How successfully does Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’ use the conventions of horror genre? Author Robert Louis Stevenson wrote the novel ‘Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’ in 1885. It is said that the idea for the novel came to Stevenson in a dream that he had, he then wrote the book within six days. Stevenson was frequently ill throughout his childhood meaning he spent a lot of time in bed reading stories this is where his extraordinary imagination came from. He was also fascinated by the story of Deacon Broody the man who was a cabinetmaker by day and a robber by night this is where he got the idea of the dual identity of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Stevenson had a strict Christian background and grew up learning the clear difference between good …show more content…
One of which is frequently mentioned at important points in the story is darkness, this emphasises the idea that the darkness cloaks the criminal actions of Edward Hyde such as violence, murder and sex. Quite a few of these criminal acts took place at midnight this is rather like in the novel ‘The Tell Tale Heart’ by Edgar Allan Poe. There are also many references to dark vs. light and good vs. evil this is used as a metaphor for the fight between Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Stevenson uses pathetic fallacy to create an atmosphere ideal for that of a horror story. Throughout most of the novel the weather is described as foggy, ‘face of the fogged city moon’ this adds to the idea of not being able to see clearly. The sentence ‘A haggard shaft of daylight would glance in between the swirling wreaths’ was as if the light were fighting to break through the fog just like Jekyll fighting to break out of Hyde. Personification is used in the chapter eight-The Last Night to describe the trees ‘the thin trees in the garden were slashing along the railings’ as if they were in despair and acting out of anger. The way Stevenson describes London adds to the horrific atmosphere of the book. The description ‘labyrinth of lamp-lighted city’ conjures up a sense of mystery making the city sound like a maze where every thing looks the same and there is no escape. Another description that adds to the
In the article “What Everybody Gets Wrong About Jekyll and Hyde,” by Steven Padnick, the author explains the real story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The article answered an overlooked question about Mr. Hyde and Dr. Jekyll, which many people tend to not questioned. The article shocked multiple readers that have only read the modified version of the story. The author surprised many readers by stating the missing key points in the modified version of the story. Mr. Hyde who is represented as a separate person from Dr. Jekyll in modified version, is in fact not a person but actually a mask for Dr. Jekyll. Mr. Hyde being a mask makes sense because we are only presented with the perspective of Jekyll and never of his alter ego.
One of the major themes of these novels is the double personality that Dr Jekyll suffers from. When Dr Jekyll takes his metamorphosis potion, he becomes Mr Hyde who is pure evil, which is clearly shown in the
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
The sophisticatedly-constructed novel ‘The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’ was devised in 1886, during the revolutionary Victorian era, by the author, Robert Louis Stevenson. Stevenson developed a desire to write in his early life and ‘Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’ cemented his reputation. The novel is widely known for its shocking principles that terrified and alarmed the Victorian readers. ‘Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’ plays with the idea of the dual nature of man, his two identities. On the surface, Dr Jekyll is a conventional, Victorian gentleman, but below the surface lurks the primitive, satanic-like creature of Mr Edward Hyde. One of the elements that play a significant part in the novel is setting. Stevenson subtly uses the setting to
The Titles of Dr. Jekyll in The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Science plays an integral role in the development and findings of many great things that we can benefit from. Integrity along with a specific set of moral standards must always be followed in order to ensure the end result enables a healthy environment for all whom wish to benefit from such studies. Integrity must always play and be the most essential key role in scientific research. In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1831) and Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1886) one is able to conclude that integrity must be maintained while conducting scientific research as a lack of can result in the creation of monsters.
The archetypal theme of the repression of a desire is rendered in various ways in the novella The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson, with the repercussion of these subdued urges resulting in both favorable and adverse outcomes for the restrained individual. The novella takes place in the Victorian Era, a time where the suppression of vehement emotions and impulsive conduct was immensely urged, to the extent that it was considered an acquired behavior, as they believed an exposure of true expression would lead to the loss of a dignified demeanor, as well as a loss of morality. While this theory is reasonable, it is also indisputably inaccurate in certain instances. The repression of certain aspects, such as curiosity,
Jekyll finally becomes aware, that man is two instead of one like from this first quote. “With every day, and from both sides of my intelligence, the moral and the intellectual, I thus drew steadily nearer
The author of Frankenstein wrote this book at a young age of eighteen. Her name is Mary Shelley. The idea to create such a classic came to her as a competition to write the best “ghost story” between her her husband and Lord Byron on a getaway (Arp 858). Robert Louis Stevenson is the creator of The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. He was a novelist, poet, essayist, and travel writer. The story came to him in dream, and he jotted the plot on a piece of paper and finished the story in three days. Published in 1886, Jekyll and Hyde was written to raise money for his family. Stevenson soon fell ill and shortly died at the young age of 44. Both, Frankenstein and The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, share similarities and differences
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
The book, Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, is written by Robert Louis Stevenson and is a mystery with 138 pages. Published in 1986 by C. Scribner’s Sons. It is very intriguing and interesting book that can inquisit a person to read further. Robert Louis Stevenson who is the author is a renowned author with many best sellers and popular books.
Dr. Jekyll has two different personalities a public one and private one. He is known for his intelligence and someone to go for if they need any benefits. Dr. Jekyll is well known doctor to the public. However when it comes to his own private life he becomes someone who he isn’t allowed to be towards the public. Dr. Jekyll does things in own privacy that would tarnish his reputation. He is charitable
As similar to Jekyll going through the metamorphosis, Dr. Jekyll also goes through the metamorphosis, in which he attains a human form that possesses the dual characteristics. The dual characteristics include Dr. Jekyll as a perfect gentleman, who has fulfilled all of the moral ethics criteria set up by the Victorian London whereas Mr. Hyde is his other half who has the darker characteristics which are not accepted by the society. As Utterson says, “Hyde is not easy to describe. There is something wrong with his appearance; something displeasing, something downright detestable. I never saw a man I so disliked, and yet I scare know why.” (Stevenson 5). It is undeniable fact that people are easily scared when someone reveals his dark side. Therefore, Utterson and Enfield consider Mr. Hyde as a scary character. Dr. Jekyll is a scientific researcher who loves to perform a variety of scientific researches. As a person knows himself the most, therefore, Jekyll comes to realize that he also has a darker side deep inside him, which in Freud’s terminology is his Id. In order to make his Id co-exist in the real world with his Ego and Superego, he introduces Mr. Hyde in his life. In Dr. Jekyll’s case, duality could also be considered as a Multiple Personality Disorder or Dissociative Identity Disorder resulted due to the clash between his Id, Ego, and Superego. To be considered as a gentleman in the Victorian London, someone had to possess a good profession, income, and fame. Dr.
Stevenson serialised this classic in 1882, but published it in 1883. According to biography.com the idea for the book came from a map that he had drawn for his 12 year old step-son. He then made a story to accompany the map. This brought his first taste of widespread popularity and by the end of the 1880’s was considered a ‘must read’ for children and was one of the periods most popular and widely spread books.
Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson was born on November 13, 1850 in Edinburgh, Scotland to Thomas and Margaret Stevenson and died December 3, 1894 in Vailima, Samoa. He was a Scottish novelist, poet, essayist, and travel writer. He published his first work at the age of 28 and soon became extremely popular when works such as Treasure Island, Kidnapped, and Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde were released. In 1880, Stevenson married Fanny Osbourne, a 36-year-old American woman with two kids from a former husband. Stevenson and his family set sail in 1888 and arrived at the Samoan Islands in 1889 where they settled and he began writing some of his most mature works. Stevenson’s adventures contributed immensely to his work which led to his everlasting fame and helped boost his image to literary critics.