Lanyon plays only a minor role in the novel’s plot, but his thematic significance extends beyond his brief appearances. When we first encounter him, he speaks dismissively of Jekyll’s experiments, referring to them as “unscientific balderdash.” His scientific skepticism renders him, to an even greater extent than Utterson, an embodiment of rationalism and a proponent of materialist explanations. As such, he functions as a kind of foil for Jekyll. Both men are doctors, well respected and successful, but they have chosen divergent paths. From Lanyon’s early remarks, we learn that Jekyll shared some of his research with Lanyon, and one may even imagine that they were partners at one point. But Lanyon chooses to engage in rational, materialist science, while Jekyll prefers to pursue what might be called mystical or metaphysical science.
It is appropriate, then, that Lanyon is the first person to see Jekyll enact his transformations—the great advocate of material causes is witness to undeniable proof of a metaphysical, physically impossible phenomenon. Having spent his life as a rationalist and a skeptic, Lanyon cannot deal with the world that Jekyll’s experiments have revealed. Deep within himself, Lanyon prefers to die rather than go on living in a universe that, from his point of view, has been turned upside down. After his cataclysmic experience, Lanyon, who has spent his life pursuing knowledge, explicitly rejects the latest knowledge he has gained. “I sometimes think if we knew all,” he tells Utterson, “we should be more glad to get away.” With these words, Lanyon dies, and his uncompromising rationalism ceding to the inexplicable reality of Jekyll.
Dr. Lanyon's rational science and Jekyll's also shows a stark contrast between the conservationists and the innovators during those times, when the Victorian ideals collided with the changes induced by Industrial Revolution.
It is appropriate, then, that Lanyon is the first person to see Jekyll enact his transformations—the great advocate of material causes is witness to undeniable proof of a metaphysical, physically impossible phenomenon. Having spent his life as a rationalist and a skeptic, Lanyon cannot deal with the world that Jekyll’s experiments have revealed. Deep within himself, Lanyon prefers to die rather than go on living in a universe that, from his point of view, has been turned upside down. After his cataclysmic experience, Lanyon, who has spent his life pursuing knowledge, explicitly rejects the latest knowledge he has gained. “I sometimes think if we knew all,” he tells Utterson, “we should be more glad to get away.” With these words, Lanyon dies, and his uncompromising rationalism ceding to the inexplicable reality of Jekyll.
Dr. Lanyon's rational science and Jekyll's also shows a stark contrast between the conservationists and the innovators during those times, when the Victorian ideals collided with the changes induced by Industrial Revolution.
Example essay
Dr Lanyon is an important character in Stevenson's novel because, like Dr Jekyll, he is a scientist and doctor, so he makes an interesting point of comparison and contrast. He is also the only character to actually witness the transformation of Hyde/Jekyll. His account of this is very interesting to the reader. Stevenson saves Lanyon's account until the penultimate chapter, where it dramatically solves most of the mystery about the character of Mr Hyde.
Dr Lanyon first appears in Chapter 2 when Utterson goes to consult him about the strange will of their friend Dr Jekyll. He is described as a "hearty, healthy" gentleman with a warm manner of welcoming his friend that is based on "genuine feeling". This emphasis on his good qualities and his genuine friendship is important. It makes us trust him and believe his judgement may be right when he says that, because Jekyll "began to go wrong", he has seen little of him during the last ten years. In fact, he becomes uncharacteristically agitated and talks angrily of Jekyll's ideas as "scientific balderdash". This raises our level of interest in what Dr Jekyll might be involved in.
Utterson is clearly very friendly with Lanyon, and likes him. Because Utterson appears in the novel much more frequently than the doctor, and is also a steady, reliable, caring man, we tend to trust Lanyon even more. Stevenson makes him appear a model of reliable good sense and decent friendship. Dr Jekyll also tells Utterson that Lanyon is "a good fellow... an excellent fellow". But he adds, "a hide-bound pedant for all that; an ignorant blatant pedant", and scorns Lanyon's disagreement with "what he called my scientific heresies". This again raises our interest in what Jekyll is up to, because his attitudes toward Lanyon are wildly contradictory.
