Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde Essay Example For Students

Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde Essay Robert Louis Stevensons supernatural, Gothic thriller, The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was written in 1886, in the Victorian era. During this period many developments occurs in different fields such as medicine, technology and industry. Victorians were reluctant to these developments. Stevenson was interested in the duality of human nature and this interest was aroused by his home town, Edinburgh. He realised that there were two sides to the city. One good side, with respectable people with high statuses, while the other side, the bad side with prostitutes, urban degeneration and the use of brothels. Stevenson often had dreams where a civil, respectable man could turn himself into a monster while remaining behind a facade of honour. The original idea of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde occurred to him in a nightmare which is known as the fine bogey-tale. The dream was about a man who drinks a potion and transforms into a devilish character. Stevensons idea was to create a straight forward horror story. However, after reading the original version to his wife, she suggested more could be made of the tale. After a lot of thought, Stevenson burned the original manuscript and rewrote the entire novel in only three days. Stevenson examines mans relationship with good and evil, and comments on the constant war and balance between the two. Dr. Jekyll is the picture of social class and professional excellence, while Mr. Hyde is the embodiment of Jekylls hidden evil nature. The novel is about a man who is given a lot of respect; however he is fed up of his good side and wants to unleash the evil side to him, while remaining behind a fai ade of respect. He then creates a drug which separates these two characteristics, so that he no longer lives in bondage, when in control of both sides. This potion would then temporarily transform him into the heartless Hyde. In the Victorian period levels of statuses were made apparent by the way they acted and how they lived. The working class were seen as lower down than the upper class. This made sense to them as the working class didnt have the luxuries or the wealth that the upper class had. Victorians showed a respectable face to the public and preferred to hide their evil side, so that there reputations would not get degraded. During the Victorians period, it was the time where new technology was being introduced and development of medicine was occurring. However many people began to question the idea of these improvements and some were against it. The Victorians were prudish people, who were not familiar of the thought about the supernatural and upon transcendental medicine. The people of the time did not have the thoughts that Stevenson was having about the duality. This novel therefore intrigued the people in the Victorian time. The main themes in the story are duality of human nature, respectability and hypocrisy. Dr. Jekyll changes into Hyde to express the duality within him. In the Victorians time, status meant a lot to the professional classes. If there unknown actions were to be revealed to the public, it would become a public scandal, it would damage their name and there whole reputation, as well as there status. This is why Dr. Jekyll does not tell anyone that he is Hyde. This illustrates the theme of deception and hypocrisy. Jekyll is a man with a split personality, the good side Dr Jekyll and the evil Mr. Hyde. These two bonded appearances have completely different prospective to life and therefore the story emphasizes the existence of duality. All Quite On The Western Front EssayHowever Stevenson describes other reasons, which curved Jekyll into evil even more. His desire for a younger appearance was amongst the many reasons why Jekyll had such enthusiasm about Hyde. Jekyll gave up his grace and well made, smooth faced man description for a younger yet deformed Mr. Hyde. His wish to separate the bondage between the good and evil so he could fulfill his dark desires without being recognized by the society became a purpose for creating Mr. Hyde. He believes he has total control over Hyde, as he says; the moment I choose I can get rid of Mr. Hyde. However Stevenson shows situational irony as later on Jekyll loses control and the potion does not work any longer. Conclusively Stevenson clearly states the human nature as possessing two aspects; he leaves open the question of what these aspects consist of. Either evil or good, perhaps they represent the hidden animal and the fai ade that the civilization has imposed. In this case, it was the key to the lab door, symbolic of satanic power, which gave access to evil, the secret lab. As the key was destroyed, so was Hyde. Stevenson enhances the effectiveness of the novella by leaving us to look within ourselves to find the answers.