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essays on dr. jekyll and mr. hyde
essays on dr. jekyll and mr. hyde
essays on dr. jekyll and mr. hyde
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Considering The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde as an Effective Representation of Evil
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, originally published in
1886 by Robert Louis Stevenson, arguably remains a popular novella
even today because of its representations of evil and themes concerned
with evil such as morality. Originally written for a Victorian
audience, the text follows the conventions of the time - for example,
the Georgian style of introducing and portraying characters by their
social class and status.
In writing his classic, Stevenson wanted to "focus on the suggestion
that evil is potentially more powerful than good"1 - an idea which
would have been out of place then. Indeed, though the Victorian era
was a period of great scientific advancement, society was still firmly
routed in religion: Sunday would be reserved for Church, a copy of the
Bible would be the only book possessed by many, and blasphemy was
considered both morally and legally a major crime. Though Charles
Darwin had challenged the Biblical theory of Creation some seven years
earlier in his thesis The Origin of Species, his works were generally
not accepted by the majority of the population - it is extremely
likely, as well as logical, that most of his support would have come
from the scientific community, which is ironic considering that Dr.
Jekyll and Mr. Hyde focuses around the medical profession. Therefore,
by focusing on the suggestion that "evil is potentially more powerful
than good" 1 - i.e. that God was not almighty or prevalent - Stevenson
risked not only the popularity of his novella, but of his reputation
as an author.
The defi...
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3 See: Stafford News
4 Mike Wolfe, Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent
5 Wikipedia [www] http://www.wikipedia.org/
6 Genesis 4:11 - The Bible (The King James Version)
7 The Inland Voyage, Robert Louis Stevenson
8 Classic Notes [www]
http://www.gradesaver.com/ClassicNotes/Titles/jekyll/
9 Essay Crawler [www]
http://www.essaycrawler.com/viewpaper/55322.html/
10 Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Criticism [www] http://www.enotes.com/dr-jekyll/7417/
11 The Carew Murder Case
12 Wikiquote [www] http://www.wikiquote.com/
13 Peter Bell the Third, P.B. Shelly
14 Wikipedia [www] http://www.wikipedia.org/ and Dr. Mumtaz Pardhan
15 The Placebo Effect: Harnessing Your Mind's Power to Heal [www]
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/12/031231084101.htm.
16 Leil Lowndess, Relationship Psychologist
Texts are a representation of their context and this is evident in Robert Stevenson’s novella: “The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde”, where many values of late nineteenth century Victorian England values were reflected through the themes of the novel using language and structural features. These values included: technological advances, reputation and masculinity and are demonstrated in the text through literary and structure devices as well as the characterisation of the main character.
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.
In Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel, Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Dr. Jekyll, in grave danger, writes a letter to his good friend Lanyon. With Jekyll’s fate in Lanyon’s hands, he requests the completion of a task, laying out specific directions for Lanyon to address the urgency of the matter. In desperation, Jekyll reveals the possible consequences of not completing this task through the use of emotional appeals, drawing from his longtime friendship with Lanyon, to the fear and guilt he might feel if he fails at succeeding at this task. Through Jekyll’s serious and urgent tone, it is revealed that his situation is a matter of life and death in which only Lanyon can determine the outcome.
...ve duality of man;… if I could rightly be said to be either, it was only because I was radically both” Thus, Stevenson creates in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, two coexistent, and eternally opposed components that make up a “normal” individual. However, here, good and evil are not related but are two independent entities, individuals even, different in mental and physical attributes and constantly at war with each other. Evil now does not require the existence of good to justify itself but it exists simply as itself, and is depicted as being the more powerful, the more enjoyable of the two, and in the end ultimately it is the one that leads to Dr. Jekyll's downfall and death. Stevenson creates the perfect metaphor for the never-ending battle between good and evil by using Jekyll and Hyde. However, this novella is perhaps one of the few that truly show the power of Evil.
In many countries, drugs are becoming more common. In the history of the US, drug abuse and drugs have a long history. Nowadays, people are so much into drugs. Most drugs affect the brain and drug uses are harmful. Every society and every family has been touched by the devastating effects of drug addiction. Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is the story of a doctor who discovers a drug that can release the evil side of a person. This book is connected to Robert Downey Jr. He was a drug addict. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and the current drug addiction of Robert Downey Jr are connected by different personalities, mental illness, and brutality.
