Theme & Key Quotes: Public vs Private

Theme & Key Quotes: Public vs Private

Theme: Public vs Private

  • Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is a novel steeped in dualities, with a particular focus on the struggle between public self and private desires.
  • The titular character, Dr Henry Jekyll, represents the public persona, a respected figure in society but hiding his other self - Mr Edward Hyde.
  • Mr Hyde represents the private self, a brutal, uninhibited man, free from societal constraints.

Key quotes

  • Quote 1: “And indeed the worst of my faults was a certain impatient gaiety of disposition.” - Dr Jekyll’s confession about his own private feelings contradicting his public persona.

  • Quote 2: “I was the first that could thus plod in the public eye with a load of genial respectability, and in a moment, like a schoolboy, strip off these lendings and spring headlong into the sea of liberty.” - This indicates Jekyll’s perception of his public self as a burden, and the relief he felt when transforming into Hyde.

  • Quote 3: “That child of Hell had nothing human; nothing lived in him but fear and hatred.” - Mr Utterson commenting on Hyde, reflecting the societal disgust and rejection for such unhinged personality.

Theme: The good and evil duality

  • Stevenson’s interpretation of the duality of human nature revolves around the two main characters: Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
  • The book portrays the struggle between morality and immorality, suggesting that these two can exist within one person, represented by Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde respectively.

Key quotes

  • Quote 1: “It was on the moral side, and in my own person, that I learned to recognise the thorough and primitive duality of man.” - Dr Jekyll recognizes his dual nature.

  • Quote 2: “I knew myself, at the first breath of this new life, to be more wicked, tenfold more wicked, sold a slave to my original evil.” - Jekyll realizes his evil side (Hyde) has more dominance than his good side.

Remember, the public vs private and good vs evil themes are intertwined in the novel. The public persona of Dr Jekyll represents the good, moral side, while the private, hidden self Mr Hyde represents the evil, immoral side.