Lingue

How Cooper’s adaptation differs from Stevenson’s original novella.

Chris Cooper’s adaptation differs from Stevenson’s original novella by removing its detective story structure and focusing directly on Jekyll and Hyde as two sides of the same individual. While the novella reveals the truth only at the end, the adaptation makes the double identity visible from the beginning, often through one actor playing both roles. This approach makes the audience think about self-image, repression, and moral responsibility, transforming the story into a psychological analysis rather than a mystery.

How does The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde expose gender inequality through its portrayal of women?

The play highlights gender inequality by showing how female characters such as the characters of Agnes and the Maid are controlled, blamed, or silenced by men in positions of power. The Maid is shamed for an act she did not start, while Agnes faces exploitation, danger, and moral judgement without any real protection. Their experiences reveal how Victorian society granted men control over women’s bodies and reputations, exposing a deep inequality.

A near absence of female characters: the representation of gender roles in the story.

The almost complete absence of female characters highlights the male-dominated nature of Victorian society. The narrative focuses on male professionals — scientists, lawyers, and doctors — reflecting a world in which women are excluded from public, intellectual, and moral debate. This absence suggests that gender equality was largely ignored and reinforces the idea that the struggle between Jekyll and Hyde unfolds within an exclusively male sphere.

Inequality between men and women in Victorian and modern society.

Agnes is portrayed as a poor and isolated woman seeking an abortion to avoid social shame — an illegal and dangerous request at the time. Jekyll, by contrast, is wealthy, educated, and protected by his social status. He has the power to help her but ultimately refuses. While he can go back to his laboratory, Agnes has nowhere safe to go. The scene exposes a society that condemns women while ignoring the responsibility of men. Despite legal changes over time, the scene also reminds modern audiences that vulnerable women continue to face discrimination and difficulties today.

The dialogue between Agnes and Dr Jekyll introduces the theme of women in society. What are Agnes’s main features?

The dialogue portrays women as social outcasts who are financially dependent and deprived of power. Agnes is forced into prostitution by poverty, while institutions and the legal system fail to protect her rights. She becomes a victim of male exploitation and social hypocrisy: men take advantage of her, yet she bears the consequences alone, being blamed for her pregnancy and social disgrace. Agnes also represents the broader condition of women in Victorian society, who were oppressed, judged, and controlled rather than truly immoral or corrupted.

A representation of the patriarchal attitudes of the time.

The scene clearly reflects patriarchal power structures through the interaction between Jekyll and Agnes. Jekyll, a respected doctor, is primarily concerned with protecting his reputation, while Agnes, a vulnerable woman forced into prostitution, is treated harshly and with disrespect. Jekyll’s language is aggressive and threatening, and he ultimately warns her that he could destroy her if she speaks out. This dynamic highlights how little value women’s lives and voices had in that historical period.

Based on the conversation between Dr Jekyll and Agnes — when she asks for an abortion — we understand how abortion was perceived at the time.

In the Victorian period, abortion was widely considered morally unacceptable, socially shameful, and illegal. Women who sought abortions were severely judged, and doctors risked legal punishment and professional ruin if they agreed to perform one. This context is reflected in Agnes’s fear and hesitation, as well as in Jekyll’s uncertain reaction. Her request reveals the desperation of women who had no safe alternatives, while his reaction shows the moral and social pressures shaping medical decisions. The dialogue emphasises secrecy, stigma, and the imbalance of power surrounding abortion.

How has society’s perception of abortion evolved over time?

Society’s view of abortion has gradually shifted from a strict moral taboo to a more complex issue connected to healthcare, autonomy, and human rights. Historically, abortion was condemned due to religious beliefs and rigid gender roles. As women gained access to education, employment, and political power, the focus moved toward bodily autonomy. Medical advancements improved safety, while social movements and legal reforms reframed abortion as a matter of public health and women’s rights. Although debates persist, contemporary society increasingly recognises the complexity of the issue.

The theme of prostitution in the dialogue between Jekyll and Agnes.

The dialogue presents prostitution as a consequence of social inequality rather than personal immorality. Agnes’s situation exposes the lack of alternatives, protection, and dignity available to women in poverty. The exchange shifts the focus from moral judgment to social responsibility, highlighting the need for compassion and social change.

A personality reveal: Dr Jekyll's description of his inner conflict.

Dr Jekyll describes his inner conflict as a constant struggle between two opposing sides of his personality. One seeks respectability and moral order, while the other craves freedom and darker desires. This tension reveals Jekyll as a deeply divided and unstable character, aware of his flaws but unable to fully control them. The mirror is almost a silent character. Each time Jekyll looks into it, he confronts the side of himself he refuses to acknowledge — Hyde. After helping Agnes, the mirror reflects his hypocrisy and guilt. Placed near the laboratory door, it symbolises Hyde’s constant presence. Rather than explaining the conflict through dialogue, the mirror makes Jekyll’s psychological struggle visible and immediate.

The mirror and the cane, or how props express a divided identity.

The props play a crucial role in visualising Jekyll’s inner fracture. The mirror functions as a moment of confrontation: whenever Jekyll looks into it, the audience witnesses the tension between his respectable public persona and his uncontrollable impulses. The cane also changes meaning depending on who holds it. In Jekyll’s hands, it symbolises social respectability, while in Hyde’s hands it becomes an instrument of violence, especially when it breaks during Carew’s murder. This physical break mirrors Jekyll’s psychological fragmentation, reinforcing the idea that Jekyll and Hyde are not two separate men, but one divided identity.

Dr Jekyll’s two opposing impulses in the dialogue with the deacon.

In his dialogue with the deacon, Dr Jekyll is torn between two conflicting impulses. On one hand, he wants to remain a respectable and moral gentleman who follows social rules and preserves his reputation. On the other, he feels a powerful attraction to forbidden pleasures and behaviours that he hides from society. This internal struggle defines his character and prevents him from fully understanding his own identity.

Did the conference try to engage students interactively? And was it useful to address these themes through this type of literary work?

Yes, the conference actively involved students by asking us to perform scenes from the play. We were divided into groups and invited to interpret the assigned scenes creatively. This interactive approach made the experience both educational and enjoyable. Moreover, discussing themes such as gender inequality and violence through a novel written over a century ago helps us recognise both the progress society has made and the challenges that still remain. Although set in the Victorian era, the story can still be understood through a modern lens. Activities like this encourage critical thinking and collective awareness of important social issues.