature Form 3 : Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde ]

Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is the original title of a novella written by the
Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson and first published in 1886. The work is commonly
known today as The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde or Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.[1] It
is about a London lawyer named Gabriel John Utterson who investigates strange occurrences
between his old friend, Dr Henry Jekyll,[2] and the misanthropic Edward Hyde.

1) MORAL VALUE

In the novel Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson, one moral value I have
learnt is the importance of kindness and compassion, as seen in Mr. Richard Enfield. Although it
is 2 a.m. on a cold wintry morning, he goes out of his way to bring ‘the filthy brute’ who trampled
on the little girl to the scene of his crime to explained himself.
Enfield confronts Hyde and insists that he apologizes to the girl. Besides comforting the
child, Enfield also insists that Hyde pays some compensation to the child’s parents.
Although it is late and Mr. Hyde looks hateful and cruel, Enfield makes it a point to follow
Hyde to his house and to Coutts Bank later that morning. This is to ensure that Hyde pays the
promised sum of one hundred pounds to the girl’s parents. Although Enfield is a minor character
in the novel, he stands out because of his positive moral values.
2) THEME

i) courage
The theme of courage is clear in the novel Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis
Stevenson. Richard Enfield has the courage to challenge Hyde about his attack on the little girl,
Eddie even though Hyde looks ugly and evil. He even manages to get Hyde to get Hyde pay
compensation to Edie’s parents.
Mr. Utterson also shows courage when he persists in speaking to Dr. Jekyll about his will and
about Mr. Hyde. This is done out of concern for Dr. Jekyll, even though it is clear that Dr.
Jekyll would rather not talk about it.
Just before the end, Mr. Utterson and Poole are courageous enough to break down Dr. Jekyll
laboratory door even though they know it is dangerous and that they will be confronting a
murderer. Even Dr. Jekyll shows courage when he decides to test his experimental drug on
himself, even though he knows that he might die from it. Courage is indeed demonstrated
throughout the novel.

ii) Responsibility.
The novel Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson has many characters that are
responsible and trustworthy. Mr. Richard Enfield is a good example. When Mr. Hyde tramples on
Edie, Enfield is responsible enough to ensure that justice is done and compensation paid to
Edie’s parents.
Mr. Utterson and Dr. Lanyon are both responsible, loyal and trustworthy men who keep their
clients’ and friends’ secrets due to their professional code of honour. Mr. Utterson does not
open the letter which Dr. Lanyon sent him, though he is very curious about it. Poole is also
responsible employee, as he seeks Utterson’s help when he suspects that something is wrong in
Dr. Jekyll’s laboratory.
However, in this novel, Dr. Jekyll shows that he is not a responsible person. He wants to
enjoy his wicked pleasures as Edward Hyde without taking responsibility for his actions, so that
he can still enjoy the respect that others give Dr. Jekyll. Sadly, in the end, Dr. Jekyll loses the
fight against his evil side and dies as Mr. Hyde.

iii) Good against Evil.

The theme of good against evil is very clear in the novel Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. This
constant struggle between good and evil is seen in the person of Dr. Jekyll. All men are a
balance between good and evil and Dr. Jekyll is no different. One part of Dr. Jekyll is kind and
generous while the other part (Mr. Hyde) enjoys sinful pleasures and wickedness.
At first, Dr. Jekyll is in control of Mr. Hyde. However, as Dr. Jekyll secretly indulges
himself more and more in the wicked pleasures he gets as Mr. Hyde, he discovers that his evil is
overcoming his good side. He changes to Mr. Hyde even without taking the drug. Dr. Jekyll
realizes that if he lets his evil side out more often, the balance of his nature would be upset and
Dr. Jekyll would remain as Mr. Hyde forever.
After the murder of Sir Danvers Carew, the horrified Dr. Jekyll tries to give up his evil
ways and tries very hard to make up for the terrible deeds of Mr. Hyde. However in the end, Dr.
Jekyll is unable to control his evil nature and he takes his own life. Unfortunately for Dr. Jekyll,
good does not always win over evil.

