Good and Evil - Frankenstein, Paradise lost, and the Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, all have this theme in common.

University Degree Linguistics, Classics and related subjects

Good and evil

Minor essay

Good and evil, and the struggle they represent is a classic theme within many novels, it shows the everlasting conflict between two opposing sides of any argument. The theme of good and evil itself can be a struggle, and one could look at the pros and cos of each side and the “label” of good and evil is at the discretion of the interpreter. Frankenstein, Paradise lost, and the Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, all have this theme in common. Whether that duality be within a characters own self, like Dr. Jekyll, an evil that spawned from good, Victor Frankenstein and his monster, or the progression of evil throughout a characters life, such as Satan. Just as with the duality of good and evil with each character, we can also break down and analyze the interpretations of each label. This good and evil contrast and perception is a central device for the development of each of these characters throughout their respective novels.

In Frankenstein, most would say that the monster is evil and Victor Frankenstein is good. This view is right nor wrong, simply a way to view and analyze the characters. There are many pieces of evidence to back up this theory. The monster kills many people and feels no remorse or sympathy for it, including William. And at first glance, one could say that the monsters only intentions are to ruin lives. Victor on the other hand, is “the good guy”. Overcome with grief over the loss of his mother due to scarlet fever, young Victor falls into a depression. In his overwhelming sadness Victor decides to find a way to reanimate deceased tissue, and thus creating the monster. The opposite view however is that the monster is “good” (through his intentions) and that Victor is the evil one by trying to imitate God and use science to create life. In this view, the monster is just sad and alone, he was abandoned by his creator and left to fend for himself. It is unfair to bring something into the world, and then not teach it how to survive. The creature was miserable, and just wanted a friend or someone to talk to. “'Hateful day when I received life!' I exclaimed in agony. 'Cursed creator! Why did you form a monster so hideous that even you turned from me in disgust? God in pity made man beautiful and alluring, after his own image; but my form is a filthy type of your's, more horrid from its very resemblance. Satan had his companions, fellow-devils, to admire and encourage him; but I am solitary and detested.” (Shelley, 93). here, the creature wallows in his self pity for having been created a monster and being abandoned be his creator. As the evil character this time, Victor is trying to play God and ultimately create a sub-species that will obey him and call him “creator”. Victor became so obsessed with creating life, that it clouded his judgment, and took up all of his time and energy. Just before Justine's trial, Victor thought to himself, "During the whole of this wretched mockery of justice I suffered a living torture. It was to be whether the result of my curiosity and lawless devices would cause the death of two of my fellow beings." So he knows what he has done and that the deaths are his fault.

Another look at this theme would be with Satan in Paradise lost. This is where the whole concept of good vs evil came about. Heaven vs hell, God vs the devil, temptation vs salvation. This cannot be as debated about which is good and which is evil as much as Frankenstein can be, but the evidence is still there to make an argument.

Who first seduced them to that foul revolt?

The infernal Serpent; he it was, whose guile,

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Who first seduced them to that foul revolt?

The infernal Serpent; he it was, whose guile,

Stirred up with envy and revenge, deceived

The mother of mankind; what time his pride

Had cast him out from Heaven, with all his host

Of rebel Angels; by whose aid, aspiring

To set himself in glory above his peers,

He trusted to have equalled the Most High,

If he opposed; and, with ambitious aim,

Against the throne and monarchy of God, (Milton, 1, 33-40)

This quote represents the evil side of Satan in his greed for power. He no longer desired to serve under God and wanted to rule. His revolt failed and he was banished from heaven and cast to hell. But in Satans eyes this was still a victory as seen from his words upon entering hell, “To reign is worth ambition, though in Hell: Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven.” (1, 262-263). Though his words may be harsh, his intentions can be seen as good, like the monsters intentions in Frankenstein. All of the characters are complex in Miltons Paradise Lost, God is not portrayed as the typical religious figure we see today but rather a monarch and a tyrant. He bestows blessings upon those who abide by id rules and do his will, and those that do not, are sent to eternal damnation. Satan, in this way, can be seen as the hero and “good guy”. The only character challenging Gods rule,

and fighting for equality and democracy. Satan is persistent in following his true beliefs, “The mind is its own place, and in itself Can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven. What matter where, if I still be the same….” (I, 254-256). The final novel in which good and evil conflict a characters interests is in the Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The good vs evil theme is much more prominent than in the two previous works I have mentioned, this is because there is no debating which is evil and which is good. The novel opens with Mr. Utterson re-accounting his first encounter with Mr. Hyde. This encounter opens with Hyde trampling over a little girl in the street and then the ensuing interaction with Hyde. “It wasn't like a man; it was like some damned Juggernaut. I gave a few halloa, took to my heels, collared my gentleman, and brought him back to where there was already quite a group about the screaming child. He was perfectly cool

and made no resistance, but gave me one look, so ugly that it brought out the sweat on me like running.” this first confrontation (upon reading the end of the novel) gives the reader a clear look at the dark disturbing side of Dr. Jekyll. Dr. Jekyll was a very kind and friendly man, unsuspected to have any source of evil within him. However Dr. Jekyll had a dark side lurking inside him. This side was in the form of one Mr. Hyde. Jekyll was a scientist and wished to open up his dark side, he devised a solution mixture to do this. There is a quote I believe to be true “it is easier to bad, than it is to be good.” and in the case of Dr. Jekyll this rang true. Jekyll enjoyed letting loose and began to do it more often. The more he did it, the longer it lasted until ultimately this evil side consumed him which led to his demise.

Word count: 1224