Henry Jekyll and Ed Gein: Fiction Vs. Nonfiction The Strange Case of Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde was written in 1886 by Robert Louis Stevenson. Its genres include gothic and horror fiction while its themes encompass selfish behavior as well as downfall. This novel, which depicts the life of Doctor Henry Jekyll as well as Mr. Edward Hyde, show how all these characters contribute to each other’s development within society. In comparison, Ed Gein from Starcasm’s “The true story of Ed Gein, the inspiration for Psycho’s Norman Bates”, is used as a real-life comparison to Stevenson’s Dr. Jeckyll. Ed Gein, born in 1906, had a father who was labeled as “weak”, a brother who died mysteriously, and a mother who was considered a religious fanatic. Ed Gein, …show more content…
Jeckyll and Ed Gein’s alike. The most common symptoms experienced by those affected by this disorder incorporate things such as memory loss or partial amnesia, isolation (from one’s self or others), stress, anxiety, depression, a blurred sense of identity among many others. Much of the text in The Strange Case… is told by the narrator, and this includes the following quote. “The middle one of the three windows were open, and sitting close beside it, taking in the air with an infinite sadness, like some disconsolate prisoner, Utterson saw Dr. Jeckyll…” (Stevenson 37). It is evident that Jekyll showed at least two of the symptoms mentioned above, primarily: ‘a blurred sense of identity’ and ‘isolation’. Similarly, Edward Gein experienced these symptoms after the death of his mother, which left him without any family. “…author Harold Scheter says [referring to Ed’s mother passing away] this loss obviously hit Ed hard because he “lost his only friend and one true love. And he was absolutely alone in the world.” (Emily 2). Having a blurred identity led to deeper isolation among these men. Unable to fully relate their actions to others and having two different personalities consumed their lives. DID can develop from trauma as well as abuse which are present themes in the lives of these men. Drug abuse led to the creation of Mr. Hyde, Henry Jekyll's second personality. While in Ed’s case, his second identity developed from an unhealthy and abusive childhood. Per Starcasm “…he was teased by classmates for being effeminate and shy – leading him to cling even closer to his mother” (Emily 1). Ed Gein’s strong and odd attachment to his mother led to his sinister actions which include desecrating graves and murdering women. Lastly, a resemblance these two men share is their secretive ways. On some level, it can be assumed that both Gein and Jeckyll knew
...ual narrative makes the legend more appealing and provides a means for experiencing pleasure in film. Still, however bland the oral legend may have become the horror genre owes its popularity to Ed Gein. His legend is the basis for Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Friday the 13th, Halloween, When a Stranger Calls, Psycho, Silence of the Lambs, and just about every other psychopathic character ever to have graced the silver screen.
Stevenson's Use of Literary Techniques in The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
Dual-Self Characters in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and A Study in Scarlet and Sign of Four
Stevenson's Use of Literary Techniques in The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
In Robert Louis Stevenson’s, Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Dual nature of man is a recurring theme. Jekyll constantly struggles with good and evil, the expectations of Victorian society, and the differences between Lanyon and Jekyll.
For both Holmes and Jekyll, an internal anxiety plagues their actions and thoughts. An aversion to "boredom" troubles Holmes, while Jekyll struggles to come to terms with "man's dual nature" (Stevenson, 42). Holmes defends his drug use by declaring:
“The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde” is a novella written in the Victorian era, more specifically in 1886 by Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson. When the novella was first published it had caused a lot of public outrage as it clashed with many of the views regarding the duality of the soul and science itself. The audience can relate many of the themes of the story with Stevenson’s personal life. Due to the fact that Stevenson started out as a sick child, moving from hospital to hospital, and continued on that track as an adult, a lot of the medical influence of the story and the fact that Jekyll’s situation was described as an “fateful illness” is most likely due to Stevenson’s unfortunate and diseased-riddled life. Furthermore the author had been known to dabble in various drugs, this again can be linked to Jekyll’s desperate need and desire to give in to his darker side by changing into Mr Hyde.
Edward Theodore Gein was born on August 27, 1906 in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The son of an alcoholic father and a very religious mother, Gein grew up alongside his older brother, Henry, in a household ruled by his mother preaching about the sins of carnal desire. With an effeminate demeanor, Ed Gein became a target for bullies. Classmates and teachers brought up mannerisms from the past, such as seemingly random laughter, as if he were laughing at his own personal jokes. His mother scolded him whenever he tried to make friends, so he never tried anymore because of the pain it caused him. Not being distracted by his social life, he did well in school, mostly in reading. (http://www.biography.com/people/ed-gein-11291338).
However, other characters are forced into isolation for reasons that are not in their control. The actions of another cause them to experience loneliness. The story begins with Robert Walton writing to his sister, Margaret, about his voyage to an undiscovered place. In these letters, as the voyage gets underway, he writes of his loneliness. Letter II states, ?
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Man is not truly one but truly two writes Dr. Jekyll in his full. statement of the case, if applicable. In a way, this idea of Stevenson's foretells. Sigmund Freud's theory of the constantly fighting Id (inner child). ego (the part restrained by the self) and the superego (the restraint).
Stevenson Robert L., Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Other Tales. (USA: oxford university press, 2008)
Robert Louis Stevenson wrote the novella Dr. Jekyll and Mr.Hyde. He was interested in what made up a person's character, how they could be good and evil at the same time. He had a nightmare, and,within three days you had the story. In this novel, Stevenson uses imagery, diction and details to create an overall mysterious mood.
Psychotic characteristics are one component of anti-social disorders, in which both Hyde as well as Jekyll display throughout the novel. Both characters in the book show these
In conclusion, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, represents many themes of duality in human nature. This is represented by the characters of Henry Jekyll, Edward Hyde, Hastie Lanyon, and John Utterson. Some themes represented are the duality in conforming to societal conventions, curiosity, and temptation. Stevenson utilizes significant events including the deaths of Lanyon and Jekyll, and the transformations of Jekyll into Hyde to prove “that man is not truly one, but two” (125)
... man. Society in the Victorian era was consisted of two classes, trashy and wealthy. Jekyll was expected to be a gentleman, but he wanted to have fun. This was the reason he created Hyde, so he could both be respected and have fun. He was delighted at the freedom he now had. Lanyon was overly contolled, but Utterson knew all men had both good and bad within them and could control it. In Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson, the dual nature of man is a main theme.