Temptations In Jekyll And Hyde

Temptation Ramifications

In Stevenson's novella, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Jekyll gives Lanyon, his distant friend, a critical choice: he can take the potion Lanyon had helped him obtain or he can leave without any explanation. He says “will you be wise? Will you be guided?...or has the greed of curiosity too much commanded you...as you decide you shall be left …. neither richer nor wiser.” (40) Jekyll, in his creation of Hyde, gave into temptations yet he still refers to it as negative or “greedy”. Furthermore, the words “wise” is used twice in contradicting ways. First Jekyll uses “wise” to push Lanyon not to watch him take the potion. He then uses the word “wiser” in an effort to persuade Lanyon to watch him take the

For example, after Jekyll horrifying experience of going to bed as Jekyll and waking up as Hyde, he vows to never transform into Hyde again. Although he kept his vow for two months, he once again is overcome by temptation and turns into Hyde. He states “in an hour of moral weakness, I once again compounded and swallowed the transforming draught.”(86) The word “compounded” alludes to the word compound meaning a bond of two, in this case, being Jekyll and Hyde. As soon as Jekyll gave into the existence of Hyde and created a compound he also compounded his situation or made it worse, emphasizing the negativity in giving into temptation. Soon after his transformation Hyde having been suppressed for two months, kills Sir Danvers Carew. Jekyll recalls the event saying “I struck in no more reasonable spirit than that in which a sick child may break a plaything.”(87) The metaphor of equating murder with breaking a children's toy connects back to the first incident with Hyde where he tramples the child. The parallel between the two cases emphasizes that every time Jekyll gives into temptation there are negative consequences. Furthermore, Jekyll focus on his own “spirit” further highlights that the consequences of temptation are not only harming others but they also damage one's personal moral. So too Jekyll again mentions his spirit when describing

Lanyon is able to resist temptations and unlike Jekyll, he does not join in on his progressive scientific research. When Utterson confronts Jekyll about his distressing will, Jekyll describes his opinion of Lanyon to Utterson stating that although he knows Lanyon is a good-hearted person he is still a “hide-bound pedant.”(24) The play on the words “hide” alludes to Jekyll's “Hyde” further proves that in giving into temptation Jekyll is really the one who ends up ‘hiding’. However, eventually Lanyon breaks and gives into temptation allowing him to witnesses the scientific discoveries he for so long refused to experience. Lanyon received a mysterious letter from Jekyll with specific instruction for a mission involving breaking into Jekyll's lab and bringing him certain chemicals. After retrieving the chemicals, Jekyll offers the opportunity for Jekyll to explain the mysterious mission and take the potion. Jekyll describes the consequences seeing the effects of the potion will have saying, “your sight shall be blasted by a prodigy to stagger the unbelief of Satan.”(71) The word “Satan” is used in contrast with the word “prodigy” which has a positive connotation. Although giving in to temptation and discovering the power of the potion is amazing and “prodigal” it has negative consequences suggested by the words “Satan”. Soon after,