Robot Says…

Cesare Lombroso’s theory of the “born criminal” and the concept of atavism suggest that criminal behaviour is an inherited trait and that certain physical characteristics could identify a person as a criminal. This relates directly to Mr Hyde, who is described using animalistic and atavistic imagery, such as “ape-like fury” and “troglodytic.” These descriptions align with Lombroso's ideas of atavistic degeneration, portraying Hyde as less evolved or primitive.
The idea of phrenology, which involved studying the shape and size of the skull to determine a person’s character or tendencies, is relevant when considering the duality of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Dr Jekyll represents the respectable, civilised side of humanity, whereas Mr Hyde embodies base instincts and criminal behaviour. The stark physical differences between them reflect the Victorian interest in linking appearance with morality and criminality.
Stevenson critiques the pseudoscientific nature of these theories by showing how external characteristics (like Hyde’s deformity) are used to judge morality and worth. Hyde is described as having “something displeasing, something downright detestable,” even though this impression is subjective and not based on any specific deformity. This challenges the validity of phrenology and atavism as reliable sciences.
The context of Victorian London, with its fascination for scientific discovery and fear of degeneration, amplifies the novel’s exploration of these ideas. The novel reflects anxieties about the thin veneer of civilisation and the lurking possibility of regression into savagery, a theme encapsulated in Hyde, who is described as “hardly human.”
Hyde’s actions and physicality also reflect fears of criminality and moral decay within the individual. Lombroso’s theories suggested that criminals were biologically distinct from law-abiding citizens, but Stevenson complicates this by showing that Dr Jekyll, a respectable figure, harbours dark and violent impulses, thus undermining the rigidity of Lombroso’s atavistic model.
The duality of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde mirrors the broader Victorian preoccupation with the conflict between science and morality. Jekyll’s scientific experiment to separate his good and evil sides can be seen as a critique of the dangers of overreliance on scientific theories like Lombroso’s, which sought to categorise and simplify human behaviour at the expense of moral and ethical considerations.
The novel’s recurring imagery of darkness and concealment, such as “a great chocolate-coloured pall lowered over heaven,” reinforces the idea of hidden, repressed criminal instincts, aligning with Victorian fears of the unknown and the uncontrollable nature of atavistic tendencies.
Stevenson ultimately presents a more nuanced view of human nature than the deterministic theories of Lombroso and phrenology. Through Dr Jekyll’s moral struggle and ultimate demise, the novel suggests that good and evil exist within all individuals, rejecting the simplistic categorisation of people as inherently criminal or virtuous based on physical or hereditary traits. </aside>

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Remarkable Revision

©️ Connie King, 2024-2026

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