Setting in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Stevenson masterfully uses the London setting in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde to create a haunting atmosphere that reflects the novel's themes of duality and moral ambiguity. The familiar streets of Victorian London are transformed into a nightmarish landscape, making the story even more unsettling for contemporary readers.
The author emphasizes the emptiness of London's streets, which adds to the overall tension. For instance, when Poole takes Utterson to Jekyll's house, Utterson notes that he had never seen that part of London so deserted. This eerie emptiness serves to isolate the characters and heighten the sense of unease.
Quote: "He had never seen that part of London so deserted."
Stevenson's portrayal of Soho is particularly striking, describing it as "a district of some city in a nightmare." This vivid imagery underscores the dark and foreboding nature of the setting, which mirrors the psychological turmoil of the characters.
The symbolism of fog in Victorian literature is employed extensively throughout the novel. The fog serves multiple purposes:
- It works against the characters by restricting their view of events, creating a sense of uncertainty and danger.
- It symbolizes mystery, particularly in relation to Jekyll's house, which is described as 'foggy,' representing how deeply his secret is suppressed.
Highlight: The use of fog and darkness symbolizes the narrative as a whole - only one part of the truth can be seen at any time.
The moon also plays a significant role in highlighting certain aspects of the setting. For example, Carew's murder is described as "brilliantly lit by the full moon," adding suspense and spotlighting the violent act.
Jekyll's house is a central symbol in the novel, embodying the duality of Jekyll's house symbolism. The house represents the respectable public face of man, with its "air of wealth," while Hyde's entrance and the laboratory represent the darker, hidden side of human nature. This duality is further emphasized by the contrast between the front and back of the house:
Example: The laboratory has a "blistered and distained" back door, symbolizing how the Hyde side of Jekyll's personality is connected to him but kept hidden away.
The laboratory itself is a powerful symbol of Jekyll's shame and his attempts to suppress Hyde. It is described as a "dingy windowless structure," emphasizing its secrecy and suitability as a hiding place. The lack of windows represents Jekyll's desire to conceal his experiments and his darker nature from the outside world.
Vocabulary: Dingy - gloomy and drab in appearance.
As Hyde becomes more powerful, Jekyll's house transforms into a "house of bondage," becoming increasingly sinister. Jekyll's decision to lock himself in the house symbolizes his desperate attempts to contain Hyde within himself.
The personification of fog as an ethereal being that looks down over the dark city adds another layer of symbolism to the setting. This representation reflects Victorian repression of innermost desires and the concealment of truth:
Quote: "The fog slept on the wing above the drowned city."
This vivid imagery suggests that the natural environment is all-consuming, with clouds smothering the city, much like how societal expectations and moral constraints smother the characters' true natures.
In conclusion, Stevenson's use of setting in "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" is masterful, creating a rich tapestry of symbolism that enhances the novel's themes of duality, repression, and the struggle between good and evil. The London setting in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, with its fog-shrouded streets and ominous architecture, serves as a powerful metaphor for the complex psychological landscape of the human mind.
