However, at the same time London was in a vulnerable state due to the effects of the Long Depression, which caused a decline in economy, health care and other industries.

Overall, London was a vastly split city in terms of social classes, geographical locations and politics.

Throughout the novel, Stevenson establishes a link between the urban landscape of Victorian London and the dark events surrounding Hyde. He achieves his desired effect through the use of horror imagery, in which dark streets twist and coil, forming a sinister landscape befitting the crimes that take place there.

Dr. Jekyll is described to live in a rather luxurious building which has 'a great air of wealth and comfort.' This conveys to the readers that Dr. Jekyll was of part of the upper class.

This high status acts as a mask that hides his true, darker self, as the more prosperous people of society were typically thought to be respectable and honorable citizens.

On the other hand, Mr. Hyde is considered part of the working class, allowing him to act in a far more disorderly manner without the societal scrutiny that higher classes would face. Allowing him to commit terrible acts of violence against other people.

There is also a fair amount of societal symbolism in the novella, for example the murder of Carew can be seen as a representation of the violent uprising of the proletariats.

This foggy, gloomy weather is brought up multiple times in the book, it is described to a "chocolate-coloured pall".

The fog acts as symbolism for the secrecy and hidden true selves of the characters within the story, while also conveying in an abstract way that the truth was being hidden from Mr. Utterson.

It also creates an atmosphere of isolation and mystery that intrigues readers.

The destructive semantic field, created from metaphors of the 'wind' 'continually charging' with 'embattled vapors' also adds to the gothic genre of the novel.

In the book, Mr. Hyde attacks Sir Danvers Carew with a 'heavy cane', which may be reminiscent to the wooden cudgel associated to violence.

This is shown through Mr. Hyde, the darker secondary persona of Dr. Jekyll. He has animalistic tendencies of violence and even his appearance has become something hideous and inhumane.

He is described by many atavistic terms such as 'ape-like' or 'like a monkey'. He is also said to be 'small', which furthers the idea of how undeveloped he is.

The text also describes the violent repulsion people have to the sight of Mr. Hyde. This may also tie in with the stereotype of the lower classes, as they were thought to have less humanity and behave more like animals as they would do anything to survive.

Victorians at that time had a great fear of 'devolution', which was the belief that humans would one day degrade into savagery due to the tight restrains and repressiveness of the Victorian morals that chained in instinctive urges and desires. Mr. Hyde is the human embodiment of those desires, in contrast to Dr. Jekyll who abides by societal standards.

The split is also shown in Dr. Jekyll's house, where one part seems normal and domestic, meanwhile the laboratory is secretive and dubious.

This gothic theme explores the anxieties that the Victorian society had about moral degradation.

It is also shown through his appearance which is described to be 'something displeasing' and 'downright detestable'.

Mr. Hyde is shown to lack many human qualities such as a conscience, feelings of guilt and sense of morality.