How is Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde typical of a Victorian Gothic Novel?
How is Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde typical of a Victorian Gothic Novel? The term "gothic" came to be applied to this genre of literature due to the fierce emotional ties and vastly enigmatic themes. Nearly every Gothic novel takes place in a strange, mysterious location, such as Dracula's castle or the Thornfield manor in Jane Eyre. However at the onset of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, the novel appears to stray from this easily identifiable Gothic tradition. London is chosen as the setting rather than a remote foreign castle. London is portrayed to be "a fire in a forest" with an atmosphere which had "an air of invitation. It gives the impression of a warmth and convivial Victorian lifestyle. Conversely on the other hand "a fire in a forest" could be construed to be dangerous or a threat to your safety. The reader's first opinion of London is that it embodies a pleasant vibe. However Stevenson incarnates London to fit in with the Gothic tradition. He utilizes a classic Gothic feature of the progression from light to dark in London. The first feature of the Gothic technique the novel embodies is the exploitation of progression from light to dark. London at the onset of the book is pleasant and positive. Stevenson uses phrases such as 'the street shone out' and 'like a fire in a forest' to show the reader its initial appeal and warmth. The fact that the street 'drove a thriving trade
How successful is Stevenson in appealing to his Target Audience in the first 6 chapters of Treasure Island?
Mitchel Follett How successful is Stevenson in appealing to his Target Audience in the first 6 chapters of Treasure Island? Stevenson originally wrote the book for his stepson Samuel Lloyd Osbourne on a holiday in Braemar in 1881. This means the book was intended to be read by teenage boys, although there are many characters so age does not matter too much. However he made the map of Treasure Island before he even began to write the book. In part 1 there is only one female character though (Jims' mum) which means the target audience of the book is males. Whilst writing the book Stevenson realised he could market it and eventually the book was published in the 'Young folks' magazine, this supports the theory that the book was intended for teens. The subject of the book is pirates and treasure which will interest and appeal to teenage boys. Stevenson uses a Pseudonym to subliminally suggest that he himself was a seafaring man - Captain George North and was familiar with the Sea this would appeal to children as they may believe the book is more authentic. Another way of appealing to
Discuss Stevensons presentation of the charchacter of Mr Hyde in the novel
Discuss Stevenson's presentation of the character of Mr Hyde in the novel The Character Mr Hyde, in the book "Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde" by Robert Louis Stevenson is left a mystery to the reader for the majority of this Victorian Gothic Horror. The suspense of this book would have been ever more relevant in Victorian times, due to the menacing and real evil of "Jack the Ripper," a serial murderer who preyed the streets of London in the late 1800's. Jack is a person with which through the book, Edward Hyde shares certain characteristics, such as leading a double life. Investigators suspected "Jack the Ripper" to be a respectable man in daylight hours. They never did catch him. The first initial sighting of this "stumping," "little man" was in the dark and early hours of the morning. This already suggests that Mr Hyde is not quite normal, as stereotypically bad things come out at night, so automatically the reader is intrigued. In addition, you can tell that he is going to be an important factor to the book when he tramples a child like a "Juggernaut" with no feelings and it is chilling to think what kind of a man does this. The person to witness the preliminary event involving Mr Hyde was Mr Utterson; Mr Jekyll's friend and lawyer. In the event, a cheque with Mr Jekyll's name on it was handled by Mr Hyde and given to the trampled child's family in the hope that they would keep
In writing Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Stevenson at once creates a statement about the human condition, a critique of Victorian society and a gripping mystery. How does he do this?
In writing Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Stevenson at once creates a statement about the human condition, a critique of Victorian society and a gripping mystery. How does he do this? Robert Lewis Balfour Stevenson, born 1850, grew up in a respectable Victorian middle class household in Edinburgh. His nurse was a fundamentalist Christian who taught Stevenson about good and evil. This teaching gave him nightmares, out of one of which was born 'Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde'. Victorian Edinburgh had two 'personalities': the prosperous middle-class New-Town, where Stevenson lived, and the 'old black city' with poverty, disease and over crowding. Men at that time could not play dirty, meet women and get drunk; the darker and more mysterious forces of the personality were suppressed being considered too uncivilised; this was very rude and disrespectful. So men had to do this secretly which meant they were like living two different lives, having two different faces: one which was good and highly respected and the other sneaky and disliked. Experiencing this double standard Stevenson started his plot for his story; to cheat life and become two different people. Stevenson's novel is about mystery and science. The saying of 'living two different personalities' was put to real life in his book; one person having two personalities and becoming a different person. However, Stevenson's theme seems to
Explore Stevensons presentation of evil in the novel 'Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde'
Explore Stevenson's presentation of evil in the novel 'Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde'. In Robert Louis Stevenson's novel 'Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde', a respected doctor experiments with evil by drinking a potion to cast all of the good out of his body. This leads to many evil incidents taking place. Evil is causing pain or harm to others in a spiteful or malicious way. Victorian views of evil were closely related to religion and the way people looked. This was a safe and comforting opinion for the Victorians because they could imprison these people and could keep away from people that they thought were evil as it could be easily identified. Stevenson shows his view of evil using many different techniques mainly through characters but also through setting imagery and language. Stevenson was influenced by many different circumstances during his life. Stevenson's childhood was a fearful one with a strict religious upbringing constantly focusing on Hell. He was very ill and therefore spent a lot of time in bed thinking about Hell. He was always alone and isolated as he was an only child so he could not discuss his feelings with anyone. This is closely linked to Jekyll not telling anyone about his double life and split personality. In university he led a double life, his life that his parents believed he led a strict and respected one compared to a hidden life of a poor, strange, evil boy.
