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Similarities And Differences Between Heart Of Darkness And Dr. Jekyll And Hyde

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Both Heart of Darkness, written by Joseph Conrad, and The Strange Case of Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde, written by Robert Louis Stevenson, are set in the Victorian era and demonstrate societal norms being altered for one’s own benefit. In Heart of Darkness, there is an element of change when one enters a new society, and once that change is made it cannot be undone. In The Strange Case of Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde, being both an accepted member of society and having the ability to execute repressed desires is not only impossible but once either side is chosen it is very difficult for either side to be controlled. Both texts relate back to the idea that if one changes behaviors it is very hard to control it or switch back to their old self. Although they …show more content…

Once you have expressed interest in your repressed behavior it is very hard to control it. Dr.Jekyll lives in a society where the norms not only engross their lives but cause unwanted hatred when one does not conform to those norms. The gentlemen lifestyle, in which Dr.Jekyll lives, causes men to carry out their wants and desire at night so that during the day they can remain a perfect model citizen. As one of Dr.Jekyll’s associate, Mr.Utterson, is going to speak to Mr. Hyde he passes through town noticing “hues of twilight; for here it would be dark like the back-end of evening; and there would be glow of a rich, lurid brown, like the light of some strange conflagration”(Stevenson25). He is not only seeing a contrast of the lower and upper class but also describing Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde. The towns Mr.Utterson goes through are polar opposites, however, they are physically close to each other, just as Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde are complete opposites but are a part of the same individual in order to be both socially accepted and internally desired. Stevenson is demonstrating that both Dr.Jekyll’s personalities, although polar opposites are very close to each other at all times. As Mr.Utterson and a friend went on their daily walk they can across Dr.Jekyll on his balcony and stopped to say hello, noticing his smile which “was …show more content…

Within Heart Of Darkness, Conrad is depicting that a change in surroundings and society can influence what and if they repress due to the change in social norms. He also alludes to the idea that not everyone is fully aware that they have been repressing desires, and ultimately can be unaware of when they begin to expressed though previously repressed behaviors. Within Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde, Stevenson illustrates that in all honesty there is no way to be an accepted member of society and be able to execute desires that fall out of the social norm Being able to control both parts of oneself, according to Stevenson, is very difficult and there will always be one part that takes over. Both novels take a look at repression in a different light; Heart Of Darkness as unaware repression and want for those desires, and Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde as fully conscious repression and want for desires. The idea of choice runs rapidly throughout both novels in the sense that no matter how much choice one has in their life, once the repressed desires find a way to come out they will take over causing any other form of yourself to disappear

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