How does Stevenson create intrigue in Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
GCSE English Coursework; Prose Study Pre1914 Explore how Stevenson creates a sense of intrigue and engages the reader's interest in "The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde"? The Oxford Dictionary defines intrigue as "to arouse the curiosity or interest by new, or otherwise fascinating or compelling qualities and to captivate the listener/reader." Robert Louis Stevenson creates intrigue, mystery and suspense in Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by submerging the reader into a society of which we are unfamiliar. In this 1886 community the police are strict and there is an extensive divide between the rich and the poor. This intrigues the reader because they are plunged into a different time period and throughout the story we are exploring the duality of humans. For the duration of the novel Stevenson creates more questions than he answers which causes the reader's curiosity to take hold and establish his/hers own questions. People reading this book a few years after it was published in the Victorian era may have related the circumstances to the murderer, Jack the Ripper. As Mr Hyde went round London and carried out several attacks, so did Jack who killed over five people in London and was never captured. This similarity could have caused Victorian readers to be traumatised and the book coincidentally tricking the reader into thinking that there are an abundance of murderers about.
Analyse how Stevenson uses settingatmosphere and characters to help the reader interprete a sense of danger,threat and horror.
Analyse how Stevenson uses setting atmosphere and characters to help the reader interprete a sense of danger, threat and horror. The story of The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was written in the Victorian times. The Author of this book was Robert Louis Stevenson. The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde originated from a dream that Robert Louis Stevenson once had. Upon waking he recalled 'a fine bogey tale' and immediately set about writing it down. When Robert Louis Stevenson had completed writing the book, he showed his wife who said that the novel lacked allegory this meant that the story didn't have enough 'Good against Evil' this enraged Stevenson who threw it into the fire and started again. He wrote for 6 days non stop and recreated a better and improved version. Laudanum was a wildly popular drug during the Victorian era. It was an opium-based painkiller prescribed for everything from headaches to tuberculosis. Victorian nursemaids even spoon fed the drug to cranky infants, often leading to the untimely deaths of their charges. Originally, Laudanum was thought of as a drug of the working class. As it was cheaper than gin it was not uncommon for men and woman to binge on laudanum after a hard week's work. Use of the drug spread rapidly. Doctors of the time prescribed it for almost every aliment. Many upper-class women developed habits. Laudanum is a drug
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr.Hyde - Describe how Stevenson creates a sense of atmosphere in the opening chapter of the novel?
Abdullah Javad11w English Coursework The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr.Hyde Describe how Stevenson creates a sense of atmosphere in the opening chapter of the novel? Introduction: The tension and suspense in the novel begins with the title, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. It makes you want to know what the strange case was and how it affected the characters. One day, Utterson was out walking with the town distant kinsman Mr. Enfield when they passed a house Mr.Enfield tells Mr Utterson a strange case about the house. Description of the house makes reader feel mysterious. It is very strange compared to other houses. Appearance of the house foreshadows Mr.Hyde because the atmosphere of the house gives a sinister that it is clearly cold and unwelcoming just like its owner. Surely the house is a reflection of the people within. Mr.Hyde is known as very evil man. Mr.Enfield also talks about a story of Hyde and a little girl, in 'some place at the end of the world, about three o'clock of a black winter morning.". This gives reader a tension, and idea of isolation. Because no one would be around 'at the end of the world, about three o'clock of a black winter morning.' It is sense of sinister that something bad will happen. What happens is, Mr.Enfield describes it was hellish
How does Stevenson present good and evil in "Jekyll and Hyde"?
Pre-1914 Prose Coursework How does Stevenson present good and evil in "Jekyll and Hyde"? The strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde is a tale of contrast between good and evil. Robert Louis Stevensons novel demonstrates the adverse effects of scientific experiments and how the perception of doors can lead to evil. Furthermore "Jekyll and Hyde" is full of dual personality which in itself creates god and evil. Also it suggests that good cannot exist without evil. Firstly many of the rich and respected went out at night to experience how the other half lived. Here among the dim lit alleyways of the East End and under the protection of darkness did the upper class come out to play. They were frequently involved in illicit activities such as gambling, prostitution, brawling, heavy drinking and opium taking. They wanted to break away from the restraining shackles of society and enjoy the thrill of a concealed life at night away from the tight morals that governed the upper class. It was therefore no surprise that Enfield also led a secretive concealed life at night. 'Coming home from some place at the end of the world, about three o'clock of a black winter morning'. 'Some place at the end' suggests that Enfield is letting on too Mr Utterson that he was taking part in the extreme pleasures the city had to offer. However he was not going to openly admit as the effect on his
Examine critically with particular reference to the language, the theme of man's duality in R L Stevenson's
Examine critically with particular reference to the language, the theme of man's duality in R L Stevenson's "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" The story 'Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' portrays man's duality to perfection. This story can be classified as Science Fiction. He scientist Dr Jekyll wants to have self-satisfaction that he can master two personalities with perfection. The Victorian Society is the backdrop of this novel and the moral code turns people into hypocrites because they lead double lives. Dr. jekyll is a renowned doctor and a scientist. He firmly believes that there is a "beast" in very man and he is determined to create his evil half man and he is determined to create his evil half in the body of Mr. Hyde. His social status and rich circle of friends made him the center of attraction as an eligible bachelor to high society females. He lives in a world where pretence is uncounted for in the social circle of friends. This novel brings out a world in which appearance clashes with reality, a world of illicit desires and repressed emotions. The Victorian times bring out two types of society, on one hand we have the respectable deeply religious and polite society, on the other hand we have the illiterate and the brothels. The two never mix, and that is why Robert Stevenson provided this background to bring out the theme of 'Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'. The
What view of human nature does Stevenson present in the novel "The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde"?
