This novel by Robert Louis Stevenson has a setting that has a very important feature. We find the character Dr. Jekyll who is used to represent good while Mr. Hyde in the novel representing evil. Technically, they are the same person, but they symbolize the good and the evil that is characteristic to us (Sorensen). The setting of the novel is in London, but relies heavily on Roberts 's knowledge of his own hometown. The evil of Hyde grows as the darkness of the setting becomes clearer as demonstrated in Hyde 's house in Soho and the lab in the back of Dr. Jekyll 's house as well as the fog that covers the streets.This helps in creating the development of evil throughout the story.
Victor did not see that his neglection of the monster would result in the monster’s revenge. The creature went on to terrorize Victor’s family and life by killing William and blaming Justine. “Remember that I am thy creature; I ought to be they Adam, but I am rather the fallen angel. Whom thou drive from joy for no misdeed. Everywhere I see bliss, from which I alone am irrevocably excluded…” (87) The monster compares himself to devil.
Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, the theme of dualism is portrayed through Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, the setting, and the natural realm and supernatural realm. These two characters serve as the ultimate example of good and evil. With Dr. Jekyll, have mostly good in him, and Mr. Hyde representing the evil side of Dr. Jekyll. The division between the two illustrates a great example of dualism. With Dr. Jekyll being overcome with urges of evil, he decides to create a monster to release these urges without fully accepting the consequences.
The novel Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is an example of the duality produced by society's rigid structure for perfection. Pressure to conform to society's standards caused Dr. Jekyll to adopt a dual
Victor regrets making Frankenstein a lot and knew it was a big mistake. Victor’s views the creation as part of himself. “I considered the being whom I had cast among mankind and endowed with the will and power to effect purposes of horror....". Victor was not aware what would happen so he believes that the death of William was ultimately Victor's fault. Victor bears partial responsibility for the death of William.
Whereas Frankenstein does not properly value the domestic affection he is given until it is violently taken from him, his creation learns that this is what values most in life and yet is not able to gain this affection from others. Francis Bacon says in his essay Of Friendship “I have given the rule, where a man cannot fitly play his own part; if he have not a friend, he may quit the stage”. Shelley highlights the need for a sense of belonging and companionship by letting both her main figures suffer the pain of not having this need fulfilled and, in consequence, they both “quit the stage” (Bacon) and turn their backs on humanity. Social isolation, although through different circumstances, was the predominant cause for both Frankenstein and his creature’s demise. Even Percy Bysshe Shelley, Mary Shelley’s husband, wrote in his preface to Frankenstein about the “amiableness of domestic affection” (Shelley 9).
In the book "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" by Robert Louis Stevenson, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde do not share many of the same characteristics physically, mentally or morally. Their appearances are different. Morally they are opposite as well. Dual personalities is the major theme for this book such as good versus evil and right versus wrong. In this book, one can conclude that Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde are indeed one person but two different personalities.
Mr. Hyde and Dr Jekyll majorly relates on the tale adapted from Robert Stevenson’s novella about a man who develops and takes a specific type of drug, which releases his evil side and turns him from a mild-mannered science man into a murderous maniac. As the plot goes on, his appearance changes along with the behavior. This paper analyzes this characters using Jeffrey Jerome’s concept as outlined in the “monster culture”. Discussion From this novel, it is apparent that Stevenson has demonstrated, through his characters, the concept of “Monster Culture” outlined by Cohen. For instance, Dr Jekyll a principle character in this novel is a man with two distinct personalities,
We hear it all the time–the mad genius, the deranged artist, the crazy inventor. These sayings are stereotypes, true, but stereotypes have to come from somewhere. In the case of linking mental illness to creativity, the stereotypes come from science. In The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, the reader is introduced to the idea of a dual persona. One persona, Dr. Jekyll, is a well-to-do Englishman, while the other, Mr. Hyde, is a borderline sociopathic character who defies all societal norms on proper behavior and etiquette.
Besides actually killing William, the creation also frames Justine, the Frankenstein’s servant, for the murder. “I bent over her and placed the portrait securely in one of the folds of her dress” (Shelley). He had taken this portrait from William after he killed him. These two actions lead the reader and Victor to call the creation a murderer, and inevitably, a monster. “He was a murderer!” (Shelley).