DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE : THEME

Theme is the main idea or ideas of the novel. The main ideas are issues that the author wants the readers to know. The issues may be related to the time or the era of writing the novel or even a problem that was significant during the era the author lives. Theme may not be clearly stated in words but is embedded in the story. There could be few main themes and sub-themes.

Themes in the novel:

• There is always a good and bad side to a character

Dr.Jekyll believes that every person’s character has a good and bad side. He wants to use hi scientific knowledge to separate these sides and control them.

• Crime does not pay

When a person commits a crime, the person will be punished for the crime in one way or other. For example, Edward Hyde is a wicked and cruel person. He stepped on Edie, a young girl and walked on without turning back. He also hit Sir Danvers Carew to death in front of his house. In the end, Hyde was hunted by the police and everyone else. He was very unhappy and finally he committed suicide.

• Friendship

Mr.Utterson, Dr.Lanyon and Richard Enfield are Dr.Jekyll’s good friends who value their friendship and care for him very much. They became very concerned when they saw the change in his behaviour. For example, when Dr.Jekyll refused to change his will, Mr.Utterson thought he was being blackmailed by Hyde and he went to investigate the matter. When Dr Jekyll pleaded in his letter to Dr Lanyon to take a drawer from his study as his life depended on it, Dr Lanyon followed his instructions.

• Loyalty

Poole, Dr Jekyll’s manservant had worked for Dr Jekyll for twenty years. When Dr Jekyll locked himself in his laboratory for a week, he rushed to Mr Utterson’s house to ask for his help as he was worried.