Hyde in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson Essay examples

Another theme in Stevenson’s novella is how he describes Mr Hyde as detestable without any prominent features. Those who encounter Hyde notice he projects a different type of appearance, and while they cannot verbalise it, they feel that something is wrong. When Mr Enfield describes Hyde’s appearance to Mr Utterson, he says,

Hyde is a very dark and rude character. He provokes fear in all those with whom he associates. In an encounter with Mr. Utterson, Hyde acts coldly towards the lawyer. “Hyde shrank back with a hissing intake of breath. But his fear was only momentary; and though he did not look the lawyer in the face, he answered coolly enough: “That’s my name, what do you want” (9). A reader can infer that by the way Hyde acts in social situations that he is not a likeable man. When describing the incident with the little girl, Enfield states “…for the man trampled calmly over the child’s body and left her screaming on the ground. It sounds nothing to hear, but it was hellish to see” (2). Mr. Hyde does not show sympathy towards anyone. He is rude to people he encounters and that could cause people to dislike

If Hyde has been described as Hyde "savage, uncivilized, and given to passion…poorly evolved" (Shubh), then perhaps he represents the true, original nature of man, repressed by society, norms, and conscience. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde suggests that this restrained, amoral side of human nature, once given a chance to escape, cannot be controlled. Even in this 'height of western civilization', Victorian England, this tempting evil can overcome even the most virtuous of men. Jekyll is neither good nor bad, but a man whose deeply repressed urges motivated him to separate, but not remove, the evil parts of his nature. There is a misinterpretation that Hyde is an unwanted byproduct of trying to create pure good, that Jekyll is not in control as Hyde, and that Jekyll doesn't enjoy being Hyde. In fact, Jekyll loves being Hyde, he revels in the freedom that he brings him (Stevenson 54), but the problems with his dual personality starts when he has to face the consequences of his actions. Jekyll has a difficult time balancing Hyde's debaucheries and Jekyll's rational, refined side. However, Jekyll realizes too late that he has indulged in Hyde too much and has let him grow out of control. At the beginning of the novel, Hyde was the “smaller, slighter, and younger than Henry Jekyll” (Stevenson 57). His more youthful appearance represents how young and free Jekyll feels as Hyde, but also symbolizes how little his personality was seen before Jekyll drank his potion. Early in the novel, Hyde is easily controlled, Jekyll can use his potion to limit how often he transforms into Hyde (Stevenson 56). However, as he starts to morph back and forth, it starts to take more and more potion to control the switches until

Life would be an easy journey without guilt or consequences, wouldn’t it? The lure of a guiltless conscience entices Jekyll because day in and day out Jekyll walks the chalk of a morally good human but the monotony of his daily activities bores him. This thrilling lifestyle pushes him to the create his potion and thus Hyde. Dr. Jekyll is “pushing the envelope” in the science field, separating man’s two natures, and finally walking off the chalk line without the consequences.

Jekyll and Mr. Hyde on the themes and events going on during the late Victorian era. Most, if not all of the story is symbolic for a certain idea in London, England which was going through a time of depression and terror. Overall, many hypotheses have been formed about the historical context in relation to Jekyll and Hyde and some of these ideas are correct, but the most coherent and most logical contributes to the fact that Stevenson's writing is symbolic where each textual aspect of the book relates to the events or people in Victorian

Dr. Jekyll’s obsession with appearance causes him to become addicted to the character Hyde, which the text reveals in the last chapter of the book. For instance, growing up in the Victorian era as a Christian, the laws shunned down upon all activities considered pleasurable. Thus wanting the members of society to be “in favor of self-disciplined moral earnest” (Stevenson 48). Although Dr. Jekyll abides by the strict rules of the Victorian culture, it still sparks a “certain impatient gaiety of disposition” in him, furthering Dr. Jekyll to complete his pleasurable activities in solitude, out of fear of losing his reputation:” I found it hard to reconcile with my imperious desire to carry my head high and wear a more commonly grave countenance before the public” (Stevenson 47-48). As a result of Dr. Jekyll’s secrecy, he begins to create a draught allowing him to split personalities or create an alter ego, Mr. Hyde. When Dr. Jekyll becomes Mr. Hyde, he has a sense of freedom to act as he pleases and escape the consequences: “I was the first that ever did so

For instance, Mr. Utterson and Mr. Enfield talk about the incident with Hyde trampling the young girl. Utterson says he does not like to gossip and does not want to talk about the matter anymore. (Stevenson 6) This moment shows his character is faithful. Some may say that this situation alone cannot show what his personality is like as a whole. However, it is unlikely he would do this if he did not show traits of loyalty in other sections of the novel.

The citizens in the society feel despair towards Hyde because in all reality nobody exactly knows for sure who he is. Hyde's appearance as the author described is a “disgustful curiosity” and “hardly humane” which brings fear to citizens.

