How does Jekyll create Hyde?

Jekyll creates Hyde through a series of experiments that he conducts over many years. Interested in the possibility of separating man’s nature into two distinct components, Jekyll’s exploration of mysticism leads to the concoction of a drug which, when ingested, causes the drinker to transform both physically and mentally from one identity to another. Jekyll initially believes that the first batch of his key ingredient, a type of chemical salt, is pure, but upon trying to recreate his drug with a new batch of pure salt, discovers that the initial batch ultimately had a mysterious impurity that made the experiment possible.

Why does Jekyll create Hyde?

Jekyll creates Hyde in response to an internal struggle he experiences regarding his personal identity and his desired public persona. He admits that while he aims to “carry [his] head high” and act as a respectable gentleman in public, he also experiences an “impatient gaiety of disposition” which inspires frivolous or indecent behavior. Having reflected on the fact that he has lived the majority of his life in a dual nature anyways, Jekyll feels inspired to begin exploring the double-sidedness of man scientifically and eventually makes it possible to literally embody only one half at a time.

Why does Hyde kill Sir Danvers Carew?

Hyde kills Sir Danvers Carew in a fit of rage that ensues after Jekyll drinks the potion for the first time in two months. Jekyll explains in his confessional that he felt the need to choose one nature over the other, and that while he initially sided with his identity as Jekyll, Hyde’s struggle for freedom drove him to return to the potion once more. Hyde “came out roaring” after having been suppressed for so long and, with unprecedented strength and menace, “mauled the unresisting body” of Sir Danvers Carew. This act satisfies Hyde’s inherent urge for evil but leaves Jekyll distraught and in tears as he prays to God for forgiveness.

Why is Utterson concerned about Jekyll’s will?

The strange clause that gives Mr. Edward Hyde the rights to Jekyll’s possessions in case of his death or disappearance is the first sign to Mr. Utterson that something is not quite right with his old friend. Besides the fact that Mr. Utterson knows Mr. Hyde to be of questionable moral character, the mention of an extended disappearance makes him extremely concerned for Jekyll’s well-being. He also fears that, should the details of the will become public information, his friend will be disgraced for his associations with Hyde. 

Why is the story told from Utterson’s point of view?

All but the last two chapters of the novella use a third person limited point of view and follow Mr. Utterson’s experiences as he tries to make sense of the mysterious happenings surrounding Dr. Jekyll. Stevenson’s choice to highlight Utterson’s point of view allows him to heighten the suspenseful and mysterious moods of the text while still giving readers enough insider information to follow the action. Telling the story from Jekyll or Hyde’s point of view would have eliminated the sense of mystery, and an outsider’s point of view would make it difficult for Stevenson to communicate specific personal details about Jekyll to readers. Mr. Utterson’s position as Jekyll’s friend and lawyer, not to mention his embodiment of Victorian sensibilities, make him an ideal candidate for guiding the narrative.

How does Jekyll lose control over his ability to turn into Hyde?

Jekyll’s first loss of control over his transformation occurs when he goes to sleep as Jekyll and wakes up the next morning as Hyde. While he finds this turn of events baffling, he acknowledges that Hyde seems to have grown in stature and gained strength and suspects that his evil counterpart is becoming more dominant. Jekyll also admits to doubling the dose of his drug on multiple occasions in order to make the transformation. These details imply that Jekyll’s loss of control stems from how frequently Hyde has been present and active as well as how much of the drug Jekyll has taken to turn into his opposite.

Why does Lanyon appear ill when Utterson visits him?

Unbeknownst to Mr. Utterson, his visit to Lanyon occurs not long after the doctor watches in horror as Hyde transforms into Jekyll. Lanyon experiences an intense sense of terror and dread knowing what Jekyll managed to create, feelings that drive him to speak of an impending death. Utterson, of course, expresses concern for his friend’s shock but is unable to comprehend the gravity of the situation. As Lanyon predicts, he dies soon after learning of Jekyll’s experiment.

Does Jekyll kill Hyde?

Jekyll does not directly kill Hyde himself, but the circumstances in which he leaves Hyde work to instigate his suicide. As his drug supply runs out and he fails to recreate it, Jekyll realizes that Hyde is too powerful and will become the dominant personality, making it impossible for his good identity to ever return. He also knows, however, that Hyde fears death and the possibility of being hanged for murdering Sir Danvers Carew. With this information, Jekyll wonders in the final lines of his confessional whether Hyde will find himself condemned to the gallows or commit suicide. Either option offers Jekyll the hope that Hyde will not endure much longer than himself.

What happens to Hyde after Jekyll dies?

