In the novella The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson there is a wide range of themes, symbolism, and imagery. A theme that makes a frequent appearance throughout the story is the importance of silence in order to maintain a characters reputation. This is shown through characters refusing to speak up or ask questions about situations that could put their reputation in danger. Situations such as speaking too much about another character, asking too many questions, and writing letters with important secrets rather than speaking to someone about them. These letters, written by several different characters, all come together at the end of the story as pieces of a puzzle. The theme of silence and secretive written
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Jekyll and Mr. Hyde can document the secrets that they are too afraid to speak in person with another. These letters all come together at the end and help add mystery to the novella. “Here then, as I lay down the pen and proceed to seal up my confession, I bring the life of that unhappy Henry Jekyll to an end” (66). This is the very sentence in the gothic novella, Jekyll wrote a letter to Mr. Utterson explaining all that has happened concerning him and Mr. Hyde. Along with this letter Jekyll has included a letter from Dr. Lanyon that was also meant for Utterson, by combining the two letters we can understand the nature and connection between Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Throughout the story Mr. Utterson works relentlessly to help keep Jekyll’s reputation from being tainted by Mr. Hyde. Dr. Jekyll also works very hard to keep his identity of Hyde away from discovery from any of the other characters so that he can maintain his well established reputation. Jekyll explains in his letter that with his first transformation into Hyde he felt youthful and happier in his new body (54). In repressing any desire that would have appeared morally wrong to others, thus tainting his reputation Jekyll found himself feeling very unhappy. Due to the judgement and backlash that Jekyll would have faced in revealing his perverse ways to others Jekyll is forced to find a way to let these desires out. Secrets that could not have been spoken
Jekyll and Mr. Hyde can document the secrets that they are too afraid to speak in person with another. These letters all come together at the end and help add mystery to the novella. “Here then, as I lay down the pen and proceed to seal up my confession, I bring the life of that unhappy Henry Jekyll to an end” (66). This is the very sentence in the gothic novella, Jekyll wrote a letter to Mr. Utterson explaining all that has happened concerning him and Mr. Hyde. Along with this letter Jekyll has included a letter from Dr. Lanyon that was also meant for Utterson, by combining the two letters we can understand the nature and connection between Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Throughout the story Mr. Utterson works relentlessly to help keep Jekyll’s reputation from being tainted by Mr. Hyde. Dr. Jekyll also works very hard to keep his identity of Hyde away from discovery from any of the other characters so that he can maintain his well established reputation. Jekyll explains in his letter that with his first transformation into Hyde he felt youthful and happier in his new body (54). In repressing any desire that would have appeared morally wrong to others, thus tainting his reputation Jekyll found himself feeling very unhappy. Due to the judgement and backlash that Jekyll would have faced in revealing his perverse ways to others Jekyll is forced to find a way to let these desires out. Secrets that could not have been spoken