Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
Stevenson's novella, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, explores duality in an environment of increasing self-doubt and fear The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is one of Stevenson's best works, with many ideas and philosophies embedded in its pages. The main idea that Stevenson conveys to the reader during the book is the idea of mans duality. Stevenson believed that there were two parts to man, the morally correct and the evil. His portrayal of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde incorporates and reflects his beliefs about the duality of man and mans susceptibility to temptation and greed. Stevenson's idea of self-doubt is that man is prone to insecurity and the obsessive nature of moral wellbeing. During the novella he also portrays that members of Victorian society feared the morally wrong and the power of the advancing technology that made man control of his own destiny, instead of being controlled by it. During Victorian society, citizens believed that there was one absolute ruler who was the creator of mankind. Throughout the book, Jekyll bears strong notations towards God; "I swear to god" and "o god, Utterson, what a lesson" etc. However, at the time the book was written Charles Darwin was putting his beliefs into the public eye and creating increasing controversy about the origins of man. His book, On the Origin of Species, put forward many ideas that we now believe to be true and
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Coursework Man is not truly one but truly two writes Dr. Jekyll in his full statement of the case. In a way this idea of Stevenson's foretells Sigmund Freud's theory of the constantly fighting Id (inner child); ego (the part restrained by the self) and the superego (the restraint picked up from society). In both Freud's and Stevenson's ideas, the different parts of the psyche are constantly fighting Victorian society was very restrained: table legs had to covered up for fear of men seeing them as women's legs, it was a bit like the Christian right of the U.S.A today with capitalism, patriotism, individualism, organised religion and sexual morality all very strong. All this meant that each person had a very strong superego: Mr. Hyde was someone, or something that had no superego or ego. He was like a child: he took what he wanted when he wanted it. Despite the imposed morality of the time, there were a lot of double standards. Most of the concepts of morality are also contradicted. Karl Marx, a political writer and thinker at the time saw society as the struggle between the two classes, another double, the upper class (the bourgeoisie) who exploited the working class (the proletariat). Marx envisaged the proletariat overthrowing the bourgeoisie and thus creating a communist society. This became a major fear of the bourgeoisie. Maybe Mr. Hyde
Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
Explore how Stevenson creates and sustains suspense through the mystery surrounding Jekyll and Hyde's identity. "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde", a novella, displaying how Stevenson explores the reality regarding the fact that every human being has a good and a dark side. This story, which is seen as sinister, reflects his view of life, how humans create an image of pure goodness to the outside, whereas a pot of evil seethes in each and every one. In the following essay I will identify various compounds of the story in which the author creates and sustains suspense in this novel. Not only is the mystery the main point to analyse but also how the writer is able to do this using linguistic tools and the story behind the author and where he comes from. During Stevenson's era, the affluent society aspired a wealthy future for their children, which was possible through first-rate education followed by a university course. The author, who had access to these repositories of expertise, may derive his excellence in literature style from the prosperity of his father Thomas Stevenson, a civil engineer, also a member of the affluent society. Stevenson's intentions by writing this novella were to bring to light the fact that a human has two different sides, two different personalities of which one is good and the other bad. The writer wants to show the world what
Dr. Jekyll and Mr.Hyde
How does Stevenson explore the duality of human nature in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde? I am writing this coursework to show how Stevenson explores the duality of human nature in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Victorian life had 2 side, those who were rich and wealthy and those who were poor and less affluent. This era was a very suspicious time, with dark alleys and odd people with odd houses. This leads on to the same structure as Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in these 2 quotes. (Page 4) "Tramps slouched into the recess and struck matches on the panels; children kept upon the steps; the schoolboy had tried his knife on the mouldings". (Page 4) "The street shone out in contrast to its dingy neighbourhood, like a fire in a forest; and with its freshly painted shutters, well-polished brasses, and general cleanliness and gaiety of note, instantly caught and pleased the eye of the passenger". The first quote shows the rough poverty sides of London which describe how tough people's life was impoverished and how people were badly influenced into this life they have been lead to. The second quote shows more of an extravagant area with wealth, money and fame. The quote characterizes how the richer people advertise their belongings by the glimmer shining out on the streets. Stevenson was born in Edinburgh on November 13th 1950. His father, Thomas Stevenson, and his mother Margaret Isabella
Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde This essay is about how R L Stevenson uses the setting in ''Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde to emphasise the theme of duality. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was written in the nineteenth century. The story was told from the point of view of Utterson, Lanyon and Jekyll himself. Dr. Jekyll was an aging doctor who conducted experiments to change his personality also he invented Mr. Hyde. There were unexplained attacks on Sir Danvers Carew, Hyde was suspected on this attack and therefore disappeared. Hyde was the alter ego of Jekyll. Hyde started to take over Jekyll's body. In the end Jekyll writes a letter and Hyde suicides the letter reveals the truth. Stevenson uses setting to emphasise the theme of duality he shows the good side of London for example ''the shop fronts stood along that thoroughfare of with an air of invitation, like rows of smiling saleswomen''. This suggests that the shops are so attractive it sounds welcoming to go there. However on the other street a house door is described as ''the door which has no bell or knocker.'' This gives the feeling that there is no one wanted and it's a very unwelcoming. The idea that this is duality because there is two sides to London one side where it's welcoming and one side where it's unwelcoming. This paragraph is about the contrast between Mr. Hyde and Dr. Jekyll. When Stevenson describes Mr. Hyde as
Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
Explore the theme of Duality in ‘The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’ First published in 1886, ‘The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’ was an immediate success and one of author Robert Louis Stevenson’s bestselling novels. It is a classic example of Gothic fiction and even though it may be seen as just a horror story, with accounts of violent murders and a disturbing, scientific experiment gone wrong, the book also explains the suppression of the Victorian society. Furthermore, Stevenson brought out further ideas of human psychology during the Victorian times, as the story explores the theme of duality in human nature; the idea that every person has two sides to themselves – a nicer, kind side which can also be seen as ‘artificial’ as it is displayed in social situations, whereas the sinister, darker side of man is unsuspected and hidden. This will be my main focus in the essay, analysing how Stevenson uses this theme of dual nature in his novel. ‘The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’ has another unusual twist because, after all the horrendous acts that have been committed and the unpredictable behaviour of the characters, it is only in the last chapter that the plot and the true dual nature of Henry Jekyll are revealed to the reader, through a letter that Jekyll leaves. It is in this letter that he describes in detail his theory of good
'Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde' is set in Victorian times, where the well-respected lawyer Utterson investigates the mysterious goings on surrounding his good friend Dr Jekyll and the evil Mr Hyde.
'Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde' is set in Victorian times, where the well-respected lawyer Utterson investigates the mysterious goings on surrounding his good friend Dr Jekyll and the evil Mr Hyde. The book was written in 1886 and therefore contains many theories around in Victorian times such as physiognomy. This is when people believed physical appearance could define a criminal type character. This is evident throughout the book due to the description of Hyde and also of more civilised characters. The idea of original sin is perhaps 'watered down' in Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by introducing the idea of drugs to bring out evil characteristics in one person. The setting of 'Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde' is set in Victorian London. Stevenson uses clear descriptions of misty nights and a 'night under the face of the fogged city moon', which give an impression of evil and mystery to the story long before it has truly begun. 'Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' is at one point mentioned as 'very cool and a little damp, and full of premature twilight.' This is a first hand example of the split personality coming through, the darkness showing through too early, damp, a total opposite to the respectable setting of Victorian London. Many people in Victorian times believed in the theory of physiognomy, however, Golding also makes some symbolic use of appearances. In 'Lord of the Flies' Jack and Ralph first met
Duality in Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde
Duality in Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde One branch of philosophy insists that human beings are 'dual creatures'. By this is meant the animalistic side of a human being, being separate from man's unique ability of rational thinking. This duality in humans is the not quite so obvious 'lower level' of meaning in Robert Louis Stevenson's allegory The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The much more obvious, 'surface level' of meaning is that of a horror mystery. Stevenson explores this duality in every human mainly through Henry Jekyll and Edward Hyde. The story also demonstrates how an innocent curiosity about our darker side of our nature can get out of hand. Stevenson suggests that in all of us there is a seed of evil. Anyone having read the book will know that Henry Jekyll turns into Mr. Hyde when having consumed a special potion. The brew awakens a dormant or hidden character; this is emphasized by a physical mutation. This physical mutation from a tall, slim, man of older age to a, younger, stronger, smaller and hairier build is a symbolic change because it helps the visualization of the two characters and their role in Stevenson's message. The contrast between the suave, distinguished gentleman and the impulsive 'animal' is notable. Dr. Jekyll's clothes do not fit Mr. Hyde; they are too small for him. Hyde therefore personifies the idea that the primitive evil is smaller,
Jekyll and Hyde
The unsettling, repugnant and deformed Edward Hyde is a character who provokes extreme visceral aversion from the unwary Victorian reader. Stevenson presents the troglodytic figure of Hyde ingeniously and to crystallize his description of unattractiveness, he uses structure and setting to make Hyde seem ominous and devilish. This chilling build up sets up tension and suspense for the Victorians. The then current religious theory that man had been made out of God's image had been overhauled by Darwin's theory. Darwin claimed that humans were highly elaborate apes. Most Victorians called the theory preposterous. Victorian society was in chaos and heated arguments broke out. The fact that there was a debate of evolution in a book was sensational to the Victorians. Stevenson uses Hyde to explore the theory and split life apart. His "dwarf like stature and resemblance of Satan" would have shaken Victorian society and infuriated readers. Stevenson had created the feeling of blasphemy and in the final chapter makes Jekyll a hypocrite, the spitting image of Victorian society. The book is a tale of contrasts and of self- control. Stevenson's novel demonstrates the adverse effects of scientific experimentation on people which bring out both good and evil sides to them. The Victorian era in general also had its own dual personality: the rich and the poor, the saved and the fallen and
Jekyll and Hyde
Katie Miles 10A 7th May 2007 How does Henry Jekyll's Full Statement of the Case resolve the questions which are raised earlier in the novel? 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' was written in 1886 by Robert Louis Stevenson. The story derived from one of Stevenson's many adult nightmares and raised questions about Society and Religion that was debated by many people. The story was about the duality of man and how Dr. Jekyll tried splitting the good and evil. A result of this was Mr. Hyde and his pure evil personality. In the novel, the last chapter 'Henry Jekyll's Full Statement of the Case' answered many questions brought up earlier in the story. Dr. Jekyll is portrayed as a respected and distinguished, well brought up man at the beginning of chapter 10. This is clear in the words, '[he was] fond of the respect of the wise and good among my fellow-men', and 'with every guarantee of an honourable and distinguished future'. These statements show us he has all the traits of a gentleman because it says 'good among my fellow men' and fond of the respect of the wise' which meant he liked other high honourable men respecting him; however he feels as though he already leads a double life. We see this in the words, 'I concealed my pleasures' and 'I stood already committed to a found duplicity of life.' This tells us