Women and Femininity in Jekyll and Hyde

Robert Louis Stevenson's portrayal of women in Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde reflects complex Victorian attitudes towards gender. While women are excluded as main characters, their depiction offers insight into themes of hypocrisy and societal expectations.

The maid's reaction to Hyde's violence is described satirically: "never had she felt more at peace with all men." This mocks both the maid's delight in retelling the gruesome story and female readers' appetite for sensational Gothic tales.

Quote: "Under which the bones were audibly shattered, and the body jumped upon the roadway. At the horror of these sights and sounds, the maid fainted."

Stevenson exaggerates the violence to an absurd degree, highlighting his critique of Gothic conventions and female readers' tastes. The maid's fainting is portrayed as unrealistic, given her excitement to recount the tale.

Women are generally portrayed negatively throughout the text:

Quote: "And many women of different nationalities passing out, key in hand, to have a morning glass"

This description paints women as alcoholics, suggesting Stevenson's potentially misogynistic view. However, it may also serve to highlight societal hypocrisy.

The housekeeper's description is particularly telling:

Quote: "An ivory-faced and silvery-haired old woman opened the door. She had an evil face smothered by hypocrisy, but her manners were excellent."

This reinforces the theme of hypocrisy, suggesting women share the same duality as men like Jekyll - presenting a respectable facade while concealing inner evil.

Highlight: Stevenson's portrayal of women can be interpreted as either misogynistic or a critique of Victorian gender roles and societal expectations.

Appearances and Duality in Jekyll and Hyde

The theme of appearances versus reality is central to Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, reflecting Victorian society's preoccupation with respectability and the hidden nature of evil. Stevenson uses vivid descriptions and metaphors to explore the concept of duality in human nature.

Jekyll's own description of Hyde reveals the internal struggle:

Quote: "None the less natural to me because they were the expression, and bore the stamp of lower elements in my soul!"

This admission highlights Jekyll's recognition of the evil within himself, manifested through Hyde. Interestingly, Stevenson refuses to provide a detailed description of Hyde's face, challenging the Victorian notion that evil can be identified through physical appearance.

Highlight: By avoiding a specific description of Hyde, Stevenson suggests that evil cannot be easily recognized or categorized based on outward appearances.

The author's approach to describing Jekyll further emphasizes the theme of duality:

Quote: "The large handsome face of Dr. Jekyll grew pale to the very lips, and there came a blackness about his eyes."

This description reveals the contrast between Jekyll's respectable exterior and his inner turmoil, hinting at the darkness lurking beneath the surface.

Stevenson uses Jekyll's house as a powerful metaphor for the duality of human nature:

Quote: "At the door of this, which wore a great air of wealth and comfort"

The front of the house represents the respectable facade that Jekyll presents to society. However, the rear of the building tells a different story:

Quote: "A certain sinister block of building thrust forward its gable on the street"

The contrast between the front and back of the house mirrors the duality within Jekyll himself, with the respectable front concealing a darker, more sinister aspect.

Example: The imagery of a "blistered and distained" door suggests corruption and decay, symbolizing the erosion of Jekyll's moral character.

Through these vivid descriptions and metaphors, Stevenson explores the complex relationship between appearances and reality in Victorian society, challenging readers to look beyond surface-level respectability.

Christianity and Religious Commentary

Stevenson's treatment of Christianity in Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde reflects the tension between traditional religious beliefs and emerging scientific understanding in Victorian society. The author uses exaggerated language and imagery to subtly mock Christian beliefs and readers' religious sensibilities.

Quote: "This was the shocking thing: that the slime of the pit seemed to utter cries and voices; that the amorphous dust gesticulated and sinned; that what was dead, and had no shape should usurp the offices of life."

This overwrought description of Hyde deliberately employs complex, pseudo-religious language to poke fun at Christian concepts of heaven and hell. The phrase "slime of the pit" reinforces the idea that Hyde emerged from hell, playing on religious imagery.

Vocabulary: Amorphous - without a clearly defined shape or form

Stevenson's use of such grandiose language mimics the style of religious sermons, subtly mocking their dramatic rhetoric. This approach allows him to critique Christianity without overtly offending his largely Christian readership.

The author's skepticism towards traditional religious beliefs aligns with the growing influence of scientific thought in the Victorian era. However, Stevenson treads carefully, aware that openly declaring atheism would alienate his audience.

Highlight: Stevenson's religious commentary in Jekyll and Hyde reflects the broader conflict between science and religion in Victorian society.