This classifies him as not just a cruel person, but truly a being made up of pure evil, which Dr. Jekyll is battling through the story. Additionally, the murder of Sir Danvers Carew is an occasion that also fits into the theme. From a maid’s point of view, the entire murder of Sir Danvers is captured, and the precise turning moment for Hyde comes when the author writes, “And then all of the sudden he broke out in a great flame of anger, stamping with his foot, brandishing the cane, and carrying on (as the maid described it) like a madman,” (Stevenson 21). Once again, Hyde is seen to be triggered in some way to resort to fury. The wickedness within has planted a seed in Jekyll by now, and as Hyde does this they both feel the delight in murdering the man, no matter how disgusted Jekyll is.

Mentally, the two main characters Dr.jekyll and Mr.Hyde were also extensively different. since Dr.Jekyll was a scientist he thought more with reasoning and rationality and acted with caution. The author Stevenson stated in the text, “made enough allowance for the complete moral insensibility and insensate readiness to evil.” This displays that Mr.Hyde was filled with temper and did not act very

Hyde is gradually becoming someone who is a selfish, cruel creature who is consumed with the hatred of Jekyll. Meanwhile, Jekyll continues his separation from Hyde. He considers the option of ending Hyde altogether, accelerates his performance and refuses to accept Hyde as a part of him. Hyde is furious at Jekyll’s treatment and he becomes increasingly evil. He assumes control at will, and Jekyll, failing to understand that what he had attempted was impractical, continues to believe that the experiment could succeed if he could only obtain the right combination for the potion. In desperation, Hyde commits suicide, thus destroying both men. To strengthen his theme of propriety, Stevenson layers contrasts within the various points of view that form the narrative. The friendship of Enfield, the first narrator, and Utterson who is curious, because they are almost polar opposites. Although both regard Hyde himself with disgust, the mystery of Hyde’s identity provides a mere sketch for Enfield, while Utterson finds it very troubling. For Dr. Lanyon, who is more closely connected with Jekyll, the understanding of Jekyll and Hyde is fatal. Throughout the novel the reader finds various points of view, Stevenson highlights information that deepens the insight into the psychology of Jekyll. The characters in the novel continuously react with shock and

Hyde’s evil nature instilled fear among all the people he contacted. Both his actions and appearance made people fear him. Mr. Enfield referred to him as “some damned Juggernaut”. (Chapter 1). Utterson also refers to him as a “human Juggernaut” (Chapter 2).By this statement, Mr. Enfield meant that Hyde was so powerful as a machine.

Hyde and Dr. Jekyll's experiments with separating evil impulses from his psyche and personality so that he might fully indulge in those impulses without ill effect to his profession or reputation.Dr, Jekyll’s good nature is left to continue to shine in the community unimpeded and unthreatened by secret vice. “He began to go wrong, wrong in mind; and though of course I continue to take an interest in him for old sake's sake, as they say, I see and I have seen devilish little of the man. Such unscientific balderdash…..." Dr. Lanyon says as he and Mr. Utterson discuss the weakening friendship between the two. This separated evil persona took on a physical manifestation very different from Jekyll's own appearance. "There is something wrong with his appearance; something displeasing, something downright detestable, I never saw a man I so disliked, and yet I scarce know why. He must be deformed somewhere; he gives a strong feeling of deformity, although I couldn't specify the point.”."Enfield, describing Mr. Hyde to Utterson as he is telling the story of the door, In this evil persona, Mr. Hyde stomping upon the fallen body of a girl whom he had collided with in a bystreet, and then left her there, screaming, lying on the street to die. Showing no remorse, only fear of discovery and punishment, he went on from there to commit more and worse acts of evil. His final act of evil being the brutal causeless murder of a high ranking dignitary for

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was written during the height of the Victorian era. In this period, there were huge debates concerning pursuing desire versus doing what was socially acceptable. There were also constant scientific discoveries being made. Stevenson 's piece, using a telescopic framework, is a product of romantic and Victorian traditions since it incorporates Victorian gentlemen, dark romantic subjects and duality within both Victorian and Romantic society. Being a gentleman and upholding your reputation in the Victorian era was the most important character trait, and seeing how a perfect gentleman like Dr. Jekyll could have such an evil side was a shock for society. The actions of Mr. Hyde went completely against social norms and expectations. Romantic topics like the subconscious, fears and nightmares/dreams are also depicted in this work. As well, there is something dark beneath the facade Victorian people wore. The contents of the story have an eerie vibe and demonstrate the potential dangers that people keep hidden. And finally, duality within Victorian and Romantic society is evident throughout the piece with self-control against desires and what’s on the surface against the subconscious. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde takes place during a time of large scale social

When Utterson first meets Hyde, he is described as someone unnormal with evil hints. It is described that his exterior generates feelings of disgust and even unease to other characters. Yet this deformity is described not only on a physical level but also on moral one (and thus, differs from the depiction of