Prose study coursework The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde What view of human nature does Stevenson present in the novel "The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde"? In "The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde", Stevenson presents many aspects of human nature. Human nature is what we are all like instinctively. For example we may hate someone just because of the way they look. This is human nature because we instinctively hate the person and we do not know why, we just feel hate inside, this is just one example of human nature. Many aspects of human nature are presented throughout the novel. Stevenson shows how the minor characters demonstrate emotion in different situations. At the beginning of the novel Mr Hyde bumps into a girl who is running down the street, he tramples her and leaves her screaming. When Hyde is returned to the girl a group of people had gathered, including a doctor. The doctor saw Hyde and desired to kill him, this demonstration of hate towards Hyde reveals that hatred is a part of human nature. Even the doctor, who is supposed to save lives desired to kill, this goes against his duty as a doctor to preserve life. Stevenson shows that hatred is a large part of human nature because all people can have the desire to kill no matter who they are. "But the doctor's case was what struck me...he was like the rest of us: every time he looked at my
Explore how Stevenson has presented the character of Mr. Hyde. Comment on how the author has created a sense of evil in this character.
Pre-20th Century Prose Study Assignment title: Explore how Stevenson has presented the character of Mr. Hyde. Comment on how the author has created a sense of evil in this character. "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" by Robert Louis Stevenson is a novella written in the gothic style, first published in 1886. It is linked to other works written in the same period of time and in the same style, most notably "Dracula" and "The Picture of Dorian Gray". During that period, it was believed that people had doppelgangers, or evil twins; this is how Victorians explained the duality of a person. Duality is a theme greatly explored in the novel; not only the duality of an individual but the duality of Victorian society as a whole. "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" demonstrated the fact that many high class citizens, who appeared fine and upstanding, hid dark secrets, especially sexual ones: exactly like Henry Jekyll. Another theme explored in the novella is that of the importance of reputation and class. For example Utterson and Enfield try to avoid gossip and maintain their respectability. Similarly, Utterson tries to preserve Jekyll's reputation, even though he senses something is not right. "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" has an episodic narrative structure in the fact that it is divided into specific significant events. Mr. Utterson is portrayed as an investigator of sorts, looking for clues and
Show How Stevenson Through Themes, Language and Setting Creates a World of Double Standards and Hypocrisy.
Show how Stevenson through themes, language and setting creates a world of double standards and hypocrisy. With titles such as 'Treasure Island' and 'The Black Arrow', one expects to suffer complete infatuation when they pick up a book marked Robert Louis Stevenson. The Scottish author/poet published the world renowned novella 'Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde' in 1886. The story tells of a scientist (Dr Jekyll), living within the respectable society of Victorian England, and his quest to prove to himself that he can master two opposing personalities without fault. It is told from the view point of John Utterson, lawyer and friend to the respected and brilliant scientist. From the unwanted arrival of the menacing character Mr Hyde comes a brutal crime followed by a barbaric murder. Suspicions begin to flare and before long Mr Utterson reluctantly discovers a horrific and terrifying story. Dr Jekyll's theory that within every man lies a good and evil persona has lead to him create and consume a potion that changes him into an embodiment of his evil side; Dr Jekyll is in fact the sinister and menacing murderer Mr Hyde. This captivating story is perhaps the most famous in its gothic genre, selling forty five thousand copies within its first few months. Even now the term 'Jekyll and Hyde' is used to portray someone with a dual personality, someone who lives a double life of respectable
How does Henry Jekll's full statement of the case resolve the questions raised earlier on in the novella?
How does Henry Jekll's full statement of the case resolve the questions raised earlier on in the novella? In the late Victorian society (1886) new scientific theories have be developed and disputed because the traditional scientists believe that god created man and that nature should not be tampered with. These new theories might have influenced the author R.L Stevenson to write the "the strange case of dr. Jekll and Mr. Hyde". One person that might have influenced him is Charles Darwin who wrote "the origin of the species". The novella is about the "duality of man" because in the story it mentions " that man is not truly one but truly two". This idea is explained throughout the story and so is the idea good and evil. It explores human nature through the good Dr. Jekll who shows the respectable side of humanity and MR. Hyde is the "pure evil" side of man. At the start of the chapter, Dr. Henry Jekll is projected into the readers mid as a well-dressed and groomed, professional and respected man. He liked to work, which is shown in the section, which says, "I was inclined to industry". And also knew that he would have a good future, for instance Jekll says "with every guarantee or an honourable and distinguished future ". Jekll thought that to keep his high status in society he would have to lead a double life, this is shown in the paragraph, which says, "I concealed my
Who or what is Edward Hyde?
Who or what is Edward Hyde? Due to the Victorian background of this book we are led to believe Edward Hyde is a completely different character to Henry Jekyll but we soon start to find out that they are actually one person, but with just a slight physical and mental change. Some readers in Victorian times would have interpreted the story as a struggle between good and evil, with Jekyll being the 'hardworking, normal guy' and Hyde being the 'twisted, evil person'. This was emphasised by the Christian belief of humans having a divided soul. If your soul had been good, on judgement day you would be saved into heaven where as if it was bad you would be damned to hell. During 1859 Darwin was showing his ideas of humans descending from apes or simpler forms of life this confused and scared many Victorians, they were know longer unique they were part of one species among many. Stevenson's own experiences may also help us to tell who or what Edward Hyde is. Stevenson grew up in Edinburgh, which in itself had two faces. There was the up and coming 'new town' which was the re-generated modern part of town and the 'old city', which was covered with disease and poverty. Stevenson also lived a double life by day he would be studying in the 'new town', but by night he would go out to the 'old town' until late at night. This could be interpreted as the character Jekyll in the story