Stevenson uses Enfield’s narration to first introduce the reader to Hyde whom we don’t know the identity of yet. He describes the scene as “hellish to see” then he elaborates the horror by describing what Hyde did and in what manner he did so: “trampled calmly over the child 's body” furthermore Stevenson uses a metaphor to describe Hyde as a “Juggernaut” this indicates that Hyde is an unstoppable force that crushes everything in his way and also has no reluctance in trampling over the girl and this gives the reader a sense of horror and curiosity of what kind of man could do such a thing without a second thought. Then, Enfield goes on to say that when this figure was caught he said “No gentleman wishes to avoid a scene, name your figure” and …show more content…
Jekyll first finds out that Mr. Utterson wanted to talk about his will he immediately tries to change the topic this gives a sense of secrecy and mystery. This leaves the reader to wonder what Dr. Jekyll is trying to hide, furthermore when Mr. Utterson tries to pursue the topic by mentioning that he has “been learning something of young Hyde” The doctors features darkened “he grew pale to the very lips, and there came a blackness about his eyes” This is the first link Stevenson gives us between the Mr. Hyde who is almost shrouded in secrecy throughout the novel and the respectable Dr. Jekyll, this generates a sense of mystery in the reader trying to figure out what the relationship between the two are. Soon afterwards Jekyll convinces Mr. Utterson to keep Hyde a private matter and tells him everything is under his control and he can “be rid of Hyde” at any moment he pleases. However on the second reading the reader knows that the situation is in fact quite the contradiction to what he just said, so this gives an effect of dramatic irony. This also foreshadows that soon something is bound to happen to Dr. Jekyll and we know this because of his will and how it indicates that if anything is to happen to him for example “go missing or die” all his money is to be delivered to Mr.
Jekyll and Hyde Good vs evil Stevenson presents the idea of duality through the differences between Dr Jekyll and mr Hyde. Throughout the novella, there is a repeated antithesis as the good of Jekyll is compared to the “detestabillity” of Hyde. Jekyll has a highly respectable front and is known for a having a good reputation, however Hyde is infamous he known for being evil and is strongly disliked by all he meets. Hyde is described as “like Satan” and “devilish” empathising his pure evil and his dangerous and deplourable nature. Whereas Jekyll is often described as a respected man and is “well built”.
Dr. Jeckyll chose by himself to create the more “wicked” and “disordered” version of him. This version of himself longs to be free of the facade he puts on when he is seen as the organized and friendly doctor, this covers up ultimately contributes to his overwhelming need for a less obligated life. By extending the exposure of the real reasoning behind Hydes behavior Stevenson is able to create a horrific feeling inside the character's
The parallel between the two cases emphasizes that every time Jekyll gives into temptation there are negative consequences. Furthermore, Jekyll focus on his own “spirit” further highlights that the consequences of temptation are not only harming others but they also damage one's personal moral. So too Jekyll again mentions his spirit when describing
When the story opens, a story is being told about how Hyde trampled a young girl. Rather than stay on the scene, he retreats. It is Jekyll who provides the family with a check in order to keep them silent about the tragedy. Mutual friends of Jekyll’s, Mr. Utterson and Dr. Lanyon, are suspicious of the possible individual who could be terrorizing London, and they begin to investigate on their own. Jekyll wanted to separate his good side from his evil impulses creating a potion that would allow him to do that physically.
So, after all those encounters with the story, reading the novel is surprising. The reason therefore, being that the reader, while reading, already has all those other images, of what the book needs to contain or to be more precise, what needs to happen, so that he, right at the beginning of the book might be thrown off by the Opening. It opens not with the story of Victor Frankenstein, or his creation, but with a series of letters from an Arctic explorer. Suddenly, the monster, is not, like widely believed named Frankenstein, in fact, he does not even have a name at all. Yet another difference to the widespread picture of the monster is that he is, a rather articulate creature.
As Stevenson was fascinated by Darwin theory of evolution he decided to portray it in his work. Due to the fact that in Victorian times the idea of rationalism was popular and that people weren’t supposed to show their strong emotions their darker sides were repressed and The locked doors and curtained windows of Jekyll’s house form the imagery of a man locking away the truth that lurks inside; Jekyll turning into Hyde is a metaphor of what happens when the unconscious mind is revealed; the murder of Carew symbolizes the repressed mind striking out at the conscious mind. The whole narrative is about unpeeling the layers that hide the repressed desires inside Jekyll Stevenson also uses several narrative points of view to intensify the feeling of a frightening outsider. As Hyde is often narrated in a mysterious way through different characters perspectives which slowly reveals horror a feature used in gothics.
