Robot Says…

The Victorian era fascination with sensationalism, including figures like Punch and Judy and Spring-Heeled Jack, reflects societal fears and anxieties that are central to Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. These figures represent chaos, unpredictability, and the darker side of human nature, themes that resonate with the duality of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
Spring-Heeled Jack, a folkloric figure of terror, embodies the fear of an uncontrollable, almost supernatural menace. Similarly, Mr Hyde is described as having a "haunting sense of unexpressed deformity," a reflection of society's fear of the unknown and deviant.
The violent and anarchic humour of Punch and Judy mirrors the violence in Mr Hyde's actions, such as his brutal murder of Sir Danvers Carew, described as committed with "ape-like fury." This comparison highlights the grotesque and exaggerated nature of violence as a form of entertainment and a societal concern during the Victorian era.
Both Punch and Judy and Spring-Heeled Jack were figures that blurred the line between entertainment and moral cautionary tales. Similarly, Dr Jekyll's experiments blur the line between scientific progress and moral transgression, illustrating the dangers of unchecked ambition and curiosity.
The Victorian audience's familiarity with these figures would have heightened their awareness of the novel's exploration of duality, repression, and the consequences of giving in to baser instincts. The exaggerated personas of Punch and Judy and Spring-Heeled Jack serve as cultural touchstones for understanding Mr Hyde's grotesque and exaggerated embodiment of evil.
The novel reflects the Victorian preoccupation with outward respectability and hidden transgressions, a theme also evident in the public/private dichotomy of Punch and Judy performances. While Dr Jekyll maintains his respectable façade, Mr Hyde indulges in behaviours that Victorian society deemed unacceptable, much like the hidden, darker nature of Punch and Judy's violent antics.
The cultural backdrop of sensationalism and caricature in figures like Spring-Heeled Jack influences how Stevenson constructs Mr Hyde not only as a character but also as a symbol of the fears and contradictions of Victorian society. As Mr Enfield describes him, Hyde evokes a feeling of "something wrong with his appearance; something displeasing, something downright detestable."
In conclusion, the contextual knowledge of Punch and Judy and Spring-Heeled Jack deepens the reader's understanding of Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, as these figures symbolise the societal tensions, fears, and preoccupations that Stevenson critiques through his exploration of human duality and moral ambiguity. </aside>

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