Psychoanalyzing Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde

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Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde - Psychoanalytic Analysis Essay Outline (foundational) Analyzing Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Through A Psychoanalytic Lens Robert Louis Stevenson’s Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde analyzes the duality of humanity by delving deep into the complexities of the human psyche. The psychological characteristics of the characters and the underlying themes of repression, desire, and the subconscious mind can be investigated using a psychoanalytic lens. Thus, clarifying the mental processes and motivations at play in Dr. Jekyll's metamorphosis into Mr. Hyde. The psychoanalytic lens, developed by Sigmund Freud, emphasizes the significance of the unconscious mind and its impact on human behavior. Dr. Jekyll's creation of Mr. Hyde can be seen as a manifestation of his repressed desires and impulses, “And thus fortified, as I supposed, on every …show more content…

Dr. Jekyll's experiments with the potion can be seen as an attempt to satisfy his id's desires without compromising his superego's values, “If each , I told myself, could be housed in separate identities, life would be relieved of all that was unbearable;” (109). Thus proving that the primary motivation of the psyche is the pursuit of immediate gratification and the avoidance of pain. However, as the narrative unfolds, it becomes evident that Jekyll's ego struggles to maintain control, leading to the dominance of Hyde, Jekyll admits “I was slowly losing hold of my original and better self and becoming slowly incorporated with my second and worse.” (124). Revealing Jekyll’s growing awareness of his deteriorating control, the passage implies that his ego is giving way to his unconscious pleasures. This struggle exemplifies the delicate balance between one's desires and societal constraints, highlighting the fragility of the human