Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde - CONTEXT Flashcards
When and where was Stevenson born?
In Scotland in 1850 (during Victorian era)
What are some features of the gothic genre?
- mystery and suspense (with eeriness - creaking doors, dark clouds, mist/fog)
- mysterious and supernatural
- monstrous characters (evil + overwhelming villain, supernatural, hideous appearance)
- gloomy, eerie locations
- extreme emotions
- fear + uncertainty
- main characters discover truth
- subverts beliefs, values and behaviours
Name two other gothic genre books written at a similar time (gothic genre was popular)
Dracula and Frankenstein
What is an example of extreme emotion in Jekyll and Hyde?
Lanyon dies from shock
What does the gothic genre usually reflect?
Reflects anxieties about political and social issues (eg. Science presented as dangerous and threatening - in conflict with religious morals)
When was Jekyll and Hyde written, and how did this influence the book?
1886 - when he was bedridden with tuberculosis - influenced dark nature of book - inspired by dream
What was Stevenson’s family like?
A religious family (mother) with elements of science (father was engineer)
What did Stevenson study, and which character is this shown in?
He studied law - shown in Utterson’s character (inquisitive, methodical, rational)
Why did Stevenson travel a lot?
He was ill and it was suggested in the Victorian era that hotter countries were better for you/ cleaner air by the sea
What does Jekyll and Hyde represent?
The tension between religion and science, and morality and social freedom
What were some features of the Victorian era?
- good manners
- strict morals/morality
- reputation
What does subvert mean?
To undermine power and authority
When was the Theory of Evolution, and what did it do?
1859 - challenged religion with science
