Themes
Loyalty
Loyalty is a theme that is carried out by Mr. Utterson, the friend of Dr. Jekyll. As soon as Utterson realizes that something is not right with his friend, he makes it a personal job to get to the bottom of it. He never gives up on his friend, even when Jekyll tells him to stay out of it. Jekyll is also loyal to society by putting an end to his life so that no one else will be harmed by his creation, Mr. Hyde.
Deception
From the beginning of the story deception is prevalent. The first example is when Enfield refuses to tell Utterson that Jekyll was the name on the check. He did not want his friend Utterson, to think anything wrong about Jekyll. The biggest example of deception is that of Jekyll. He does not reveal his secret to even his best friends until after his death. He kept trying to make it seem like everything was okay, or that he was just not feeling well. Although suspicious, Utterson had no idea the extent of the secret that his best friend was keeping from him.
Immorality
Immorality is portrayed as the evil part of oneself in the story. When Dr. Jekyll took his potion, he transformed into the evil part of himself that he kept locked away all the time. Hyde is all the immoral things that Jekyll does not wish others to see. As he should be, Jekyll becomes ashamed of the immoral part of himself that is Hyde, and is also ashamed that he lets it run wild. He feels the same guilt that anyone would feel for an immoral act.
Self Sacrifice
Self Sacrifice is a them that is portrayed by both Jekyll and Utterson. Utterson sacrifices his time to try to figure out what is wrong with his friend, Jekyll. He spends most of the time in the book acting as a detective, giving a valiant effort to help his friend. However, Jekyll is the one who gives the ultimate self sacrifice, his life. Jekyll chose rather to give up his life than to allow Hyde to wreck havoc i
Sadness
Sadness is a theme that becomes more and more obvious as the story progresses. At the end of the story Jekyll confesses in his account that he was unhappy. Hyde was supposed to relieve him of stress and burden, but when things escalated out of control Jekyll was deeply afflicted with sadness, knowing that he was to blame. Utterson and Lanyon also share in Jekyll's sadness. They are not happy that their longtime friend is not his usual self, and when Lanyon finds out the truth is drives him to death. The once happy group of friends are unable to finish out their friendship with happiness, and this provides a melancholy tone to the book.