Alex Williams

Dr. Hewitt HIS 102 Section 1

The Transformation
The novel Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde shows many different aspects as to why the author
saw this time in European history to be very deceiving because as changes were coming to
society and technology, these changes would also shape a different kind of person. The notion
of progress is very much question because of the transformation made from Dr. Jekyll to Mr.
Hyde in this story. There are many parts of this novel that show modern society to be not so
great even though the advancements being made would show others it was. This novel may also
be fiction but it is very much evidence in portraying a world that was not ready for the changes it
was going to receive.
The author has many spots in this novel where he shows his readers that this time in
history was a time of change in society and the way of life, through this he puts many
illustrations of how people are changing as well. One of the best examples of this change
happening is seen in chapter 9 when the author is telling of the transformation the potion is going
under:
He thanked me with a smiling nod, measured out a few minims of the red tincture and
added one of the powders. The mixture, which was at first of a reddish hue, began, in
proportion as the crystals melted, to brighten in colour, to effervesce audibly, and to
throw off small fumes of vapour. Suddenly and at the same moment, the ebullition ceased
and the compound changed to a dark purple, which faded again more slowly to a watery
green. My visitor, who had watched these metamorphoses with a keen eye, smiled, set
down the glass upon the table, and then turned and looked upon me with an air of
scrutiny. 1

1 Robert Louis Stevenson, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Barnes and Noble Classics, 2003),
59

This section of the story is telling of the transformation of the potion, obviously, but it is
symbolism that is showing the reader the transformation of Dr. Jekyll. All throughout this novel
he is changing into a different type of man and the transformation of the potion is cleverly used
by the author in order for the reader to understand that things in the late nineteenth century were
transforming, not only the way of life but the people in life. Also this change can be good, the
author is not one that shows all people in the new changing world to be evil but also to have
good inside them as well. This is seen in a statement describing Dr. Jekyll once again, but this
time in a different manner, Both sides of me were in dead earnest; I was no more myself when I
laid aside restraint and plunged in shame, than when I laboured, in the eye of day, at the
futherance of knowledge or the relief of sorrow and suffering2. This time the author is showing
us that both good and evil exist in this character and both sides have equal opportunity to come
forth. This shows that the societies progressing into a new future way of living are also bringing
out a part of humans that has been bottled up more than brought out. The author is showing us in
these examples that each human in the time and now have the potential for good, but also have
the potential to be evil as Mr. Hyde. The point is for everyone in this time to understand that a
good man has every potential to be as evil with this progress as well. The people living in the
progress were just seeing the surface and they could not see anything but the good in these
advancements.
This transformation being discussed can also be seen in the everyday, modern lives of the
individuals inside the novel. This type of anxiety can be seen in the women portrayed in the
story because of their reactions and the way they talk men. First seen is the reactions the women
have, At the sight of Mr. Utterson, the housemaid broke into hysterical whimpering; and the

2 Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, 61-62

cook, crying out Bless God! it's Mr. Utterson, ran forward as if to take him in her arms3, this
reaction shown depicts a picture that the women in this society could not live without the help of
men. Also seen is the way a woman would speak to a man, Once a woman spoke to him,
offering, I think, a box of lights. He smote her in the face, and she fled4, this portion of the story
shows that women has changed from being the Angels of the House to being very open and
upfront with men. The author is showing us two different sides of women, the first side shows
that women still relied heavily of the men to bring in the wealth and prosperity. The other side
the author shows is that women are now trying to break this bubble when this lady is offering.
The first side is the conservative woman that the men want to keep doing the job of a housewife
and the second side is showing a new generation of women who can be open and themselves.
The author does a great job showing both sides because this shows some anxiety from the men
because women are changing and also from the women because they do not understand how to
behave now. The changes shown are not just the women but also just people in general and the
perspective of how strangers might see others. A very well portrayed quote for this is, I have
been wanting to speak to you, Jekyll, began the latter. You know that will of yours?
A close observer might have gathered that the topic was distasteful; but the doctor carried it off
gaily5. These lines show the reader that a normal stranger just observing would probably wait
for the person being spoken too in this manner would be very angry and bitter. The line goes on
to say that Dr. Jekyll does take this conversation lighthearted, but the point is that an observer of
this time would think another person would be offended and mean to the person speaking. The
author is showing us different aspects of how society is changing from the way women act and
3 Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, 42
4 Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, 75
5 Dr. Jekyll and Mr.Hyde, 21

speak to the process of thinking of an individual. This shows us again that the people of this
changing time obviously were not ready for the advancements taking place because they could
not handle the different ways humans would begin to react to the progress.
A historical circumstance that would be relevant to this novel would be the Kleptomania crisis.
This is related because this crisis shaped how department stores and other places would watch
people closer now. This crisis also had an effect of the minds of individuals and how they looked
are their peers in society. The novel shows many times where people would shape their views of
a person of event solely of how other would react, this is the case also with this crisis. Once
again we see that people are influence by these changes and advancements in more ways than
just an easier way of life.