iv) Honesty
Dr. Lanyon in the novel Dr, Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is an honest man. He is a good and
honourable doctor, and he disagrees with Dr. Jekyll’s idea about scientific exploration, he is
honest enough to tell him so. However he is still remains Dr. Jekyll’s friend.
Dr. Jekyll himself, however, is not an honest man. He is not honest enough to admit to his
friends and to society that he takes pleasure in sinful things and wickedness. Instead he wants
to have society’s respect as well to continue enjoying his secret wicked activities.
 In facts, Dr. Jekyll very much enjoys his time as Mr. Hyde. Dr. Jekyll sees this as a
wonderful way to enjoy his shameful, wicked pleasures as the blame will
be Mr. Hyde’s, not Dr. Jekyll’s. Furthermore, in the character of Mr. Hyde no one will ever be
suspicious of Dr. Jekyll and he can continue to do what he likes. Even when Dr. Jekyll resolves to
stop becoming Mr. Hyde, he is not completely honest about it. He does not give up the house in
Soho, nor destroy the clothes of Edward Hyde. If he was truly honest with himself, he should
have done both. In a way, Edward Hyde is more honest than Dr. Jekyll, because Hyde does not
pretend to be what he is not whereas Dr. Jekyll tries to appear wholly respectable while
indulging in wickedness.

vi) Honour.
In the novel Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, the theme of honour is demonstrated in Mr. Utterson’s
character. He is a man of honour and integrity. He keeps professional code of hanour and does
not reveal his clients’ secret even though he suspects there is something wrong about Dr. Jekyll
will.
When he thinks that Dr. Jekyll may be a victim of blackmail, he risks his friendship and
business interest by warning him about Hyde. Although Mr. Utterson very curious abaut the
contents of the letter upon the death of Dr. Lanyon, his honour and faith in his frienddoes not
allow him to open the letter.
When Poole comes to see him and tells him about what has been going on in Dr. Jekyll
laboratory, Mr. Utterson feels honour-bound to break down the door and discover the truth
about what has happened to Dr. Jekyll. Mr. Utterson is definitely an honourable man.
3) Incident that changes the life of character.
In the novel Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Dr. Jekyll’s life changes when he finally succeeds in
producing the drug which can separate the good and the evil sides of his nature. On the night
that he decides to test the experimental drug, he drinks it and is transformed into Mr. Hyde.
This gives him a chance to be irresponsible and thus experience secret, wicked pleasures
without losing the respect that is so important to him as Dr. Jekyll.
However, this only lands Dr. Jekyll into more trouble. As Mr. Hyde, he eventually murders
Sir Danvers Carew. In the end, Dr. Jekyll’s evil side becomes more powerful and takes over his
life. He begins to transform into Mr. Hyde even without taking the drug. Dr. Jekyll or Mr. Hyde
now is forced to hide from all and lives in fear of punishment for his crime.
In the end, Dr. Jekyll commits suicide and dies as Mr. Hyde. If Dr. Jekyll did not produce
the drug, he would probably have lived and died as respected doctor, instead of wanted criminal.
4) Character that can influence another character’s action.
In the novel Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Dr Jekyll certainly influences the action of Dr.
Lanyon. One night Dr. Lanyon receives a letter from a desperate Dr. Jekyll requesting him to get
some chemical from his house. He responds immediately and returns with the drawer to his hoe
in Cavendish Square. He waits for a man who would say he is from Dr. Jekyll. When the man
arrives, the man mixes the chemical and drinks it. In front of the terrified Dr. Lanyon, the man
changes into Dr. Jekyll. Lanyon discovers the awful secret behind the mystery of Dr. Jekyll and
Mr. Hyde. After this horrifying experience Lanyon loses the will to live and he eventually dies.

5) Lesson
The novel Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde has many valuable lessons. The lesson that I have learnt
from this novel is that we should not disturb the balance of nature. Dr. Jekyll tries to do that.
He conducts scientific experiments to separate the good side from the evil side of person.
 He eventually succeeds, but with serious consequences for the innocent people with whom he
comes in the contact as Mr. Hyde. He tramples on the little girl, Edie, and murders Sir Danvers
Carew. He also indirectly causes the death of Dr. Lanyon.
In the end, Dr. Jekyll’s evil side takes over his life and he finds it harder and harder to
remain as Dr. Jekyll. Finally, Dr. Jekyll dies as Mr. Hyde. We learnt that if we tamper with the
balance of nature, there will be serious consequences that will cause pain and suffering not only
for ourselves but others as well.

