Context in Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
• Victorian Gentleman
Gentleman were expected to have strong morals and keep their emotions under strict
control which Jekyll struggled with as the pressure of being perceived as respectable by
society was difficult for him especially when he committed sin in secret. Many benefits came
with being a gentleman by allowing individuals to enter well-paid industries like medicine
and law.
• Victorian London
When Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde was set the industrial revolution was taking place this means
that many working-class individuals moved to cities like London in order to find work so as a
result housing had to be built rapidly to accommodate workers and their families. These
slums were often damp, with no running water or proper sanitation which caused
widespread diseases like cholera. The large-scale of coal burning caused thick and powerful
smoke creating huge fog from the significant air pollution.
• Victorian Religion and Science
Christianity had a very strong influence on many areas of London by revoking an intense
feeling of tradition and history which solidifies the theme of Science vs Religion which
reminds the reader of the juxtaposition between different beliefs within their society. As
Darwin’s theory explains that humans were connected to animals and evolved from apes
which caused a fear of the scientific development going against religion.
• Psychology and Sigmund Freud
Sigmund Freud found the structural theory of the mind like the id, the superego and the ego.
In the novel, it can be interpretated that Hyde could be argued to be representative of an
individual who is controlled by the id (is your desires and wants like hidden sexual and
aggressive desires) whereas Jekyll could be viewed as a character which symbolises the
superego (the conscious saying that you must not commit these criminal acts).
• Victorian Gentleman
Gentleman were expected to have strong morals and keep their emotions under strict
control which Jekyll struggled with as the pressure of being perceived as respectable by
society was difficult for him especially when he committed sin in secret. Many benefits came
with being a gentleman by allowing individuals to enter well-paid industries like medicine
and law.
• Victorian London
When Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde was set the industrial revolution was taking place this means
that many working-class individuals moved to cities like London in order to find work so as a
result housing had to be built rapidly to accommodate workers and their families. These
slums were often damp, with no running water or proper sanitation which caused
widespread diseases like cholera. The large-scale of coal burning caused thick and powerful
smoke creating huge fog from the significant air pollution.
• Victorian Religion and Science
Christianity had a very strong influence on many areas of London by revoking an intense
feeling of tradition and history which solidifies the theme of Science vs Religion which
reminds the reader of the juxtaposition between different beliefs within their society. As
Darwin’s theory explains that humans were connected to animals and evolved from apes
which caused a fear of the scientific development going against religion.
• Psychology and Sigmund Freud
Sigmund Freud found the structural theory of the mind like the id, the superego and the ego.
In the novel, it can be interpretated that Hyde could be argued to be representative of an
individual who is controlled by the id (is your desires and wants like hidden sexual and
aggressive desires) whereas Jekyll could be viewed as a character which symbolises the
superego (the conscious saying that you must not commit these criminal acts).
