45 minutes; 1 question; 40 marks; 20% of GCSE
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Robot Says…
- Fear and terror are central themes in Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, reflecting Victorian anxieties about science, morality, and the duality of human nature.
- The novel explores the fear of the unknown through the mysterious and violent actions of Mr Hyde, who is described as having a "haunting sense of unexpressed deformity."
- Dr Jekyll represents the terror of losing control of one’s morality, as he succumbs to the darker impulses personified in Hyde: “I was slowly losing hold of my original and better self.”
- The Victorian societal fear of scientific progress and its consequences is evident in Jekyll’s experiments. His transformation into Hyde is both unnatural and horrifying, embodying concerns about tampering with nature: “Man is not truly one, but truly two.”
- The setting of the novel amplifies the atmosphere of fear and terror. The dark, foggy streets of London mirror the sinister duality of Jekyll and Hyde and evoke a sense of claustrophobia and danger.
- The fear of moral and social decay is portrayed through Hyde’s brutal acts, such as the murder of Sir Danvers Carew, which is described with shocking violence: "bones were audibly shattered."
- Terror is also psychological, as characters such as Mr Utterson and Dr Lanyon grapple with the disturbing truth of Jekyll’s secret. Lanyon’s reaction to witnessing the transformation is described as traumatising: “My life is shaken to its roots.”
- The novel’s conclusion heightens the terror, as Jekyll realises the irreversible nature of his condition, and Hyde begins to take over completely: “The powers of Hyde seemed to have grown with the sickliness of Jekyll.”
- Contextually, the novel reflects Victorian fears of the duality of man, where civilised appearances hide darker, primal instincts. This ties into broader anxieties about the fragility of societal order.
- Ultimately, the themes of fear and terror in the novel contribute to a deeper understanding of its moral message: unchecked ambition and the suppression of one’s darker instincts can lead to destruction and chaos.
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Relating to… Fear & Terror
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