How Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Reflects Victorian Fears of the Unconscious Mind
Robert Louis Stevenson’s Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (1886) is often seen as a tale of duality—the conflict between good and evil, reason and irrationality, or civilization and savagery. However, beneath its thrilling narrative of transformation and moral downfall lies a deeper, more troubling exploration of the human psyche. In particular, Stevenson’s novella reflects the Victorian fear of the unconscious mind, a fear rooted in the rapid scientific advancements and changing social norms of the time.
The Victorian era was marked by a rigid social structure, moral codes, and an increasing interest in psychology and the workings of the mind. Yet, as science advanced, so did the realization that there were parts of the human psyche that were dark, irrational, and difficult to control. The concept of the unconscious mind, although not fully developed until Sigmund Freud’s theories emerged later, was beginning to take shape. Victorian thinkers like Henry Maudsley and John Locke had started to explore the idea of mental states that existed beyond conscious awareness. For the Victorians, this was both a source of fascination and fear.
Dr. Jekyll as the Face of Respectability
Dr. Henry Jekyll, a well-regarded doctor and gentleman, represents the controlled, rational, and respectable aspect of Victorian society. He embodies the Victorian ideal of self-discipline, decorum, and moral responsibility. On the surface, Jekyll is a man who follows all the rules: he is successful, well-respected, and deeply concerned with social propriety. Yet, as Stevenson’s narrative reveals, there is an unsettling undercurrent to Jekyll’s character—a growing discontent with the constraints of his respectable life.
This discontent represents the Victorian anxiety over the limitations placed on individuals by society. The repressive moral and social codes of the time forced many to compartmentalize their desires and darker urges. Jekyll’s creation of Mr. Hyde is, in a sense, his way of giving free rein to these suppressed impulses. Through this dual identity, Jekyll is able to indulge in immoral behaviour without the burden of guilt or fear of societal judgment. The transformation into Hyde allows him to escape the constraints of his social position and his own conscience.
Mr. Hyde as the Unconscious, Repressed Self
In stark contrast to Dr. Jekyll stands Mr. Edward Hyde, the manifestation of Jekyll’s suppressed, darker self. Hyde is unrefined, immoral, and driven by pure instinct, without the controlling influence of social norms or rational thought. He acts impulsively, committing crimes without remorse, including the brutal murder of Sir Danvers Carew. Hyde represents everything that Jekyll, as a respectable Victorian gentleman, must repress in order to maintain his place in society.
Hyde’s character can be seen as a metaphor for the unconscious mind—those desires, impulses, and instincts that are kept buried beneath the surface of conscious awareness. In Victorian society, the unconscious mind was a source of fear because it held the potential for chaos. The very idea that a person could be unaware of or lose control over their darker impulses was unsettling. This fear is embodied in Hyde, who is both a product of Jekyll’s unconscious desires and an entity that seems to act beyond Jekyll’s conscious control.
Stevenson’s portrayal of Hyde taps into the Victorian fear that the repressed desires and emotions of the unconscious mind could break free at any moment, shattering the illusion of civility and rationality that was so important to the era. Hyde’s physical appearance is also described in terms of an otherness that evokes fear and disgust—his small stature, malevolent demeanour, and almost animalistic qualities suggest that he is something primitive, a remnant of humanity’s less civilized past.
The Uncontrollable Nature of the Unconscious Mind
The ultimate horror of the novella lies in the fact that Jekyll cannot control Hyde. The more he transforms, the more he loses his grip on the duality of his own identity. At first, Jekyll is able to control the transformation, but as time progresses, the changes become more frequent and uncontrollable. This loss of control mirrors the Victorian fear that the unconscious mind, once unleashed, could overtake rational thought and societal norms, leading to moral and psychological disintegration.
Jekyll’s descent into madness reflects the increasing concern in the Victorian era about the fragility of the human psyche. The idea that a person could be overtaken by irrational and uncontrollable impulses challenged the belief in human agency and the power of reason. For Victorians, the thought that their carefully constructed identities could be threatened by something as intangible and unpredictable as the unconscious mind was terrifying.
Victorian Anxiety and the Rise of Psychology
The novella also reflects the broader cultural anxiety in late Victorian society about the rise of psychology and psychiatry. As the study of the human mind began to move away from religious explanations toward scientific ones, there was a growing awareness of the complexity of human nature. Figures like Freud and Carl Jung would later popularize the concept of the unconscious mind, but Stevenson’s work seems to foreshadow many of these ideas. The notion that there are parts of ourselves that are hidden, repressed, or suppressed was both revolutionary and terrifying. The fear was not just that these parts could break free, but that they might be more powerful than the conscious self.
Moreover, Stevenson was writing during a time when the medical community was grappling with the rise of mental illness as a scientific category. The fears surrounding mental instability, split personalities, and the inability to control one’s own mind were increasingly part of the public consciousness. The story of Jekyll and Hyde reflects a society that was becoming aware of the fragility of the human mind and the danger of letting the unconscious go unchecked.
Also Read: Repression and Identity Crisis in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: A Psychoanalytic Perspective
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a gothic exploration of the tension between the conscious and unconscious mind, and it reflects the Victorian fear of losing control over one’s inner self. Through Jekyll’s transformation into Hyde, Stevenson dramatizes the danger of repressing one’s darker impulses and the terrifying possibility that these hidden desires might one day erupt uncontrollably. The novella remains a powerful commentary on the anxieties of the Victorian era, particularly the fear of the unconscious and the unpredictable nature of the human psyche. In this light, the story is not just about the duality of human nature but about the larger, more profound fear of what lies hidden within us all.
–Silviya.Y
