1. Introduction The novella "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," written by Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson, was immediately successful since first published in 1886. By then it has been turned into a vast number of film and theatrical adaptations. The phrase "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" has slipped into the common usage to refer to someone with two very different sides of their character or to two-faced people. The central theme of the story is dualism, a conflict between good and evil. The story itself is actually simple, but cleverly structured, constructing through its narrative form a crowning achievement. Stevenson keeps the reader in suspense by not revealing the mystery almost till the end. A setting is also important in creating a double-natured atmosphere: nothing is as it seems to be. However, the novel does not just deal with a struggle of good and bad in a person, but is rather an indirect examination of how these terms are connected with the general spirit of this period in history; revealing people's ideas and beliefs at the time. The fact that Stevenson does not provide explicit interpretations and moral judgements of the story's characters and events opens a wide scope of readings. This essay links to these issues by analysing possible interpretations as well as by questioning virtues of that time. This inquiry will be done with reference to the following thematic structure: religion, human psyche, liberalism and Scottish identity. 2. Historical and cultural context of the novella 2.1 Importance of religion in the Victorian society It has been said of the nineteenth century in England that "probably in no other century, except the seventeenth and perhaps the twelfth, did the claims of religion occupy so large a part in the nation's life, or did man speaking in the name of religion contrive to exercise so much power  . Religion was an important part of life not only among the lower class communities. A great number of educated people were devoted followers as well. It was like a profound movement, the all-pervasive mood that influenced all spheres of life. The Bible as well as religious stories and allegories were frequently listened to by people of all classes. This religious spirit was omnipresent and its traces are to be found widespread in the literature of the time. However, towards the end of the Victorian era when Stevenson's "Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," was published, this religious enthusiasm and influence had already begun to wane due to many reasons. Besides the effects of industrialism, during the Victorian period, prompted by the Enlightenment, education became available to the masses. Consequently, by gaining deeper insights into various areas previously inaccessible to them, the new horizons weakened their interest into divine matters thereby diminishing the power of the clergy. 2.2 Parallels on Darwinism Religious beliefs in the Victorian era were especially challenged by Darwin's publication of "The Origin of the Species  (1859), which brings an "outrageous  idea that life forms are gradually developing through evolution and natural selection “ meaning things are not the same since the "Creation  “ which disproves the dogma that the man was created in the image of God, but is rather more related to his animal friends. This conception caused different reactions; some were ready to rethink the old dogmatic beliefs, others were afraid of this idea that mankind is of animal origin. This conflict between science and religion has certainly found its echoes in the novella. Dr. Jekyll's experiment can therefore be figuratively associated with Darwin's discovery; so one could say, Dr. Jekyll actually discovers the truth; the animal nature of man, but he does not want to share it with mankind. Perhaps he is unable to accept the "evil  as a part of the human nature or it may be that he is ashamed of his ˜animal needs', but also greedy to satisfy them, hence he splits his personality by setting Hyde free to enjoy them. The transformation is not just moral but also physical, Hyde is of a smaller stature, he is younger, thereby maybe representing an earlier stage of the evolutionary order. Whereas Jekyll is portrayed as a tall, handsome gentleman, Stevenson does depict Hyde in terms of animal imagery - "the man seems hardly human! [There is] something troglodytic  , "ape-like  his hands are žcorded and hairy  - questioning thereby human nature in its basic form, untamed by culture and civilisation. Hyde's power indeed becomes stronger without any ethical restrains: "The powers of Hyde [...] have grown with the sickliness of Jekyll.  In this context, in order to spin it a little further, the animal imagery can also be read as a mockery with the uppity English upper class society and its vanity, by revealing animal elements hidden deep within the upper class, when he transforms Dr. Jekyll into an animal-like being. Those