Science and Morality

The theme of the dangers of unchecked scientific ambition and the moral responsibilities of the scientist.

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The Transcendental Approach

The Transcendental Approach A Mystical Scientist Jekyll's scientific studies are directed towards the mystic and transcendental. He is not content with material views; he wants to explore the unknown. This ambition is both noble and dangerous. The Rejection of Materialism He disagrees with Lanyon's materialist views. He believes that there are forces beyond the physical. His experiments push the boundaries of science. The First Step into the Unknown He creates a drug that can alter identity. This is a scientific achievement, but it also violates the natural order. The theme of science without morality is introduced.

The Unethical Experiment

The Unethical Experiment A Risk with Life Jekyll knows he risks death, but he proceeds anyway. He is driven by curiosity and ambition. He does not consider the moral implications of his discovery. The Lack of Control He does not know the full consequences. The drug has no discriminating action, and it unleashes his evil side. Science without morality leads to catastrophe. The Lesson of Hubris Jekyll's experiment is an act of hubris. He believes he can control the forces he unleashes, but he cannot. The novel warns against the arrogance of science.

The Final Judgment

The Final Judgment The Destruction of the Scientist Jekyll is destroyed by his own creation. He cannot control Hyde, and the experiment ends in his death. The moral of the story is that science must be tempered with ethics. The Responsibility of Knowledge Jekyll acknowledges that his discovery was incomplete. He should have considered the moral implications. The novel suggests that the pursuit of knowledge without responsibility is dangerous. The Enduring Question 'Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde' asks whether scientific progress is always good. It suggests that some knowledge is too dangerous to pursue. The theme of science and morality is central to the tragedy.

years before the story, in Jekyll's studies

the night of the first transformation

the end of the novel