Who’s who? The archetypal roles of Jekyll and Hyde. In The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Robert Louis Stevenson did not write with the archetypal hero's journey in mind, but this does not mean that there are no such characters still present in the text. The hero in this text is Utterson as he is the main character throughout it all, but his mentor is not exactly clear. There are many key properties of a mentor in literature and Mr. Poole possesses all of those properties in the text making him the mentor to Utterson. Firstly, Poole tells Utterson of a large problem that he will need to tackle if he wants to live in peace. He tells Utterson of how Jekyll has once again locked himself in a room and will take no visitors “... well, …show more content…
This shows how Utterson is now aware of a problem he will have to fix and must have a plan of action to undertake the challenge and potentially absolve the world of Mr. Hyde who is thought to be very connected to Dr. Jekyll. Poole has now piqued Utterson’s interest in solving this case and possibly ridding the world of Mr. Hyde’s horrors while also saving Dr. Jekyll who is an old friend of his showing qualities of a possible mentor. Next, the mentor’s primary quality is shown that is that they assist the hero in crossing the threshold and getting them ready for the challenge. This is evidenced as Poole begins explaining how Jekyll has once again locked himself away and he is concerned for him adding a ton of evidence to his concerns as he then asks Utterson if he will investigate with him “but will you come along with me and see for yourself?” (Stevenson 22). This occurs after he built up Utterson’s curiosity and gave him the courage to cross the threshold into the unknown to finally get to the bottom of the mystery he had been trying to crack. In this instance, however, Utterson crosses two thresholds in a way: the threshold into the unknown world of Jekyll’s house and also the threshold of society that defined what a gentleman could and could not do as he finally
That evening after his walk with Enfield, Utterson returns home and examines Dr. Jekyll 's will, which he remembers had strange stipulations referring to the Mr. Hyde Enfield discussed. The will provides that in the case of Henry Jekyll 's death or disappearance, all of his possessions should be given to the Edward Hyde. Utterson was uncomfortable when Jekyll originally requested this stipulation, and is further upset by it after hearing of Mr. Hyde 's despicable behavior. After considering the implications of the will with what he has learned about Edward Hyde, Utterson goes to visit Dr. Lanyon, another dear friend of Dr. Jekyll 's. When the men begin talking about Jekyll, Utterson discovers that Lanyon has not spoken to Jekyll for a long period of time due to a disagreement over "unscientific balderdash." Utterson also learns that Lanyon has never heard of Hyde.
Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a complex and tricky novel to fully grasp, but the reader can come to understand many parallels to their own lives. Stevenson’s creation has stood the test of time because of its power to astonish; even if one previously new the outcome. This power has made Jekyll and Hyde, a pair that will continue to provoke thought in many readers in generations to
We meet Mr Hyde, “a pale, dwarfish man” “of no particular age”, and we meet Dr Jekyll, a “large, well-made man of fifty” with a “large handsome face”. The way Stevenson describes them as opposites makes us think that they are infact two people, but as Stevenson builds up the clues throughout the book we realise that they are
Now this story does not follow Dr. Jekyll through his journey of creating his evil alter ego. Moreover he is not even the first initial character that we are introduced to in the novella; we are first introduced to a man named Mr. Utterson. He is actually the lawyer of Dr. Jekyll and he takes an interest in his newfound protégé who is referred to as Mr. Hyde. His negative feelings towards Mr. Hyde, beget a personal investigation into his life and his connection to Dr. Jekyll. Sadly he does not realize the truth behind the mystery of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde till the end of the novella, where he finally discovers the secret from reading Dr. Jekyll’s last words written in a letter addressed to him after Dr. Jekyll’s untimely death.
Just as the emotions between a parent and toddler can change any second from loving to embarrassed and angry, the two main characters in Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, struggle through a family-like relationship. Throughout the novel, the relationship between Henry Jekyll and Edward Hyde changes from a close, family-like relationship to one of hatred toward the end of the book. Changes in the relationship between Henry Jekyll and Edward Hyde can be seen in: observations by Mr. Utterson, Dr. Jekyll’s state of mind before and after the murder of Sir Danvers Carew, and Dr. Jekyll’s confession.
“Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde” is a gothic novel written by Robert Louis Stevenson that was first published in 1886. It’s about a lawyer from London named G.J. Utterson who explores strange events that involves his old friend Henry Jekyll and Edward Hyde. The novel’s influence on language is extraordinary, with the phrase “Jekyll and Hyde” coming to the meaning of a person of diversity in moral character from one situation to the next (French literature).
