Themes: Change and Transformation
This urge to eliminate a troublesome aspect of his character drives Jekyll to challenge the natural laws by transforming into the evil Mr. Hyde. In his essay on The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Irving S. Saposnik observes, "As the reflection of Jekyll's inner urges, he symbolizes the darker side of humanity that society has attempted to suppress: he is a being with primal instincts unleashed upon a world determined to deny him. He serves as a reminder of the barbarism that underlies civilization, an essential part of human psychology that most would rather remain unacknowledged."
Expert Q&A
What effects does the "impure" drug have on Dr. Jekyll in The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde?
The "impure" drug gives Dr. Jekyll a transformative experience marked by intense physical pain followed by a sense of rejuvenation and mental liberation. Despite the initial agony, he feels younger and experiences a "liberty" that is far from innocent, filled with reckless and disordered sensual images. This transformation reveals his inner wickedness, making him "tenfold more wicked" than before, highlighting the drug's morally corrupting effects.
Exploring themes in The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and their connection to Darwin's work
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde explores themes of duality and the struggle between good and evil, reflecting Darwin's ideas of natural selection and evolution. The novella suggests humanity's inherent conflict between civilized behavior and primal instincts, paralleling Darwin’s theories on the evolution of species and the survival of the fittest.
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