Now I am looking at the way the author writes, his choice of words and his use of knowledge of creating a story that catches the reader’s full attention.
The author writes anxious and captivating towards the discovery of the duality of the doctor by gradually inserting new and unexpected pieces of information, which creates suspense and fear, until the end of the story, when the readers are at the highest point of anxiety. The accurate description of the duality of the doctor and what it has caused is found in the last chapter of the book – Henry Jekyll's Full Statement of the Case.
A linguistic tool used by Stevenson is his ability to choose the right words to create this story, therefore the pleasure of the readers reading the novella is increased. The readers might all respond in a different way since this story of dual personalities can be self reflecting for a reader; the very personal book is able to make people look at themselves in either a better or a worse way, because the story is about the fact that the bad of human is not appropriate in our society. Stevenson's work questions the notable phrase “To be or not to be, that is the question here.” in a philosophical way because he says that the bad personality of is neglected which could possibly mean that being is not possible since only the good side is seen as living. “...Not to be...” could be the answer of this philosophical question since the full being, the good and evil personalities, is not accepted in society.
Stevenson, who was known for his gloomy writing style, was not the only author to write about taboo issues in the eighteen hundreds; Henry James did this as well. Unlike Stevenson, whose novels are mainly based on his knowledge and experience, James' work had a fundamental expertise due to the fact that the American born author was gifted in literature, psychology and philosophy. The writer focused some of his work on moral responsibility, personal freedom, betrayal and sexuality rather than the sides of humankind. However, the writer's stories, which are 112 in number, are not as sinister as
Stevenson's, but the fact that both of them had the confidence to write about these taboo issues, puts them in the same category of the nineteenth century.
The novel provides a large number of quotes, which reflect Stevenson’s character, the way he was like, which helps him sustain the readers suspense as they can never expect what to happen next, as it is in life, where anything is possible.
“...: that man is not truly one, but truly two.”- This quote, taken from the last chapter of the book- Henry Jekyll's Full Statement of the Case- illustrates his belief of the duality of men. Through the use of the adjective “true” in the comparative form, Stevenson shows his competence in literal skills and his ability to create suspense.
He was known to have viewed the world a bit more obscure, which may be due to the fact that he suffered from respiration problems (today known as a form of tuberculosis) and marriage issues. Another cause of his shady impression of humankind could possibly be that he was a person who looked beyond the surface to find out the truth, which does not have to be positive; to find out who somebody really is, when every single grain of goodness is removes.
The quote “...; and now I was the common quarry of mankind, hunted, houseless, a known murderer, thrall to the gallows.” exemplifies Stevenson's character, because of the use of powerful words, used to describe the evil in this book, known as Mr. Hyde, the diabolic side of Dr. Jekyll, who represents goodness. In the story the writer illustrates the two sides of humans in one person with two identities; therefore the readers are able to imagine that after the removal of all good in Dr. Jekyll the result would be Mr. Hyde.
Stevenson, a writer living in the nineteenth century, establishes and sustains anticipation through the mystery surrounding Jekyll and Hyde's identity. He has the ability to do this for the reason that he adds linguistic and literal features together, resulting in an anxious and captivating novella. These features, with whom the author particular works are tools used by each and everyone to create wanted reactions; depending on the strength of these implements the effects on the readers vary. Stevenson's use of literal skills is based on a wide knowledge of instruments known to bring forth anxious response; these literal devices include alliteration, adjectives, personification and short, sharp sentences.
A quote typifying the writers use of alliteration and adjectives is found in - Story of the Door- the first chapter of the book “...; something displeasing, something downright detestable.” Through describing, the at that stage unknown, Mr. Hyde with negative adjectives that all start with the same letter “d”,Stevenson initiates disgust and importance of the character to the reader, who links the future feeling towards Mr. Hyde with this quote, the first description of the evil of this story.
In today's society a number of people are found using drugs to reveal their other side. As it is in “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” the purely evil side alias Mr. Hyde is represented as the other side whereas today the use of drugs might bring a good side to light. Despite that the contemporary relevance of the book might also be the behaviour pattern of Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde which is very similar to drug addicts; the hiding, the different emotional phases and the belief to stop once and for all (which is not likely to happen).Another aspect of contemporary relevance might possibly be the fact how friends are easily pulled in the drug scene and the response if the are confronted with the secret.
I personally believe that the book explains how we humans could be when every single grain of goodness is removed, what we would do, how we would respond to various things. I also think that I can understand the fears of the doctor to let people know about
his evil side, because I think it is just as if a person is new at a school where nobody is known, can make the decision who he can be and if he would let his bad side out to society. Overall I enjoyed the story but the fact that the, to me vintage language is used, it was quite difficult to read.