Utterson, Lanyon, Enfield, Jekyll... one of these does not belong. Clearly, within the context of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Henry Jekyll struggles to fit himself into the strict Victorian society. In the events leading to his demise, he longs to separate his firm, polished face from his true inner self; from here, Stevenson paints this juxtaposition with the use of several point-of-view techniques. When Utterson, the protagonist, “[stands] a while when Mr. Hyde had left him... putting his hand to his brow like a man in mental perplexity” (Stevenson 19), he clearly becomes the literal center of attention for the story’s opinions and perspectives. Rather than giving an omniscient style to the novel, Stevenson provides an external viewpoint in order to engage his audience. The use of point-of-view techniques in Stevenson’s Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde reinforces the audience’s reaction to the story’s moral dilemma.
Utterson saw Jekyll since they were good friends he saw that this person in front of him was not his good friend. Dr.jekyll the good the kind and Hyde is turning him into a dark, and evil person. All these things that are happening to Jekyll is making his body sick, deadly looking. “This master Hyde, if he were studied though he , must have secrets of his own:black secrets, by the look of him; secrets compared to which poor Jekylls worst would be like sunshine.” (18 Stevenson) This quote shows that Dr.jekyll is good,compared to Hyde he is good. Even Dr.Jekyll’s Darkest deepest secrets compared to Hyde’s secrets Jekyll’s look like sunshine, and cant even compare to Hyde’s secrets. “Now that that evil influence had been withdrawn, a new life began for Dr.Jekyll.”(31 Stevenson)This Quote shows that Mr. Hyde is evil. Hyde’s evil influence on Dr.jekyll who was a good man and Mr.Hyde was turning him into something evil. With his evil influence gone Dr.Jekyll can be himself; a good man.”It turns me to think of this creature stealing like a thief to harry’s bedside; poor harry what a wakening!” (18 Stevenson)This quote shows that everyone had a bad feeling about Mr.Hyde, Utterson knew that Hyde was bad, and evil. Utterson hated to see his oldest friend Dr.jekyll get his life ruined by a a thief and and
By investigating Mr. Hyde and questioning Dr. Jekyll, Utterson is defending his ideal of what is socially right. There is no personal enjoyment in any of these matters; instead, Utterson is driven by a moral obligation to offer support to a friend
One afternoon, like any other usual afternoon, when Mr. Utterson was sitting by his fireside, Poole suddenly came and asked Utterson to go to Dr. Jekyll’s with him. Poole was scared because his master, Dr. Jekyll, became strange again that he locked himself in his cabinet. After some investigations, Poole and Utterson believed that Mr. Hyde murdered Dr. Jekyll. There were three main reasons that made them assert that Mr. Hyde was the murderer. First of all, Poole saw some changes in his master’s appearance.
Hyde primarily shows only feelings of rage, disgust, and self-preservation. Although Jekyll also shows signs of wanting to protect himself – he tries his best to discourage Utterson from pursuing Hyde – this could also be viewed as him looking out for his friends, wanting to keep them safe. When Utterson brings up Hyde in casual conversation, Jekyll says “this is a matter I thought we had agreed to drop”. This
Throughout the novel, it is important to examine what Utterson suspects of Jekyll. While Jekyll clearly is acting strange, Mr. Utterson is blind to the fact that this is truly Dr. Jekyll¹s problem and instead blames Mr. Hyde for blackmail. The question remains, blackmail for what?
Utterson’s surroundings affect him is by exaggerating a rational logic. Everything must have a reasonable and sensible explanation. When Poole brings him to help rescue Jekyll, he comes up with many excuses as to who is inside the laboratory, even saying that Jekyll has a disease that changes both his appearance and voice (Stevenson 56). His reluctance to accept anything beyond the logical is the main cause behind all of his actions. Throughout the story he is acting like a detective, trying to get to the bottom of the whole Jekyll and Hyde mess; he doesn’t goes to the authorities so as to not harm Jekyll’s reputation.
Jekyll and Mr. Hyde influence each other, Stevenson focuses on individual’s perspective. By illuminating on individual’s conflict and perspective, it makes reader to sympathize Dr. Jekyll’s dilemma. Because of social status, he can’t be free, but when people recognize Mr. Hyde as Dr. Jekyll, it will influence to his social status. Additionally, Victorian era time period affects to author’s perspective in the book a lot. It is unique for everyone to overcome internal conflicts, and the author portrayed it in extreme method. Stevenson ultimately claims that in reality, everyone has
In the spooky mysterious novel written by Robert Louis Stevenson we start our journey with the main character, Mr. Utterson, and his companion, Dr. Lanyon. The two men talk about their colleague Dr. Jekyll and this mysterious figure named Mr. Hyde. In doing this Stevenson introduces the four characters that prove to be pillars in the investigation and resolution of the book. Throughout the book we experience plenty of conflict between these four characters and society. Stevenson sets up the theme through the conflicts that arise between the characters in the book. In the end the author wraps it all up by the use of his unique point of view and ends the confusion by allowing the us to finally solve “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr.