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Isolation In Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde

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Isolation: A Comparative Analysis in "Frankenstein" and "The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde" Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and Robert Louis Stevenson's The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde are both iconic works of literature that explore themes of isolation in profound ways. Through the experiences of their respective protagonists, Victor Frankenstein and Dr. Henry Jekyll, these novels examine the psychological and moral consequences of isolation, highlighting similarities and differences in their portrayal of this theme. Similarities in Portrayal of Isolation Both Frankenstein and Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde depict isolation as a transformative and destructive force on their protagonists. In Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein's ambitious quest for scientific discovery leads him to isolate himself from society …show more content…

I had desired it with an ardour that far exceeded moderation; but now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart." (Mary Shelley, Frankenstein, Chapter 5) Similarly, in Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Dr. Jekyll isolates himself in his pursuit of separating his good and evil selves. His experiments lead him to create the monstrous alter ego, Mr. Hyde, who embodies the darker impulses that Jekyll suppresses. Jekyll's isolation from societal norms and his attempt to conceal his dual identity contribute to his psychological deterioration and eventual demise. The novella explores the consequences of isolating oneself from moral accountability and the disintegration of one's identity: "Many a man would have even blazoned such irregularities as I was guilty of; but from the high views that I had set before me, I regarded and hid them with an almost morbid sense of shame." (Robert Louis Stevenson, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Chapter 10) Differences in Portrayal of Isolation Despite these similarities, the nature and causes of isolation differ between the two

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In Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde , the dualities reflected of the Victorian times. Where people lived a double-life because the norms society set for honourable individuals to comply with were to high for people to come after . Double standards created along of this and fuelled the deception of the middle-class . As society allowed , they lived superficially respectable , moral lives . Alternatively , at night , when doors was closed , that was when people started showing who they really were , showing their dark and desires from the deepest part of their mind .

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Isolation can have a large impact on someone's behaviour and actions. Mary Shelley uses this information in ”Frankenstein” to show how being isolated from society can affect someone or something. Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” explores themes of isolation throughout the novel and shows what isolation can do to a being leading it to irrational and manic behaviours. This is evident throughout the novel especially when The Monster is talking about being lonely and its effect on him. “I am alone and miserable”

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In “Frankenstein”, the characters experience varying degrees of isolation, leading to profound effects on their mental well-being. Victor Frankenstein himself is plagued by the ramifications of his ambitious pursuit of knowledge, ultimately isolating himself from society. This self-imposed solitude takes a severe toll on his mental health, as evidenced by his poignant statement. "I shunned my fellow creatures as if... I had been guilty of a crime" (Shelley 56).

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In Robert Louis Stevenson's The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray, the authors argue that external influences can impact identity, eventually leading to an internal conflict. In The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, it is revealed that Jekyll is an upper-class man who is put under immense scrutiny, and because of this, he is not able to conduct the experiments he desires and puts a part of himself in a mental hole. However, with the help of his experiments, he is able to split himself in two. As Jekyll reminisces about the beginning of his troubles in his full statement, “Hence it came about that I concealed my pleasures; and that when I reached years of reflection and began to look round me and take stock of my progress and position in the world, I stood already committed to a profound duplicity of me(49),” describing how even at a young age the pressures and expectations of him coming from wealth and predicted to become a great man, had caused his inner turmoil, leading him to already begin the process of splitting himself up

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The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde It can be very difficult to lead a respectable life which is constantly being looked upon by peers without both good and bad sides of one’s personality surfacing. “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” by Robert Louis Stevenson the author describes the difficulty of a man leading two different lives. Repression is defined as the action or process of suppressing a thought or desire in oneself so that it remains unconscious. Dr. Jekyll makes the amazing discovery about isolating personalities but his desire for leading different lives prevails due to his nobility of being good in the name of science. Dr. Henry Jekyll is a respected doctor and physician who since his youth days has secretly engaged in corrupt behavior and actions.

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In Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, both of the main characters undergo physical and emotional isolation. This enforced or chosen solitude causes Frankenstein to become over-ambitious and harbor secrets from his family and friends, leading to his demise. In the monster, isolation turns to misery, which causes him to become vengeful against his creator and all the world. Through these examples of total isolation, Shelley shows that when people have no connection to others in the world, their worst characteristics and flaws are brought out. Victor Frankenstein was the first character to show a major flaw while in isolation.

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Robert Stevenson uses his protagonist’s, Dr. Jekyll, person versus self conflict to illustrate this point. Throughout the text, the reader learns that Dr. Jekyll was born into good fortune and was well-respected in society. However, the reader learns that it was not enough for him. He craves irregularities and he seeks a way to experience both sides of his identity without harming his reputation, which leads him to immoral experiments that bring out Hyde. To be specific, Jekyll states the following, “Many a man would have even blazoned such irregularities as I was guilty of; but from the high views that I had set before me, I regarded and hid them with an almost morbid sense of shame” (Stevenson 55).

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The novella Jekyll and Hyde tells the tragic story of a battle between good and evil, a battle for total control over the mind and soul. The clash between the pure and impure sides of man: a fight to the finish. It explores the aspect of a person’s good and bad side; holy and unholy, the one who bathes himself in God’s light and the one whom plays with The Devil’s fire. The battle between the good-willed Dr. Jekyll, and his evil persona: the murderous Mr. Hyde. The author, Stevenson, presents this in numerous ways and describes the two conflicting sides well.

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In the novel, Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Robert Louis Stevenson explores the complexity of human nature. He uses characters and events in the novel to present his stance on the major theme: “man is not truly one, but truly two” (125). Branching from this major theme are many more specific views on the idea that human nature is divided into good and evil. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde are two very different people who occupy the same body. Human beings struggle with good and evil and Stevenson goes to the extreme to to show this relationship.

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Jekyll and Hyde TCEA In the novella The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson, the predominant archetypal theme is “good and evil exist in all humans, and we live our lives struggling with these two forces.” This theme describes the duality of good and evil in Dr. Jekyll—the good being Jekyll and bad being Hyde— and the struggle he has with both sides fighting for dominance within himself. The emotional mindset and the physical attributes of Jekyll and Hyde show the good and evil within themselves.

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