Chapter 10 is a letter on why Jekyll did what he did with his and how Hyde even came about. During Jekyll adult life, he realized he had two different personalities. This connect to the theme of the story good vs. evil. Jekyll felt as though if he had two different natures then why not make two different bodies as well. Since he was a scientist that is what he did. He begin to research ways to make that happen. After, finding a solution he began his experiment. The experiment worked and his appearance changed. According to Stevenson (1986/2004), Jekyll “saw for the first time the appearance of Edward Hyde” (p. 68). Jekyll finally found his evil side. After getting connect to his new evil appearance he then began to worry. Since this was his first test experiment he worried if he would every see Jekyll again or appear as Hyde for the rest of his life. Not knowing what would happen: he thought of all
The novella "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" is written by Robert Louis Stevenson. Stevenson was a frail person that often fell deathly sick but has grown into a excellent writer. Stevenson was eventually forced to move out of his home country (London, England) to California. He nearly died on the way there. But when he made it, he created the famous novella in 1886. That novella is called "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde." The novella itself was written in four days which proves Stevenson's extreme talent as a writer. Inside the novella, it contained immense details and rich diction that had given the story life and meaning. The story contains a lot of interpretations and meanings throughout the novella which raises the question of the true meaning of the story. Some are concerned with the religious aspect of sin and temptation that caused Dr. Jekyll to permanently transformed into Mr. Hyde. Others pry on the physiological aspects of Dr. Jekyll's decisions and thought process that caused him wanting to stay as Mr. Hyde. In "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde", Stevenson uses Dr. Jekyll as a representation of man falling into temptation, and Mr. Hyde as the one who stays in sin.
Each individual is gifted with the ability to make choices. From the time one wakes in the morning to the time they go to bed at night, individuals make both conscious and unconscious decisions throughout the day. From what one will wear to how one will speak, and those decisions, which people give very little regard to like stepping over a stone rather than tripping over it. It is this ability to make choices in the conscious state that gives individuals power over our own lives. A power that if used or treated with disregard can bring about an unwanted outcome. In Robert Louis Stevenson novel, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, the power of individual choice is a conscious decision, which provides
Mr. Hyde and Dorian Gray are characters that nearly match each other in their symbolism and manner. However, it is the key differences that make them remarkably interesting as a pair. They symbolize the battles between good and evil, though they have differing interpretations of morality.
The Notion of Good and Evil in Stevenson's Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. The book entitled The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde was published in the year 2000. published in 1886. Although in the book Stevenson does not ever state the exact year, it was at the time recognized immediately as a grand. work.
One way good vs evil is evident is through the actions of Jekyll vs Hyde. Jekyll is a man who struggles with himself. He really is a good man that does lots of good things for others. Dr. Jekyll is good with others because he is a doctor, and Jekyll is an outgoing person (Sanderson). Jekyll gave Hyde everything including his money, the house and more. Hyde was in a buggy and horse going somewhere. Hyde was not paying attention to where he was going and ran over a little girl. Hyde didn’t really want to stop
It’s not in all cases that Evil prevails over Good, however. In “Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”, some of Jekyll’s conscious
All through the novella The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Stevenson's depiction of Hyde as monstrous, deadly and capable makes him such a disdainful character.
Jekyll plays man as a whole, good and bad, he was “wild” and also “smooth-faced” at the same time. Both characters lack vital emotional outputs that make humans socially, even though the psychopath is more cunning than the sociopath. “…lack of conscience, remorse or guilt for hurtful actions to others….There may be an intellectual understanding of appropriate social behavior but no emotional response to the actions of others” (“Psychopath vs. Sociopath” -- http://www.diffen.com/difference/Psychopath_vs_Sociopath). Both are social defaces, and cannot be helped; however to the naked eye, these two characters are savage. Both victims of anti-social disorder are lacking factors that make humans acceptably sociable, one lacking empathy while the other lacks sensibility. Diffen, a website, tells us, “Psychopaths…lack of empathy; no conscience…sociopaths…high impulsivity” (“Sociopathy versus Psychopathy” -- http://www.diffen.com/difference/Sociopathy_versus_Psychopathy). Dr. Jekyll shows no empathy by using and manipulating people close to him, and Mr. Hyde, as intended, has no sensibility to act with caution resulting himself in trouble for barbaric actions. This, in turn shows the comparison and contrast of the psychopathic creator and his sociopathic creation which in reality are two halves to a whole.
The Nature of Good and Evil in Stevenson's The Strange case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde