Essay Examining the Techniques Used by R.L.Stevenson in ‘The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’ to Heighten the Horror.

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Essay Examining the Techniques Used by R.L.Stevenson in ‘The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’ to Heighten the Horror.

        

During the novel ‘The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde,’ R.L.Stevenson uses many techniques and language devices such as metaphor, simile, irony and personification to gradually heighten the horror. Stevenson has some powerful passages such as, the trampling of the child, the murder of Sir Danvers Carew and the transformation of Jekyll at Dr Lanyons.

        Stevenson sets the story in London, 1886, which at this time was the richest part of the entire world. Many of the people who lived there had little contact with crime, which is ironic because Mr Hyde, a character within Dr Jekyll, disturbs the whole scene into that of a scary and tense area.

        The main settings where horrific things happen are usually described as ‘…almost deserted…’ and ‘...lamp-lit...’ which is a very good setting for heightening the horror in the novel. It shows mystery and emptiness which makes you wait for intense action, this causes the rhythm and speed of the story to change depending on the setting.

        A setting described as ‘…foggy…’ and ‘…nocturnal…’ fits greatly into a society like Dr Jekyll’s in London a place of which is dominated by secrecy the whole way through, which add suspense to the story their makes it more tense for the reader.

        The mystery begins at the very start, where we meet Utterson who is an intelligent lawyer who does not quickly judge other people. Mr Utterson becomes our guide throughout many of the chapters and we see all of the discoveries he makes.

        The door in Dr Jekyll’s house stands out because Mr Hyde uses it as if were his own and a theme of mystery evolves around it, because we do not know where it leads to.

        This is where we first meet Mr Hyde. He is hard to describe but has a strong effect on everybody who meets him. His behaviour is unusual. He tramples on a girl and appears to be really calm about the situation, as if he has no fear in life, which is extraordinary and inhuman. Without a fuss he accepts what he has done wrong and agrees to pay £100 compensation. The money is paid by cheque ‘…signed by a name [Utterson] cannot mention…’which gives a really strong sense of mystery which carries through until the end of the novel.

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In chapter two ‘The Search for Hyde’ the mystery deepens even more. We here that Jekyll has left ‘…all his possessions…’ in a signed Will to the evil Mr Hyde. Mr Utterson was the first person in the novel that we heard about, we trust him the most and therefore share in his concerns about Jekyll which appears to be blackmail. All of the mystery that Stevenson adds to the story helps make it more horrific and tense for the raeder.

        As the story continues, Utterson sees Hyde’s face and describes him as ‘…pale and dwarfish…’ and that he is ...

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