Up to this point in the novel, Stevenson has made me like and trust Dr Lanyon. He is possibly a bit stuffy (but only possibly - can Jekyll's judgement be trusted?), but his heart is in the right place. In Chapter 6 (Remarkable Incident of Dr Lanyon), however, Stevenson creates a shocking change in Lanyon. When Utterson visits him, he finds a man "with his death warrant written legibly on his face". As a reader, I am concerned to find out why. But even though there are hints of a dreadful confrontation between him and Jekyll, a horrific mystery hangs over the cause. The previously cheerful scientist and doctor lives in dread, feels he will soon die, and refuses to talk to Utterson about their former friend, Jekyll. His words "if you cannot keep clear of this accursed topic, then in God's name, go" show the author's skill in making the reader fascinated by the mystery.
Lanyon is important to the novel because of the dramatic mystery surrounding what he has seen. It excites the reader and draws us in. He is also important because, as a scientist and doctor, his disagreement with Jekyll's "wrong in the head" ideas shows us that Jekyll is thinking and working outside of normal science. Jekyll is "breaking the rules", an important theme in the novel which would be far less apparent without the character of Lanyon. In the penultimate chapter, Lanyon's account of what he has witnessed raises the ending of the novel to a fever pitch of horror. Finally, in Lanyon's terrified language, we learn that Hyde is Jekyll and that Lanyon witnessed the transformation - this is why he is important in Stevenson's novel.
Essay Derived from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/english_literature/prosejekyllhyde/4prose_jekyllhyde_sprev3.shtml
Dr Lanyon first appears in Chapter 2 when Utterson goes to consult him about the strange will of their friend Dr Jekyll. He is described as a "hearty, healthy" gentleman with a warm manner of welcoming his friend that is based on "genuine feeling". This emphasis on his good qualities and his genuine friendship is important. It makes us trust him and believe his judgement may be right when he says that, because Jekyll "began to go wrong", he has seen little of him during the last ten years. In fact, he becomes uncharacteristically agitated and talks angrily of Jekyll's ideas as "scientific balderdash". This raises our level of interest in what Dr Jekyll might be involved in.
Utterson is clearly very friendly with Lanyon, and likes him. Because Utterson appears in the novel much more frequently than the doctor, and is also a steady, reliable, caring man, we tend to trust Lanyon even more. Stevenson makes him appear a model of reliable good sense and decent friendship. Dr Jekyll also tells Utterson that Lanyon is "a good fellow... an excellent fellow". But he adds, "a hide-bound pedant for all that; an ignorant blatant pedant", and scorns Lanyon's disagreement with "what he called my scientific heresies". This again raises our interest in what Jekyll is up to, because his attitudes toward Lanyon are wildly contradictory.
Up to this point in the novel, Stevenson has made me like and trust Dr Lanyon. He is possibly a bit stuffy (but only possibly - can Jekyll's judgement be trusted?), but his heart is in the right place. In Chapter 6 (Remarkable Incident of Dr Lanyon), however, Stevenson creates a shocking change in Lanyon. When Utterson visits him, he finds a man "with his death warrant written legibly on his face". As a reader, I am concerned to find out why. But even though there are hints of a dreadful confrontation between him and Jekyll, a horrific mystery hangs over the cause. The previously cheerful scientist and doctor lives in dread, feels he will soon die, and refuses to talk to Utterson about their former friend, Jekyll. His words "if you cannot keep clear of this accursed topic, then in God's name, go" show the author's skill in making the reader fascinated by the mystery.
Lanyon is important to the novel because of the dramatic mystery surrounding what he has seen. It excites the reader and draws us in. He is also important because, as a scientist and doctor, his disagreement with Jekyll's "wrong in the head" ideas shows us that Jekyll is thinking and working outside of normal science. Jekyll is "breaking the rules", an important theme in the novel which would be far less apparent without the character of Lanyon. In the penultimate chapter, Lanyon's account of what he has witnessed raises the ending of the novel to a fever pitch of horror. Finally, in Lanyon's terrified language, we learn that Hyde is Jekyll and that Lanyon witnessed the transformation - this is why he is important in Stevenson's novel.
Essay Derived from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/english_literature/prosejekyllhyde/4prose_jekyllhyde_sprev3.shtml