"Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde" - the Victorians view of the novel

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Pre 1914 Prose Coursework.        “Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde”

‘Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’ was written in the late 19th century by an English author named R.L.Stevenson. Victorians were interested in Darwin’s theory of evolution and Stevenson took advantage of this. Not all classes were educated, so Stevenson had to aim for higher-class people. Jekyll would be the same class as the readers, whereas Hyde would be unknown to such people because he was associated with the lower classes.

Stevenson was influenced by Darwinism in the novella to involve Victorian Society. When “Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde” was released, Charles Darwin had just revealed his theory of man evolving from apes. When the Victorians read this book, Hyde was referred to as evidence of Darwin’s theory by the use of phrases such as: “With ape-like fury” and “Like a monkey, jumped”, which gives you an image of primate characteristics.

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Another thing that Stevenson referred to is the Faust legend from the fifteenth century. Dr Jekyll gives Dr Lanyon a choice, very much similar to Faust’s. Faust drove himself so hard that the Devil appeared and gave him the choice, to stay normal and behold the restrictions of humanity, or he could have all the power and knowledge that he ever wanted, but at a price. At the end of twenty-four years Faust would lose his soul to the Devil. In Jekyll and Hyde, Lanyon is given the choice of wealth and wisdom, or to be none the wiser. ...

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This is a very superficial essay that makes claims and provides very little support for any interpretations that are made. You must always focus on structure, form and language and use these three ideas to structure your answer. 3 Stars