Essay on The Concept of Evil in Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by...

The Concept of Evil in Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Stevenson The substance of the Bible and Greek myths - the premise of the evil that is in man - sometimes lurking deep in the psyche, sometimes controlling and consuming like a wild beast, is explored in Robert Louis Stevensons (1850-94) short Victorian novel of 1886. Rarely does the mere title of a novel have the myth-making depth to grip the imagination and ensure its place in our language for generations to come. Today everyone knows what is meant by a Jekyll and Hyde character. A handful of other novels with this quality perhaps come to mind; including Frankenstein. In this book the good Dr Jekyll has grown bored with his respectable†¦show more content†¦Stevenson witnessed double standards led by middle class people all-around him, this made him determined to avoid hypocrisy, and to respond against the stern Scottish Presbyterian background which he felt helped to form it. From the beginning of the novel, we are given the impression of an atmosphere consisting of secrecy, and mystery. The setting contributes to this; the strange door which Enfield remarks upon is always locked, the window in the rest of the house forever shut and the buildings around the court huddled together as if in conspiracy. Utterson lies in his curtained room in the gross darkness of the night with a great filed of lamps - referring to the gas street lamps. As coal was burnt so much at this time, the fog was a constant problem. The fog adds to the atmosphere of gloominess and secrecy and the dismal quarter of Soho appears to Utterson like a district of some city in a nightmare. Hyde undoubtedly symbolizes the beast in man and is described continually using animal imagery. When he is tackled by Utterson, he is described as hissing like a cornered snake; Poole describes him as a thing which cries out like a rat; he walks like a monkey andShow MoreRelatedStevenson and Conrad: The Duality of Human Nature 778 Words   |  3 Pagesthe heart of many Victorian works. The theme of the duality of man can be found in the works of two famous English authors, Robert Louis Stevenson and Joseph Conrad. Stevenson and Conrad both incorporate the theme of the duality of human nature within their own novellas. Stevenson employs this theme throughout his novella The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and similarly Conrad employs this theme throughout his novella Heart of Darkness. In both novellas the theme is found in the literary devicesRead MoreDr Jekyll And Mr Hyde Analysis1709 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"All human beings are commingled out of good and evil.† Robert Louis Stevenson was no fool when it came to understanding the duality of human nature evident within mankind. In his novella, the Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Stevenson is able to explore his interests concerning the dark, hidden desires that all human beings are guilty of possessing. In his story, a well-respected professional by the name of Dr. Jekyll experiments with the idea of contrasting personalities and successfullyRead MoreStevensons Representation of Evil in Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Essay1424 Words   |  6 PagesStevensons Representation of Evil in Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is a classic novel telling the story of the struggle between good and evil. The good being shown in the form of a well-respected Doctor Henry Jekyll and the evil being released from a lengthy repression in the form of Mr Edward Hyde. In my essay I will be concentrating on the influences of the Victorian age and how Stevenson involved aspects of his own life into the writing of the bookRead MoreStevensons Use of the Concept of Duality in Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde946 Words   |  4 PagesStevensons Use of the Concept of Duality in Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde was written during the 19th century by Robert Louis Stevenson. It was written during a time where Victorian society had a lot of strong moral values. These values were very strict and controlled every aspect of the Victorian lifestyle. Aggression and fighting was looked down on and arguments were much preferred to be settled verbally. Hostile behaviour could even be seen as a sin and Read MoreThe Man And The Monster1072 Words   |  5 PagesThe similarities between the human and the monster indicate that humans have the capability to be their own monster. Robert Stevenson story, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, demonstrates perfectly that a person has the capability into becoming a monster to society in the story. Despite Dr. Jekyll being a wealthy esteemed member of society, he still became Mr. Hyde, a monster. The undeniable shared characteristics between humans and monsters support the idea that humans will be the destructionRead MoreRomeo And Juliet Duality Essay1408 Words   |  6 PagesIn literature, duality is anything that has two sides, mostly dealing with good and evil. Duality plays an important role in showing who the characters are and how the story occurs in many different books. Books in which duality plays a prominent role include Dr. Jekyll and Mrs.Hyde, Romeo a nd Juliet, and the Bible. Duality exists throughout the play Romeo and Juliet. The things characters say, the characters, and actions of the characters are ways duality exists in the play. For example,Read MoreA Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde1043 Words   |  5 PagesStevenson’s novel â€Å"A strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,† is centered around portrayal of deep duality in man and man’s struggle to contain his inner primal instincts. Stevenson uses many methods throughout his novel to depict this concept. Throughout the novel, Jekyll is driven by his motive to discover his darker side. Because this story takes place in the Victorian era where there are only two types of people: good and bad, Jekyll struggles to repress his evil side in fear of judgement. HoweverRead MoreComparing Human Nature in Macbeth and Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde1596 Words   |  7 PagesDr Jekyll and Mr Hyde CA The strange case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde was written in the Victorian Era by Robert Louis Stevenson, this novella dwells into the concept of the duality of human nature. The narrative is extremely fragmented structure due to the use of multiple narrators and through the use of mixed media, in the form of letters and accounts. The inconsistent structure conveys that of a gothic detective story; which were very popular in the Victorian era. Victorian London at the time wasRead More Good and Evil in The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson4276 Words   |  18 PagesGood and Evil in The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson Throughout the story of â€Å"The Strange Case Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde†, the author, Robert Louis Stevenson, presents his idea of the duality of man- where we all have a dark, wicked side within us, where evil is held in waiting to surface, but we hide it away, we pretend it does not exist, and we keep it tame. He presents this idea by using two protagonists, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, who are actually the sameRead MoreThe Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde1505 Words   |  7 PagesDuring the latter portion of the nineteenth century, Robert Louis Stevenson published his novella, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. The fin de sià ¨cle saw the rise of different thoughts and ideas surrounding science and society. These concepts and interpretations sparked the discourse surrounding the theory of degeneration; which was the concern that civilization would fall to a lower state of being. This chapter will be reading multiplex personality as a manifestation of this broader cultural