Definition of the theme

Science versus religion/morality explores the clash between rational scientific exploration and traditional ethical or spiritual principles. In the novella, this tension reveals how unchecked scientific ambition can undermine moral foundations, leading to personal and social chaos. Stevenson portrays science as a force that tempts characters to transgress natural boundaries, often at the cost of their humanity.

Contextual connection

Victorian society's rapid scientific advancements, such as Darwin's theory of evolution, sparked fears that rational inquiry challenged religious beliefs in divine creation, mirroring Jekyll's experiments that question human moral limits.

How the theme develops through characters

Characters embody different sides of this conflict, showing science's potential to either uphold or erode moral values. Dr Jekyll represents radical science that defies religious norms, while others like Utterson and Lanyon cling to conventional ethics.

Key character representations

• Dr Jekyll - His chemical experiments aim to split human nature, symbolising a rebellion against moral constraints imposed by religion.
• Dr Lanyon - He rejects Jekyll's work as "unscientific balderdash", upholding science within ethical boundaries aligned with societal morality.
• Mr Utterson - As a lawyer, he embodies rational morality, investigating events through a lens of legal and ethical order rather than scientific excess.

This development builds suspense, as Jekyll's scientific pursuits increasingly isolate him from moral society.

Contextual connection

Stevenson's own Calvinist upbringing influenced his portrayal of moral repression, reflecting how rigid religious doctrines in Victorian Scotland drove some to extreme scientific rebellion, as seen in Jekyll's secretive transformations.

Key examples and consequences

The theme unfolds through pivotal moments where scientific overreach leads to moral downfall, warning against ignoring ethical limits. Consequences include isolation, violence, and self-destruction, emphasising the dangers of prioritising science over morality.

Major examples of the conflict

• Jekyll's experiment - By creating a potion to separate his "dual nature", Jekyll defies religious ideas of inherent human sin, resulting in Hyde's unchecked immorality.
• Lanyon's shock - Witnessing Jekyll's transformation shatters Lanyon's faith in conventional science, leading to his death from moral horror.
• Hyde's crimes - Acts like the trampling of the girl and Carew's murder show how scientific tampering unleashes primal evil, eroding societal moral order.

Consequences of unchecked science

• Personal ruin - Jekyll's ambition culminates in his loss of control, forcing him to confront the "thorough and primitive duality" within.
• Social impact - The novella suggests that ignoring moral or religious guidance spreads corruption, as Hyde's actions disrupt London's respectable society.

Contextual connection

The novella echoes Victorian debates sparked by scientific publications like Darwin's On the Origin of Species, which challenged biblical accounts of creation and heightened fears that progress without moral oversight could degrade humanity.

Important quotes related to the theme

Quotes highlight the tension between scientific innovation and moral boundaries, often revealing characters' internal struggles. They appear in chronological order from the novella.

Key quotes on science versus religion/morality

• "Scientific balderdash" (Chapter 2) - Lanyon's dismissal of Jekyll's ideas underscores the conflict between ethical science and dangerous experimentation.
• "I stood already committed to a profound duplicity of life" (Chapter 10) - Jekyll admits how his scientific pursuits force him to hide his moral transgressions.
• "Man is not truly one, but truly two" (Chapter 10) - This reflects Jekyll's scientific rationale for challenging religious views of unified human nature.
• "The drug had no discriminating action; it was neither diabolical nor divine" (Chapter 10) - Jekyll describes how science neutrally amplifies evil, bypassing moral or religious safeguards.

These quotes demonstrate Stevenson's warning that science without ethical restraint invites catastrophe.

Contextual connection

In the context of late Victorian Gothic literature, such quotes draw from contemporary anxieties about medical experiments, like vivisection debates, which pitted scientific advancement against religious notions of soul and morality.