5) Lesson
The novel Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde has many valuable lessons. The lesson that I have learnt
from this novel is that we should not disturb the balance of nature. Dr. Jekyll tries to do that.
He conducts scientific experiments to separate the good side from the evil side of person.
He eventually succeeds, but with serious consequences for the innocent people with whom he
comes in the contact as Mr. Hyde. He tramples on the little girl, Edie, and murders Sir Danvers
Carew. He also indirectly causes the death of Dr. Lanyon.
In the end, Dr. Jekyll’s evil side takes over his life and he finds it harder and harder to
remain as Dr. Jekyll. Finally, Dr. Jekyll dies as Mr. Hyde. We learnt that if we tamper with the
balance of nature, there will be serious consequences that will cause pain and suffering not only
for ourselves but others as well.

6) Dislike character.
The novel that I have chosen is Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and the character I dislike most in
the novel none other than Dr. Jekyll. Firstly, Dr. Jekyll is a hypocrite since he only wants the
glitz and glamour of being a famous doctor in London with good reputation but deep inside him,
he wants to be as evil as he could yet not wanting people know about it. Therefore, he hides his
weaknesses from the public and lets Mr. Hyde takes the blame.
Next, Dr. Jekyll is using his ability as a scientist to create and manipulated the
technology to create the two sides of him which gives birth to Mr. Hyde. In Hyde he sees the
chance to fulfill his wicked desires.
Other than that, Dr. Jekyll is a selfish person who does not want to admit that what Mr.
Hyde was done is actually something done by himself, in his moments as Hyde. He only holds
Hyde responsible for all the bad deeds and thinks of himself as innocent. This shows that he is
an egocentric man. Based on the reason above, it is clear that why I dislike Dr. Jekyll’s
character

7) Favourite character.
The novel that I have chosen is Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. My favourite character in the
novel is Mr. Utterson. I admire him because firstly, he is a peacemaker. He tried to make Dr.
Jekyll and Dr. Lanyon eye to eye with each other.
Secondly, Mr. Utterson was helpful and often offered assistance to Dr. Jekyll. For
example, he was quite sure that Hyde was blackmailing Dr. Jekyll. Therefore, he thought of
exposing Hyde’s own secrets, thus stopping the blackmailing.
Besides, Mr. Utterson was also a concerned friend who cared for Dr. Jekyll’s well-being.
He feared for Dr. Jekyll’s life, thinking that Hyde would kill the doctor because of the will.
Finally, Mr. Utterson was also rational, ‘a man of sense and authority’. Hence, it is no wonder
that many for example Poole, the police and Dr. Lanyon turned to him for help, advice and
coorperation.
8) compare 2 characters in the novel.
The two main characters in the novel ‘Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’ are Dr. Jekyll and Edward
Hyde. Although they are not alike, they are, in fact, the same person. Dr. Jekyll is a respectable
doctor who is well-liked by people. Edward Hyde , however, is a despicable, hideous-looking
person. When Utterson meets Hyde, Utterson is filled with dislike and fear. He thinks that
Hyde is a monster.
Dr. Jekyll is clever and very interested in science. He is involved in charity work and
enjoys the reputation of being courteous person. He often holds small dinners for his friends.
Edward Hyde is violent and cruel. He hurts people and does not care about the consequences of
his actions. Richard Enfield is horrified when he sees Hyde trample over a fallen child. A maid
looking out of her bedroom windows sees Hyde striking an old man with his heavy walking stick.

9) most interesting scene.

An interesting scene in the novel, ‘Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’ is when Utterson, a good
friend of Dr. Jekyll, is asked by the latter to prepare a will. The will provides that if Dr. Jekyll
dies, then all his possession will be inherited by Edward Hyde. Utterson is shocked because he
has heard about Edward Hyde. He thinks that Edward Hyde is blackmailing Dr. Jekyll and that is
why he is asked to prepare the will. Utterson wants to help his friend, Dr. Jekyll. So he decides
that he will find out if Edward Hyde has done something worse than what Dr. Jekyll may have
done. Poor Utterson does realize the Dr. Jekyll and Edward Hyde are the same person.