Repression and Hypocrisy in the Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

Stevenson writes ‘The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’ with the intention of showing the reader the duality of man and explores this through the juxtaposition of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. In this novella, Stevenson also uses the environment and setting of the story to represent the contrast between Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

“Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” is a novella written by Robert Louis Stevenson, a Scottish author. Written and published 1886, this novella reflects on the individual, and societal behavior during the Victorian era. During the Victorian era people, were supposed to behave like a normal person. Certain behaviors were highly restricted for example, showing evil. Instead, they were expected to give respect for everyone. People who acted out against the norm during this period were usually sent to asylums because such behaviors were unacceptable. People in this society did just that, they behaved as if they were perfectly normal. This does not mean that their bad side did not exist. Instead, they hid their

“All human beings are commingled out of good and evil.” Robert Louis Stevenson was no fool when it came to understanding the duality of human nature evident within mankind. In his novella, the Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Stevenson is able to explore his interests concerning the dark, hidden desires that all human beings are guilty of possessing. In his story, a well-respected professional by the name of Dr. Jekyll experiments with the idea of contrasting personalities and successfully undergoes a physical separation of such identities—one which would soon wreak havoc upon his very existence. As a result of his success, Edward Hyde is born. Hyde, characterized as a miniscule and terrifying, apelike figure from the start,

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 Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a novel written by Robert Louis Stevenson in 1886. The novel is set in Victorian England and follows a man by the name Dr. Jekyll, a respected doctor. Dr. Jekyll is a revered man in society and has every intention of remaining that way. However, one day he goes too far with one of his experiments and he creates a draught that unleashes a split personality within him. This personality goes by the name of Mr. Hyde. Dr. Jekyll does not seek a cure at first because he enjoys having an outlet for all of his desires that are deemed unacceptable by society. Hyde commits evil deeds, such as murdering an old man and trampling a young girl, which Dr. Jekyll could never normally let himself go through with. Dr. Jekyll believes that he can remain a good, reputable man even when a part of him is doing wrong. However, he soon learns that this is impossible. Soon after, Dr. Jekyll loses control over his ability to transform into Mr. Hyde. At first, he would only change during the night. Then, he started transforming during the day as well. Dr. Jekyll finally admits that the problem is starting to get out of control. However, he cannot create a remedy any longer. Dr. Jekyll is eventually completely overtaken by Mr. Hyde and the reader does not hear from him again. In this novel, Dr. Jekyll illustrates the duality of human nature through his struggle to choose between good versus evil, societal expectations versus unacceptable desires, and

Morality is an important factor in society. People use this theme as a basis to decide whether an action is good or evil. In Robert Louis Stevenson’s mystery novella, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, the Victorian Era influences Jekyll’s and Utterson’s actions.

¨And yet when I looked upon that ugly idol in the glass, I was conscious of no repugnance, rather a leap of welcome. This, too, was myself. It seemed natural and human. In my eyes it bore a livelier image of the spirit, it seemed more express and single...¨(45). After refraining from giving in to his desires for so long, the idea of Hyde was irresistible; Hyde was a tool with which he could achieve that which was deemed immoral and act on his most violent fantasies.

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a fiction novella written by Robert Louis Stevenson. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde illustrates an investigation of what it is like living in the nineteenth century where appearances, and maintaining your standing of those who are around you is important.

Jekyll and Mr. Hyde are extremely complicated and snowball leading to more questions. Ultimately these questions and answers are the basis for one of the most compelling stories questioning science and morality within human beings. Jekyll’s ambition was to separate good from evil within a human being, but the consequences were too much to handle, both on a personal as well as a social level. It also casts a mirror upon Victorian society, showing its fears and hopes surrounding the topics presented by Stevenson in his novella. Surprisingly this story does give an accurate depiction of society during that time and the duality most men felt. It was a great strain to project a good image in public, yet privately have dark desires that were not considered morally acceptable in open society. This is where Victorian society must either accept its flaws or hide them and fear exposure as flawed

Robert Louis Stevenson’s archetypal novel, ‘The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’ is one which explores the many different aspects of evil in a variety of ways. Stevenson tells the tale of an eminent Victorian doctor – Henry Jekyll – who pushes the boundaries of science in order to separate the darker side of his character – which is innate in all of us – to form a being which he can use to indulge his more immoral pleasures yet, still leaving his reputation untarnished. However, he fails to notice the dire consequences of his actions on himself and those around him, which eventually lead to his demise. Through Stevenson’s characterisation of both Jekyll and Hyde we can explore the duality of man and how we recognise evil within society. Whereas his use of setting and imagery allows the theme of concealment and the hypocritical nature of evil to be explored.

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson captured the readers of the Victorian era, and continues to awe in the modern age. Vladimir Nabokov, writer of “A Phenomenon of Style,” creatively interprets Stevenson’s famed work in a new light; one focused on the secrets of Jekyll, Hyde’s importance to the plot, and the method to Stevenson’s madness. Another exegesis of this novella is that it is a story depicting Jung’s philosophy, the shadow. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’s owes much of its immense success to its ability to be interpreted and analyzed in such various ways. Nabokov offers an eccentric opinion and fresh thoughts on Stevenson’s story.

No matter how hard people deny and suppress their evil division, it will always make an appearance. In the Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson, Utterson, a lawyer for Dr. Henry Jekyll, takes in interest in the mysterious character, Mr. Edward Hyde, who terrorized London during the Victorian era. Hyde has some sort of connection to Dr. Jekyll, yet Utterson cannot figure it out. By the end of the story, Utterson confirms that Hyde is merely a part of Jekyll and Jekyll is apart of Hyde. Throughout Robert Louis Stevenson’s, the Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, the difficulty of containing one’s own evil side appears frequently in this book with characters like, Jekyll and Utterson, but also in many other literatures as well.

Stevenson’s take on ludicrousness in working Victorian society is rife with dark, grim, and gruesome images. Dr. Lanyon tells Mr. Utterson that Dr. Jekyll was a respectable doctor, but simply began to “go wrong, wrong in mind” (Stevenson, 7). The physical manifestation of this mindset is the “lost [in] stature” Mr. Hyde

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, written by Robert Stevenson, is a novel that tells a tale of how one man was able to fulfill his dream of creating a dual personality. Henry Jekyll, the protagonist in this selection, is a respected doctor who seems harmless at first sight. However, as the novel progresses, Jekyll’s ulterior motives begin to be discovered and Jekyll must choose between his reputation and his own desires. Throughout Stevenson’s novel, Jekyll’s outward appearance and reputation, fight against good and evil, and controversial science experiments determine the true character of Henry Jekyll.

“ The battle line between good and evil runs through the heart of every man” The quote pertains to this story so greatly, because it sums up jekyll. Jekyll has both a bright side and dark side, it only depended on which one he wanted to make conscious to society. This novel emphasized how greatly the author felt on morals of purity and evil. Being that this story is created by a nightmare dreamt by Robert louis Stevenson, it has his perspectives hidden in every scene created. Jekyll's experiment to free his evil side from the constraints of conscience and free is good side the temptations of evil both succeed and fail on different extents. The lead to the big question, what was Stevenson's understanding concerning the essence of human nature?