Jekyll’s death occurs when he transforms into Hyde for the final time, an event made possible by the weakening of his good persona and the absence of his transformative drug. Once Hyde becomes the singular identity, he kills himself, presumably with poison from “the crushed phial in the hand” of the deceased. This outcome is one which Jekyll admits to suspecting in his final confessional, explaining that Hyde feared death by hanging for killing Sir Danvers Carew.

What makes the novella gothic?

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is full of Gothic elements that work together to create the sense of mystery and fear that characterizes the genre. Many aspects of the novella’s setting, including the “sinister block of building” that allows Hyde to enter Jekyll’s house, the dingy street of Hyde’s Soho dwelling, and the frequent presence of fog, mist, and wind, are Gothic in nature. These elements help to establish a mood of uncertainty and decay, both of which represent the Gothic preoccupation with the tension between the past and present. Jekyll’s experiments touch on similar themes as they arise from reflections on his past as a metaphorical dual-life. The concept of doubles is yet another Gothic motif, one that allows for explorations of the human psyche and emphasizes the potential threats that lie within it. 

What are the differences between Jekyll and Hyde?

The differences between Jekyll and Hyde include both physical disparities as well as psychological and behavioral discrepancies. First and foremost, Jekyll and Hyde appear to be two completely different people. Jekyll is tall, strong, and gentlemanly in stature while Hyde is smaller and somewhat deformed. In terms of personality, Jekyll is kind to his friends and guests, generous with his time, and a man of religion. Jekyll secretly gleans some pleasure, however, from Hyde’s evil doings since the two share a memory and he is a composite figure. Alternatively, Hyde is purely evil and shamelessly satisfies a range of vices including violence and drinking. 

How is the story a reflection of the Victorian Era?

The novella’s interest in public identity, reputation, strict morality, reason, and scientific inquiry are all elements which reflect the Victorian values of the world in which Stevenson was writing. Characters such as Mr. Utterson and Mr. Enfield represent the ideal Victorian gentleman, for example, as they aim to preserve the reputation of others and look for logical explanations to the mysterious occurrences that they witness. The sense of duality that Jekyll sees as characterizing his entire life also speaks to the Victorian Era’s strict moral code, his guilty pleasures left unsatisfied out of a fear of social retribution. Hyde’s existence may have the appearances of a supernatural event but, in reality, is the product of Jekyll’s scientific inquiry. The contrast of the novella’s Victorian elements with its Gothic ones illuminates a kind of literary duality, reflecting the era’s struggle to navigate between a façade of respectability and the dark dealings that lie beneath it.

What is the significance of Jekyll’s house?

Jekyll’s house is a symbolic representation of the Jekyll and Hyde’s characters and the connection between them. The main house, where Jekyll lives, offers “an air of wealth and comfort” and represents his public identity as an upstanding gentleman of sound moral character. Contrary to this respectable space, however, is the laboratory which connects to the main house. The laboratory, a “dingy, windowless structure” that appears as a “sinister block of building” from the outside, symbolizes Hyde’s evil spirit. The fact that a passerby would be unable to tell that the main house and lab are connected from their point of view on the street also represents the notion that no one is able to piece together the relationship between Jekyll and Hyde.

How do Jekyll and Hyde feel about each other?

Early in the novel, Jekyll feels particularly protective over Hyde, demanding that his house staff treat him with respect and begging Utterson to ensure that his “friend” will be treated according to his will. This relationship begins to morph, however, as Hyde grows increasingly powerful. Hyde’s murder of Sir Danvers Carew particularly horrifies Jekyll, and as his evil counterpart shows his true colors, Jekyll instinctively develops a hatred for their relationship and the unnatural quality of Hyde’s life. Hyde also feels hatred toward Jekyll, but he expresses it in a much more violent way. Upset with Jekyll’s despondency and his reputation in the wake of the Carew murder, Hyde continually attempts “temporary suicide” and destroys Jekyll’s personal belongings. Were it not for a fear of death, Hyde would kill himself just to satisfy his desire to be rid of Jekyll.

Are Jekyll and Hyde the same person?

Hyde is Jekyll's alter ego. The extent to which Jekyll and Hyde are different people or the same is up for debate, and indeed the exploration of this idea takes up much of the novella. Jekyll creates Hyde as a means of liberating his dark side; Hyde is a manifestation of inner thoughts and feelings too sinister to act on. But while Jekyll succeeds in creating Hyde, he does not remove his own darkness altogether. That Jekyll created Hyde to purge his own evil desires, and that the Hyde persona ultimately begins to supersede the Jekyll one, suggests they are, essentially, one and the same.

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