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What Are The Similarities Between Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde

1269 Words6 Pages

Natalie Thompson
Savannah Fisher
English 10 Honors
26 April 2023
The Influence of Reputation and Morals in Victorian Society With a story like Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, readers are dived into an account where they can see the perspective of a man who wants to defy ethics and morals and create a version of himself to do just that. In Robert Louis Stevenson’s book, we see the downfall and engulfment of evil that Dr. Jekyll takes after making such a person reside in his body with him. Three characters in particular⎯ Mr. Utterson, Dr. Jekyll, and Mr. Hyde show differences in what is acceptable in society at this time, and how people perceive them because of this. Dr. Jekyll is an honored scientist and an extraordinary man in terms …show more content…

Jekyll and Mr. Hyde become the same person in the end, there remain many differences yet similarities between them. The stark contrast between the two symbolize the expectations of society for a man during this time and the exact opposite. Dr. Jekyll changes from the takeover of his body drastically, near the end craving what Mr. Hyde accomplishes inside of him. We see this even from the eyes of Mr. Utterson, as a main character, that Dr. Jekyll loses his humanity from Mr. Hyde’s plague on his body. This leads to the representation of Dr. Jekyll, on how his previous mindset changes completely to crave the ideals of a terrible man. Turning him into what the world would never expect him to …show more content…

A crucial era where reputation was held at the highest stake, accounting for money and popularity and nothing else to set your worth. This shows why the shock of what Dr. Jekyll turned into was so present. The book mentions, “There is something more, if I could find a name for it. God bless me, the man seems hardly human! Something troglodytic, shall we say? or can it be the old story of Dr. Fell? or is it the mere radiance of a foul soul that thus transpires through, and transfigures, its clay continent? The last, I think; for, O my poor old Harry Jekyll, if ever I read Satan’s signature upon a face, it is on that of your new friend.” (28) Showing the disbelief, this also showcases how the actions of Mr. Hyde are so obscene to the people during this time that he is accused of being Satan. Even so, Dr. Jekyll had money and popularity, as well as working in something so experimental at the time yet was a fundamental point in this age. The contrast and the public’s reactions to numerous actions from Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde show the standards that were imperative to teach at a young

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He upholds the values that are expected of him in Victorian society. Stephenson shows this through Jekyll’s physical features (“a large, well-made, smooth faced man of fifty”) (Stephenson 35). His larger size and advanced age shows increased maturity and responsibility, hallmarks of his character. Being a doctor, he is required to live the way other upstanding people should live.

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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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The character of Dr. Jekyll is portrayed as being respectable and well-regarded in society, while Mr. Hyde is seen as disreputable and dangerous. Victorian morality: The novel reflects the strict moral standards of Victorian society. There are several references to the idea

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Overall, Stevenson’s presentation of the duality of man is conveyed by the relationship between Jekyll and Hyde because towards the end of the novel. Jekyll begins to realise that the schism which once caused them to despise one another, help them understand each other situation. Jekyll even begins to ‘pity’ Hyde toward the end of novel, praising his ‘love for life’ by calling it ‘wonderful’, as his creator he consequently acknowledges the condescending attitudes towards Hyde, unfairly for his appearance, however rightfully so for his actions. Moreover, like Darwin’s theory, Hyde could never be accepted into society, often being characterised as a ‘brute’. Additionally, Jekyll’s actions would be condemned by the Victorian readers, as he was

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During the Victorian era, societal rules were very stern and austere. There was one way for people to act, speak, and look which contributed to certain actions caused by people and relationships with people's true selves. Because of this, it is hard for people to uncover their true human nature and separate themselves from the rest of civilization. In the duration of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, many characters have a dark human nature that is hidden from the entirety of society because of the strict rules set for everyone in the community to follow. Characters like Dr. Jekyll and his lawyer Mr. Utterson undermine the cruelty that can be human nature.

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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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5What components and qualities in our society makes us human? Understanding and investigating the art of humanity will lead us to new knowledge from a critical perspective. New knowledge in our university setting is the expectation. As we dive deeper into the story of “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” written by Robert Louis Stevenson, we will explore the themes, human characteristics, and characters that are in the literature. 5In the story of “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” the author follows the story of the mysterious character of Dr. Jekyll through the perspective of his friend Mr. Utterson.

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So, perhaps Jekyll’s experiment reduces his being to its most basic form, in which evil runs freely without his reputation as Jekyll being tarnished at all. Jekyll and Hyde are not the only examples of duality in this novel. The city of London is also portrayed in contrasting terms as both a foggy, dreary and ‘nightmarish’ place, and a well kept, bustling center of commerce. Indeed, just as men have both positive and negative qualities, so does society.

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As the dark alter ego of Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hyde represents the violent, primal side of his personality that emerges when he drinks his potion. Mr. Hyde is a sinister version of Henry Jekyll, with different physical features, behaviors and morals. Mr. Hyde is depicted as a physically unattractive character, with a small stature, hunched back, and a face that disgusts others. His appearance is described as, “like some damned Juggernaut,” meaning a powerful, unstoppable force that moves everything in its path(Stevenson 26). Mr. Hyde’s facial features are also compared to an ape’s, giving him a primitive appearance.

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2754 Words | 12 Pages

Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Jekyll’s depiction as a gentleman comments on the contrasting characteristics of the superior upper class with the low class by reflecting on the lifestyle he had and the experiences that he went through during the Victorian era. In the capitalist system of Victorian London, Stevenson's commentary on Jekyll's character highlights the flaws and shortcomings of a society that values wealth and status above morality and compassion. Jekyll's tragic story serves as a warning about the dangers of attempting to maintain power and status at any cost, which eventually leads to one's own demise. In 19th-century London, gentlemen held a highly ranked position in Victorian society. Their reputation was built on their ability to maintain order and stability while also pursuing professional careers that allowed them to accumulate wealth.

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1170 Words | 5 Pages

“It is one thing to mortify curiosity, another to conquer it” (Stevenson 34). In Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson, Gabriel Utterson goes on an investigation to discover the true motives of Edward Hyde after experiencing his vile actions of murder. When he finds out, his good friend, Henry Jekyll, is working with the criminal, he digs deeper to uncover their connection. After various experiments, it is found that Mr. Hyde is Dr. Jekyll's alter ego, who lives out Jekyll's deepest desires. During the Victorian era, the theory of degeneration, the retrogression from a human to an animalistic state, brought great fright to the British.

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Robert Louis Stevenson’s literary work, “Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”, is one of his most notable works. It was written during the Victorian era when there were huge emphasis placed on social morality. He sets out to understand the differences between dual personalities, good and evil (evil definitely not being within the social norm). He sums up his story by stating: “All human beings, as we meet them, are commingled out of good and evil: and Edward Hyde, alone, in the ranks of mankind, was pure evil.” Robert explains his reasons for writing the book that he did, while talking about the time and era.

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In 1886 the book "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde", written by Robert Louis Stevenson, was released and became one of the most popular Stevenson's work. It was a huge success all around the world, bringing a lot of distinct aspects from the Victorian Era, such as conflicts between social classes; the influence of religion in people's life; the importance of people's reputation; conflicts

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1492 Words | 6 Pages

Stevenson also warns readers of the all-consuming nature of evil. This is indisputably epitomised in the character os Dr. Jekyll as he succumbs to his “other self”, Hyde, and is unable to escape from the insidious nature of Hyde. Only death was able to relieve Dr. Jekyll of his immoral and “wicked” side (Stevenson 1689). Therefore, the text could be viewed as a 19th century social novel that allegorises the evils and immoral vices of

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