How Does Stevenson Represent Victorian Society in His Novella ’jekyll and Hyde’?

How Does Stevenson Represent Victorian Society In His Novella 'Jekyll And Hyde'?

Throughout the novella 'Jekyll and Hyde', Robert Louis Stevenson represents Victorian society in various ways. The characters used in the novella are an example of what Stevenson thought of London in Victorian times. Moral views of people living around this time have changed imensely to the present. The Victorian era seems to be a time of many contradictions and secrets from the rest of society. Any thoughts or feelings of emotion or sexual feelings were thought to be wrong and should not be shown in any way so people's thoughts and feelings were restricted. New or radical ideas were also unaccepted as Victorians feared the unknown. Mr Utterson, a respectable man, is described to be 'backward in sentiment' meaning he finds it hard to show emotion. However, he is most probably hiding his emotions to do what is right within society.

Mr Enfield, a close friend of Mr Utterson, made sure 'they resisted the calls of business'. This implies they made sure their walks were priority. This seems strange as 'it was a nut to crack for many to see what they could see in eachother'. This implies that their relationship is uncertain and they have nothing in common; nevertheless they still took their walks that 'they may enjoy uninterrupted'. This is an implication made by Stevenson that it is a possibility

that a homosexual relationship may be occurring

which would be frowned on by Victorian society. Someone of Mr Utterson's class would not be expected to be involved in this type of relationship; it is therfore a contradiction of what is expected of the class system. In chapter two, Utterson believes that Hyde is blackmailing Jekyll. Therefore, he considers blackmailing Hyde to leave Utterson alone. Stevenson is implying here also that the Victorians contradict themselves. 'Utterson began to haunt the door in the bystreet of shops' This is also a contradiction of Victorian society as Utterson is striving to discover the unknown which was not accepted.

Dr Jekyll, a well-liked doctor, seeks to separate

his good side from his evil; yet another action that would be frowned upon by victorian society because it's out of the ordinary. He discovers a way to transform himself into a monster free of conscience- Mr. Hyde. Whilst transforming ' the large,handsome face of Dr Jekyll grew pale to the very lips and there came a blackness about his eyes'. The positive description changing to negative represents the transformation from a pleasant person to a nasty person. It could also reflect the evil side of Jekyll's personality. Jekyll enjoyed taking the role of Hyde as it provided him with a sense of freedom. 'This, too, was myself. It seemed natural and human. In my eyes, it bore a livlier image of the spirit'. This reflects how Victorian society were looking for ways to hide their feelings that were deemed wrong. 'Many man would have even blazoned such irregularites as I was guilty of', 'Irregularities' is a metaphor for Victorian society and suggests he was already leading a double life already. Although it is not stated in the novella; Stevenson is implying that Jekyll has slept with prostitutes and/or is homosexual. Eventually, Jekyll found that he was turning into Hyde involuntarily in his sleep and committing horrifying crimes. At this point, Jekyll resolved to cease becoming Hyde. 'It was Hyde, after all, and Hyde alone, that was guilty' After being Hyde for a certain period of time, Jekyll begins to talk about him in third person. This shows that Hyde is taking over Jekylls coinscience and also that Jekyll is ashamed of his actions and is trying to separate

himself from Hyde. Stevenson may be implying that Victorians hide from their problems by separating

themselves from anything different. The name 'Hyde' could have been used for this reason. Jekylls opinion is expressed through Hydels comment 'If ever I read Satans signature upon a face, it is on that of your new friend'. Stevenson is suggesting that there is evil in everyone although Victorians believed it was untrue.

When we first encounter Dr Lanyon, he dismisses Dr Jekylls experiments calling them 'unscientific balderdash'. This is another example to show that Victorians will not accept anything different to society. Dr Lanyon is also described in the novella as being' sat alone over his wine' This suggests