The presentation of Dark Deeds in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Stevenson’s Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, a Victorian graphic novel, presents Dark Deeds relatively analogous to Myer’s contemporary graphic novel, Monster. Stevenson and Myer use similar devices such as setting, action and character development to portray Dark Deeds throughout their respective novels. However, in action the novels are more dissimilar yet still display Dark Deeds and sinister undertones.

Stevenson and Myers both present Dark Deeds by making the situations the characters find themselves in unpreventable.

“At the sight that met my eyes my blood was changed into something exquisitely thin and icy. Yes I had gone to bed Henry Jekyll, I had awakened Edward Hyde. How was this to be explained?”

Stevenson shows that the situation Dr Jekyll is in is unpreventable; he does not even know how it is possible. In addition, to this Stevenson gives us the impression that you cannot stop such an event from occurring, so in the wrong circumstances it could happen to anybody. Myers does the same thing in a less literal sense through Steve’s position. Myers shows that Steve did not directly choose to be part of the robbery turned murder but he somehow became a major part of it. In both books, we are shown that it is possible for the Dark Deeds to occur through no fault of your own.

In contrast to Myers, Stevenson presents Dark Deeds with a supernatural element. This presentation makes The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde seem more mysterious and sinister.

“He seemed to swell – his face became suddenly black and the features seemed to melt and alter… like a man restored from death – there stood Henry Jekyll!”

Stevenson uses graphic visual imagery and emotive tactile imagery when referring to Mr Hyde’s transformation into Dr Jekyll. ...

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...who commits the crimes seems to show no remorse, making them seem heartless and almost inhumane. It makes you question your own judgement, showing that we should not judge a book by its cover.

Stevenson and Myers use a variety of devices throughout Jekyll and Hyde and Monster to portray Dark Deeds. When reflected both authors use a mixture of techniques in their writing style, such as anticipation and terror, yet some of these differ from one another, for example Stevenson’s use of foreshadowing and Myer’s use of inconsistency. Alongside this, neither book frequently uses short and forceful sentences to make a point; they are mostly longer, well-punctuated sentences. This means that there is more room for description and explanation allowing the words to make an image as we read. Both authors use all of these devices to create novels filled with sinister Dark Deeds.