Analysis Of Robert Louis Stevenson's Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde

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Robert Louis Stevenson’s gothic novella, Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde unveils various gothic elements. It is a mesh of different stories into one. The several narratives embraced by Jekyll do not exist separately, but instead rely on one another, (Germana 98). The Gothicism in, and concept of the novella shocked readers of its time. The novella offered new scientific thought, which many feared and could not accept. Primarily, The Victorian era, during which the novella was published, valued appearance and reputation. The era encouraged and strived for propriety, mainly on the surface. It rejected anything that went against society’s rigid, restraining values. It resisted anything that appeared immoral and corrupt. The era was all about having individuals of society hide their true selves by repressing specific thoughts and desires that were considered immoral. It encouraged them to wear a mask that only displayed their good manners and morals. Living in a Victorian society was a challenge. Many had to reserve their true nature and silence their personal wishes, needs, and desires. One main gothic theme evident in the novella is the existence of secrets. Stevenson shows how repression can lead to the development of dangerous, horrible secrets. The novella depicts repression through the character of Dr. Henry Jekyll, and shows what kind of threats it could pose on the society and its individuals. Edward Hyde is Dr. Jekyll’s doppelganger. He is the manifestation

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