Jekyll is seen performing scientific practice, attempting to achieve a goal which can be argued to exceed his mental capacity. Dr. Jekyll wished to remove his dark side, tampering with the duality of man. He expressed hatred towards is his darker side. It shows this in the quote “many a man would have even blazoned such irregularities as i was guilty of;... I regarded and hid them with an almost morbid sense of shame.”
“Hyde” is just Jekyll, having transformed his body into something unrecognizable". Jekyll does not make the potion to take away all evil away from himself. He created a potion that would allow himself to express his feelings without feeling guilt and facing any consequences effecting his respectable self. Dr. Jekyll in the novella is a respected professor and well known around the town. While Hyde on the other hand is almost the complete opposite.
Dr. Jekyll is viewed as a smart man with a lot of knowledge, however, due to Jekyll not being satisfied with his life, he is determined to get more out of his live and is willing to do anything to fulfill his determination. Dr. Jekyll expresses this when he states, “[A] grinding in the bones, deadly nausea, and a horror of the spirit that cannot be exceeded at the hour of birth or death. Then these agonies began swiftly to subside… [t]here was something strange in my sensations, something indescribably new and, from its very novelty, incredibly sweet. I felt younger, lighter, happier in body within I was conscious of a heady recklessness, a current of disordered sensual images running like a millrace in my fancy, a solution of the bonds of obligation, an unknown but not an innocent freedom of the soul.” (Stevenson 57).
“I would still be merrily disposed at times; and as my pleasures were (to say the least) undignified, and I was not only well known and highly considered, but growing toward the elderly man, this incoherency of my life was daily growing more unwelcome. It was on this side that my new power tempted me until I fell into slavery.” (Stevenson 62) This line is very obvious at pointing how Dr. Jekyll is getting bored of his dignified and mannerly life. He is losing the balance that kept him satisfied.
In Mary Shelley’s iconic gothic novel, Frankenstein, Romantic themes are strongly represented in order to propagandize Romanticism over the elements of knowledge and the Enlightenment. In her novel, Shelley uses gothic nature settings to foreshadow dark events that are about to happen in the novel. She also uses nature to intensify the effect that is brought during significant scenes, a strong example being, when Victor Frankenstein’s monster approaches him after a long period of time. Nature and its use to influence mood is one of the most paramount themes of both Frankenstein and Romanticism.
Overall, Stevenson’s presentation of the duality of man is conveyed by the relationship between Jekyll and Hyde because towards the end of the novel. Jekyll begins to realise that the schism which once caused them to despise one another, help them understand each other situation. Jekyll even begins to ‘pity’ Hyde toward the end of novel, praising his ‘love for life’ by calling it ‘wonderful’, as his creator he consequently acknowledges the condescending attitudes towards Hyde, unfairly for his appearance, however rightfully so for his actions. Moreover, like Darwin’s theory, Hyde could never be accepted into society, often being characterised as a ‘brute’. Additionally, Jekyll’s actions would be condemned by the Victorian readers, as he was
However we see a shift in Jekyll’s mood when Utterson brings up Hyde. At the mention of his second self, “the large handsome face of Dr. Jekyll grew pale to the very lips, and there came a blackness about his eyes”(57). Almost instantaneously, Jekyll had transferred from a happy and collected to full of fear and doubt. A similar transformation occurs during a chance meeting between Jekyll, Utterson and Utterson’s cousin, Enfield.
This distinct use of visual imagery creates a stark contrast between two seemingly different personas who will later be revealed to be different sides of Dr. Jekyll himself. The use of environment and setting also aids in distinguishing the two characters. When Mr. Utterson visits Hyde in his home, the surrounding environment is portrayed as a “dingy street” and “a gin palace” with “many ragged children huddled in the doorways” (Stevenson 1689). These images are symbolic of vice and poverty, all of which emphasise the perverse and deviant nature of Hyde as he commits several sins in the novel and is lacking in morals. On the other hand, Dr. Jekyll’s home is often depicted as “warmed by a bright, open fire”, “large”, and “comfortable” (Stevenson 1685), an embodiment of the Victorian outward respectability and “moral”
Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is about a character named Jekyll who has decided to give all of his property to a man by the name of Mr. Hyde if he ever disappears. As stated by the author and explained in Jekyll’s will, “...all his possessions were to pass into the hands of his ‘friend and benefactor Edward Hyde’, but that in the case of Dr. Jekyll’s ‘disappearance or unexplained absence for any period exceeding three calendar months’...” (Stevenson 11) Mr. Utterson, one of the main characters, was given this will to keep safe for Jekyll. After a night of hearing an unusual story about Hyde from one of his friends, Utterson looks into the will and wonders why Jekyll would give all of his property to such a cruel and vicious man.