Essay On Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde

The novel The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde was written by Robert L. Stevenson and first published in 1886. The years from 1837 to 1901 are considered the Victorian Era, so the novel is considered a Victorian novel. Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde is written in the same era as Dr Jekyll and is a Victorian Novel as well.

In the novel, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson provides insight into the inner workings of the duality that exists within humans. Dr. Jekyll is a well-respected doctor in his community while his differing personality Mr. Hyde is hideous and considered by the public as evil based on appearance. As the novel progresses Dr. Lanyon begins to investigate Mr. Hyde, he begins to realize similarities between both Mr. Hyde and Dr. Jekyll such as their handwriting which results in the discovery that they are the same person. Dr. Jekyll is able to transform himself into Mr. Hyde by drinking a serum he has created which was intended to purify his good. Stevenson stresses the duality of good and evil that exists

French philosopher Michel Foucault once said “If repression has indeed been the fundamental link between power, knowledge, and sexuality since the classical age, it stands to reason that we will not be able to free ourselves from it except at a considerable cost,”. This quotation is saying that repression is the reason why people are not free to express themselves and explore new things. According to Foucault, the only way to be free involves consequences. In The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Robert Louis Stevenson discusses the consequences of repression through his characters Jekyll and Hyde. In this story, Jekyll attempts to live the suffocating expectations of Victorian society, but he ultimately creates an alter ego in order to deal with his suffering. This alter ego, Hyde, was created at a “considerable cost” to Jekyll.

The author, Robert Louis Stevenson presents the novella The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in a unique and compelling way. Many aspects of the short story can be interpreted in different ways as its complexity can overpower the book transient storyline. One aspect of the book that can be considered controversial is the way Stevenson presents the novella and the book's historical context. Although, Stevenson’s work can be considered engaging, it can also lead the reader to question the reasoning behind the particular storyline of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Overall, in terms of historical context, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is written in an allegorical way in which different aspects of the book represent a major theme or event taking place in Victorian England.

Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde consists of reputation, good vs. evil and damage control. In other words, Utterson tirelessly works to prevent his good friend Dr. Jekyll from being dragged into the horrid affairs of Mr. Hyde, and Dr. Jekyll goes to the greatest of lengths to prevent his Hyde identity from being discovered, in order to avoid anyone knowing of his somewhat questionable scientific work and morally despicable behavior. Much of the novel is based on the characters reputations and how they have to maintain a good public image, as they are upper class people. The novel takes place in Victorian England and the main characters are all male members of upper class London. Enfield, Utterson, Lanyon and Jekyll are all aware of social

Outside influences • Family problems •In trouble with the law (close calls) Stage 2: Physical dependency – motivates the large bulk of alcoholic drinking; drinks to alleviate symptoms. Stage Two: Physical Dependency • Daily, usually a.m. use • Variety of drugs • Increase tolerance • Withdrawal symptoms: headache/nausea • Irritability/mood swings/paranoia • Sleeplessness • Sexual problems • Depression and other psychiatric diagnoses • Intention tremor • Nightmares • Preoccupation/cravings • Development of blackout patterns • Disease pathology developing in major organs. Outside influences •School/work problems •DWI/DUI/unlawful possession.

It is a common trope to say that an addict becomes a “different person” when he consumes his particular poison. “Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” is the story of an addict whose inebriated self just happens to have a different name. It does not matter what the solution he drinks for his transformation is supposed to represent, whether alcohol, opium, heroin, or some other substance—he checks off every box for addictive and self destructive behavior. There can be no clearer interpretation of “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” than that it is a polemic against the prevalent usage of drugs and alcohol in England at the time of its writing.

Substance abuse users are not just their addiction; they are mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers etc. “I have been doomed to such a dreadful shipwreck: that man is not truly one, but truly two.” Dr. Jekyell felt that he was such a messed up person as Mr. Hyde the he was two separate people. He couldn’t believe that such different beings could exist in the same as one, now they identify as two. They live separate lives because if they reach out for help they fear being labeled as an addict.

A greek scholar named Origen once said, “the power of choosing good and evil is within reach of us all”(Origen). For centuries mankind has quarreled with the concept of good and evil, right and wrong, just and unjust. “Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who is right and never sins” (NIV, Ecce. 7:20). Even king Solomon, a man widely regarded as the wisest man in human history, ponders this question back around 180 BCE. This query is raised once more in during the Victorian era by Robert Louis Stevenson. His parabolic tale The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde shows what is likely to happen if someone were to let out their darker inhibitions. In a time of snobbish propriety, Robert Louis Stevenson looked past the exterior to question the true nature of man. Understanding Robert Louis Stevenson’s insightful “The Strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” involves understanding the Victorian time period, Stevenson’s own personal history, and his perception of human nature.

In every person there are good and evil forces at work that contribute to the duality of mankind. Without proper balance between the two the evil can come out and bad things will happen. In the novella The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson, Dr. Jekyll tests his theory that in every man there is a good force and an evil force by making a potion that separates his two different selves. His evil side slowly begins to take over him as he struggles to regain control over his body and mind. The mystery novel Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde reveals, through supernatural elements, contrasting settings, and changing weather, that without balancing good and evil forces, evil will slowly overshadow goodness.

The book Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson from the time it published to 1901 was estimated to had sold around two hundred fifty thousand copies. This was in the United States alone. This shows that people valued it and liked the author’s work. People still think this way of it. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a classic because it has a question, the author is well respected, and it has withstood the test of time.

Richard Louis Stevenson’s novella The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde delves into the issue of the duality of man and the meaning behind how a person presents themself. This allegorical story contains several passages in which the thematic significance to the plot is extremely prevalent, but the passage in which Mr. Utterson confronts Dr. Jekyll about the implications of his will provides insight into how even when the men disagree, they both understand the importance of maintaining the appearance of friends. The passage, which consists of the chapter of “Dr. Jekyll Was Quite at Ease”, describes a dinner scene held at Dr. Jekyll’s home where Mr. Utterson attempts to retrieve some information about Dr. Jekyll’s will and to whom he has decided to leave his belongings.The passage itself creates a scene where Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Utterson are asserting their stature and helps develop the idea that a man’s reputation is one of the most important things throughout this time period. Throughout this novella, the characters’ reputation remains of utmost importance to how they see themselves in the community, and also reflects an importance of maintaining appearances, no matter the consequence of suspicion of wrongdoing. The chapter of “Dr. Jekyll Was Quite at Ease” provides a unique glimpse into the importance reputation plays in the lives of not only Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Utterson, but of most people in the Victorian Age, and how even when they disagree, the language they use

Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde This novel is more than just a traditional horror story as it has many hidden and complex meanings and explanations, of what seem and would have normally before this book, been simple events. Stevenson has very strong opinions and some are expressed in the book. A traditional horror story would either be a super natural

of Jekyll to Hyde, in the sense that Hyde is more "Ape like" than man.

The strange case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is a book based on a man with two different personality’s and two physical appearances, his own as well as a strange man who goes by the name of Mr Hyde a mysterious dark individual who lurks in the dark and pounces once spotting his prey weak an vulnerable. The character of Mr Hyde was created after Dr Jekyll created a special chemical solution which he drank, subsequently transforming himself into this different creature. Dr Jekyll ever since has been fighting with this other side, this evil vicious man in order to bring peace among him self and others, but the evil Mr Hyde is forever