Stevenson portrays Jekyll as impotent against his temptations, due to his attempt to purify his soul. On the other hand, he portrays Utterson as one who does not succumb to his desires. Stevenson seldom ever speaks of Utterson’s temptations and instead, focuses more on Jekyll’s pleasure of the “thought of [the] separation of these elements” (61), in order to avoid jeopardizing his reputation. Towards the end of the novella, Stevenson reveals Jekyll’s belief and sole purpose to split humankind’s two natures. Meanwhile, despite the minimal mentions of how Utterson tackles his temptations, Stevenson primarily shows Utterson’s dominance over his desires.
“I know that in writing the following pages I am divulging the great secret of my life, the secret which for some years I have guarded far more carefully than any of my earthly possessions; and it is a curious study to me to analyze the motives which prompt me to do it. I feel that I am led by the same impulse which forces the un-found-out criminal to take somebody into his confidence, although he knows that the act is likely, even almost certain, to lead to his undoing. I know that I am playing with fire, and I feel the thrill which accompanies that most fascinating pastime; and, back of it all, I think I find a sort of savage and diabolical desire to gather up all the little tragedies of my life, and turn them into a practical joke on society”
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, a mystery novella, is told through the eyes of Mr. Utterson, who, in appearance, is described as a “lawyer of a rugged countenance” (Stevenson 1). He is inexpressive and looks as if time has worn him thin. While he is loved by his close friends, he comes across as someone who is reserved. As the story progresses, Mr. Utterson struggles to allow himself to venture away from his traditional rational thinking and begin exploring his curious thoughts. Mr. Utterson holds the values of a Victorian gentleman.
Ya’ know that feeling you get when you realize something bad is about to happen, but you don’t wanna accept it cause you want to pretend like everything’s alright and everything’s gonna be A-okay? I can’t count how many times I’ve felt that way considering all the trouble I done got myself into in my short amount of time. Growing up as Dallas Winston, the tough guy with no heart, has always been hard for me. Sometimes (maybe all the time), I try to act tough and fearless and I want to look real rough-looking so people don’t mistake me for being “soft”.
Lanyon is able to resist temptations and unlike Jekyll, he does not join in on his progressive scientific research. When Utterson confronts Jekyll about his distressing will, Jekyll describes his opinion of Lanyon to Utterson stating that although he knows Lanyon is a good-hearted person he is still a “hide-bound pedant. ”(24) The play on the words “hide” alludes to Jekyll's “Hyde” further proves that in giving into temptation Jekyll is really the one who ends up ‘hiding’. However, eventually Lanyon breaks and gives into temptation allowing him to witnesses the scientific discoveries he for so long refused to experience.
“The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde” by Robert Louis Stevenson is a book that intrigues one’s mind, because it makes us question ourselves about the balance between the two opposing forces. The story starts out with Mr. Utterson, a lawyer and a great friend of Dr. Jekyll, hearing about Hyde for the first time, who is very shady and somewhat misconfigured. Mr. Utterson hears about Hyde’s bad reputation, and his usage of Dr. Jekyll’s laboratory; therefore, Mr. Utterson suspects some kind of relationship between Hyde and Dr. Jekyll. Mr. Utterson’s friend Lanyon, who is a doctor, dies after Dr. Jekyll goes into seclusion; Mr. Utterson goes to Dr. Jekyll’s house to seek the truth behind Lanyon’s death, but he instead sees Hyde dead. Mr. Utterson
Jekyll, Dr. Lanyon has a more organized and principled perspective on science. Dr. Lanyon’s scientific point of view can be compared to a stereotypical outlook of how scientists are like in real life. However, Dr. Lanyon’s philosophy can be seen as dull, uncreative and safe, in contrast to Dr. Jekyll’s philosophy. During the novella, Dr. Jekyll expresses his distastefulness for Dr. Lanyon’s idea when he says, “Oh, I know he’s a good fellow-you needn’t frown-an excellent fellow, and I always mean to see more of him; but a hide-bound pedant for all that; an ignorant, blatant pedant.
And hitherto it was his ignorance of Mr. Hyde that had swelled his indignation; now, by a sudden turn, it was his knowledge. It was already bad enough when the name was but a name of which he could learn no more. It was worse when it began to be clothed upon with detestable attributes; and out of the shifting, insubstantial mists that had so long baffled his eye, there leaped up the sudden, definite presentment of a
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.
When the story opens, a story is being told about how Hyde trampled a young girl. Rather than stay on the scene, he retreats. It is Jekyll who provides the family with a check in order to keep them silent about the tragedy. Mutual friends of Jekyll’s, Mr. Utterson and Dr. Lanyon, are suspicious of the possible individual who could be terrorizing London, and they begin to investigate on their own. Jekyll wanted to separate his good side from his evil impulses creating a potion that would allow him to do that physically.
Enfield, Utterson, Lanyon and Jekyll are all aware of the social expectations and the importance of appearance, Jekyll and Hyde shows a contrast of public vs private. Even in the first chapter, Enfield is wary of sharing his story
In Cohen’s \ perspective, the respectable Dr Jekyll could entertain thoughts as a man living a forbidden life and full of vices. However, he is held in check by his superego’s moral restraints. Consequently, we see Jekyll gradually transforming his moral and physical self into another being, Hyde, a diabolical man that comes to recognize his
Following the theme of duality, Mr. Utterson shares many similarities with Dr. Jekyll. Both characters have been tempted by their passions and desires. For instance, Mr. Utterson would “[drink] gin when he was alone, to mortify a taste for vintages” and avoid the theatre “though he enjoyed [it]” (Stevenson 1677). However, unlike Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Utterson manages be “austere with himself” and not succumb to these temptations (Stevenson 1677). Through this, it is evident that corruptive influences and desires exist in every individual.
Stevenson uses Enfield’s narration to first introduce the reader to Hyde whom we don’t know the identity of yet. He describes the scene as “hellish to see” then he elaborates the horror by describing what Hyde did and in what manner he did so: “trampled calmly over the child 's body” furthermore Stevenson uses a metaphor to describe Hyde as a “Juggernaut” this indicates that Hyde is an unstoppable force that crushes everything in his way and also has no reluctance in trampling over the girl and this gives the reader a sense of horror and curiosity of what kind of man could do such a thing without a second thought. Then, Enfield goes on to say that when this figure was caught he said “No gentleman wishes to avoid a scene, name your figure” and
The characters Utterson, Jekyll, and Hyde represent Freud’s theory. This story is very entertaining, but it has a meaning behind it. The meaning behind it is that people personalites can be all different. They can either be sweet, mean, or a good balance of both. The personaitys determined how the story turned out.
