Theme of Violence in Jekyll and Hyde

Summary

In this video, the importance of the word 'contemporary' is explored in relation to Robert Louis Stevenson's 'Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,' focusing on three key themes: violence, lies and deceit, and curiosity. The video delves into how Stevenson critiques his Victorian readers' fascination with violence through exaggerated descriptions, while also addressing their self-deception and societal repression. The narrative reflects on how society shapes individuals' hidden desires, with Stevenson subtly accusing readers of being complicit in the very vices they seek in fiction. Ultimately, the video offers insights on how Stevenson both entertains and critiques his audience's morality and curiosity.

Takeaways

• 😀 Penny dreadfuls were cheap, sensational stories catering to Victorian readers' appetite for crime, violence, and debauchery.
• 😀 Jekyll and Hyde explores the contrast between the respectable Jekyll and the violent Hyde, mirroring the duality in society's fascination with crime.
• 😀 The fear of drug addiction in Victorian society, particularly opium, is reflected in the creation of Hyde, who embodies the darker side of human nature.
• 😀 Violence in the novel, especially in Hyde's murder of Sir Danvers Carew, is exaggerated to criticize readers' thirst for violent entertainment.
• 😀 Stevenson uses hyperbole in the description of Hyde's violence to mock the childish nature of contemporary readers' interest in extreme thrill-seeking.
• 😀 Through the character of Utterson, Stevenson critiques self-deception, with the lawyer hiding important evidence instead of confronting the truth.
• 😀 Stevenson critiques Victorian society’s tolerance for lies and deceit, particularly among the middle class, which enables immoral behavior to go unchallenged.
• 😀 Curiosity, as seen through Utterson's investigation, is both a central theme and a tool for critiquing the desire to uncover sensational truths at the cost of deeper reflection.
• 😀 Stevenson highlights how societal repression forces individuals to hide their vices, suggesting that Hyde's actions are a result of this oppressive environment.
• 😀 The novel critiques contemporary readers' addiction to violence, self-deception, and societal repression, encouraging a deeper moral reflection on these issues.

Q & A

What is the significance of the term 'contemporary' when describing readers in the context of 'Jekyll and Hyde'?

The term 'contemporary' refers to the Victorian audience who were the readers of works like 'Jekyll and Hyde'. Their tastes, fears, and societal conditions heavily influenced the themes of the novel, such as violence, deceit, and curiosity, all of which were popular in the literature of that time.

How does the concept of 'penny dreadfuls' relate to the themes in 'Jekyll and Hyde'?

'Penny dreadfuls' were cheap, sensationalized texts that catered to the Victorian readers' appetite for crime, violence, and debauchery. In 'Jekyll and Hyde', the character of Hyde embodies these characteristics, performing acts of violence and vice that parallel the fictionalized crimes of penny dreadfuls, highlighting the darker aspects of human nature.

What role does drug addiction play in 'Jekyll and Hyde'?

Drug addiction is a significant theme in 'Jekyll and Hyde'. Stevenson explores the idea that Jekyll's transformation into Hyde is influenced by the use of drugs, such as the legal consumption of opium. This parallels the growing fear of addiction in Victorian society and represents the potential dangers of unchecked scientific exploration and societal repression.

How does Stevenson use the violence in 'Jekyll and Hyde' to comment on contemporary readers' desires?

Stevenson uses exaggerated descriptions of violence in 'Jekyll and Hyde' to highlight the sensationalism of contemporary readers' tastes. By using hyperbole, he criticizes the audience's thirst for extreme, often unrealistic violence, pointing out how this desire for thrill-seeking reflects a childish and unsophisticated mentality.

What is the significance of the 'ape-like fury' in the scene where Hyde kills Sir Danvers Carew?

The phrase 'ape-like fury' is used by Stevenson to draw a connection between Hyde's violent nature and the theory of evolution. By likening Hyde's actions to those of an ape, Stevenson suggests that such brutal violence is a regressive, animalistic trait, symbolizing the darker, more primitive side of human nature.

How does Stevenson critique Victorian society's moral standards through the character of Utterson?

Stevenson critiques Victorian society through Utterson's actions, particularly his choice to hide evidence of a crime. By locking away the note that implicates Jekyll in a murder, Utterson, a respected lawyer, symbolizes the hypocrisy of Victorian respectability. Stevenson suggests that society is more inclined to conceal the truth and protect its reputation than confront uncomfortable realities.

In what way does Stevenson criticize the role of the law in Victorian society?

Stevenson uses the character of Utterson to show how the law, meant to uphold justice, is often complicit in societal corruption. Utterson's decision to hide the incriminating evidence rather than expose the truth reflects how the legal system may protect individuals who are part of the 'respectable' class, even at the cost of justice.

How does Stevenson explore the theme of curiosity in 'Jekyll and Hyde'?

Stevenson explores curiosity through the character of Utterson, who embodies the role of a detective trying to uncover the mystery of Hyde. However, Stevenson also critiques the nature of curiosity, especially when it is driven by a desire for sensationalism or thrill, rather than a deeper understanding of moral or societal issues.

What does Stevenson suggest about the relationship between societal repression and human vice in 'Jekyll and Hyde'?

Stevenson suggests that societal repression forces individuals to hide their natural desires and curiosities, leading to the expression of those vices in destructive ways. The creation of Hyde, who represents Jekyll's repressed desires, serves as a critique of the oppressive Victorian society that labels such desires as sinful or immoral.

How does Stevenson use the characters in 'Jekyll and Hyde' to reflect the duality of human nature?

Through the characters of Jekyll and Hyde, Stevenson explores the duality of human nature, where a person can harbor both good and evil tendencies. Jekyll's transformation into Hyde represents the conflict between the socially acceptable self and the darker, hidden aspects of one's personality, which society forces individuals to repress.