Robert Louis Stevenson's novel, Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
Robert Louis Stevenson's novel, Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, has been called a "perpetual masterpiece of psychological terror that sprang from the deepest crevices of Stevenson's own subconscious -- a nightmare from which his wife awakened him" (Lombardi). The phrase "Jekyll and Hyde" is synonymous with man's internal war between good and evil (Auclair). Stevenson's story of the kindly scientist who drinks a potion that transforms him into a stunted, evil version of himself is a story of horror, which preceded modern psychology. Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory states that an individual's personality is divided into three different parts: the id, ego, and superego. The id consists of unethical, irrational, driving instincts for sexual gratification, aggression, and general physical and sensual pleasure. The superego represents the outer expectations forced on the personality by society and culture. The ego acts as the mediator between the impulses of the id and the superego. The ego allows the personality to cope with the inner and outer demands of its existence. The balance of these three parts determines a person's personality (Stevenson 1). Freud's theory explains that humans can be ruled by their hidden impulses and passions instead of their rational thoughts. The imbalance of the id, ego, and superego is reflected in the double life of Henry Jekyll. In the novel Dr.
What views of human nature does Stevenson present in the novel 'The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde'
What views of human nature does Stevenson present in the novel 'The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde'? The purpose of this essay is to consider the different views of human nature that Stevenson presents in his book: 'The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde'. The main character has a split personality, where one is the opposite of the other. Stevenson believes that evil is just as much a part of the human personality as good is, and this essay will analyse just how his views are revealed in his novel. It will also show the conflict of good and evil throughout the whole book, and how Stevenson's background and other factors may have influences how he portrayed it. Stevenson lived and grew up in Edinburgh, therefore in the novel, his references are vary vague, for example: 'not far from the river', or just totally made up, for example Gaunt Street. However some real names are mentioned, like Soho or Cavendish Square. One story that Stevenson would have heard in his childhood in Edinburgh is the story of Deacon Brodie, a cabinetmaker by day and a criminal by night. There is a link as both Jekyll and Deacon Brodie have a good and evil side to them, and lead an exciting double life. Robert Louis Stevenson had been brought up as a strict Calvinist; a belief centred upon moral values that make you conscious of the devil and sinfulness, which he eventually rebelled
How important is the setting in R L Stevenson's portrayal of a double life in Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
How important is the setting in R L Stevenson's portrayal of a double life in Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. The strange case of 'Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde' was written in 1886 by Robert Lewis Stevenson. Robert Lewis Stevenson was born and brought up in Edinburgh in the 1850's. He was part of a middle class family, his parents were strict Christians and it was very important to them that Stevenson behaved respectfully. When Stevenson was a child, Stevenson's nanny frightened him with stories of hell and suffering which may have contributed to his ideas in the novel. When he was a young man in Edinburgh he may have used a false name or a hidden identity in order to indulge himself in forbidden activities or he may have fantasized about them, like crime, affairs and homosexuality. In Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Stevenson uses his experiences to describe the unpleasant side of life. The novel is about how Dr Jekyll leads a double life and its devastating consequences. The book reflects Victorian concerns about city life such as crime and poverty. The novel is set in the city of London and is significant in the novel because in general most gothic novels at that time were set far away or in unfamiliar surroundings, yet Stevenson sets the novel in London which shocked readers because it was a place they all knew which made them think that the themes discussed in the novel could be happening near
Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde - How does Stevenson create a sense ofmystery and horror in the opening 2 chapters of the novel?
How does Stevenson create a sense of mystery and horror in the opening 2 chapters of the novel? In this essay I am going to look at Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, the first two chapters, and explain using quotes and information from these chapters how the writer creates a sense of mystery and horror. I will be focussing on the descriptions given about the characters and the house which plays a significant part in this story. This novel is about a highly classed doctor of science, named Dr Jekyll. Dr Jekyll is a very clever professor who makes a mixture of chemicals, which can turn him into a totally different person for a short period of time. This power to become someone else lets Dr Jekyll live two different lives, without anyone finding out, but this has very bad consequences for the doctor. As the story unfolds two characters, named Mr Utterson and Mr Enfield, both high class lawyers. These two characters become very suspicious about Dr Jekyll start to investigate. Finally Utterson meets Dr Jekylls science experiment a man named Mr Hyde. Now Mr Utterson knows this mysterious man, he reads over Dr Jekylls will, which states that if Dr Jekyll dies or is missing for more than three calendar months, Mr Hyde inherits all of Dr Jekyll possessions. Mr Utterson feels there is something suspicious about Jekyll and Hyde. Now the experiment goes badly wrong for Jekyll and Jekyll is found
How Does the Setting Enhance the Atmosphere in 'The Strange case Of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'?
How Does the Setting Enhance the Atmosphere in 'The Strange case Of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'? The Gothic movement was at its highest popularity, when Robert Louis Stevenson wrote 'The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. The Gothic movement was about the darker side of life and man's soul, and indeed romance, morbidity and death. In the novel this exploration of man's darker side is taken to the extreme. Where there is the belief that there are literally two sides to a person, in the novel the two sides are split. With that duality, you also get a change in setting and this enhances the atmosphere. Advance in science and medicine influenced minds and questioned beliefs of the Victorian age. For example, does Mr Hyde ever come out in the day? This is because of the darkness in him is accentuated outside by night and shadows. He appears in gloomy surroundings in bad circumstances, and situations. For example, in the Carew murder 'a fog rolled over the city' which is like a carpet of gloom and horror descending before you even know what is about to happen. After its happened you get the 'great chocolate coloured pall' come over the city. Darkness and night have deeper connotations, apart from everyone disliking the dark. The murder of Danvers Carew was also in darkness, which represents the connection between dark, blackness and evil. There was a full moon, which is well