Essay on Dual Personalities in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by...

Dual Personalities in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Stevenson INTRO The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is a classic mystery story, enticing to all audiences merely upon it’s suspense alone. When Stevenson first wrote the story (after recalling a dream he had) he had only the intentions of writing such an entertaining tale. Yet at the suggestion of his wife, he decided to revamp the mystery to comment on the dual nature of man and of society in general. I believe that Stevenson is suggesting that All human beings†¦are commingled out of good and evil., as spoken by Dr Jekyll. HYPOCRISY THE GOOD MAN Stevenson is suggesting that good and evil are inseparable in human nature. By discussing such themes as the hypocrisy of†¦show more content†¦Throughout the novel much effort is made upon Stevenson’s behalf to portray Hyde’s menace, there is nothing comical about the trampling of the little girl on the street corner, or the slaying of Sir Danvers Carew. Hyde clearly represents the beast in a man, and is portrayed using several animalistic images. When initially confronted by Utterson he is depicted as hissing like a cornered snake, he is described by Poole as screaming like a rat, his movements are likened to that of a monkey, and his shrieks of mere animal terror. Jekyll describes his altar ego as the animal within me, licking the chops of memory, and discovers hair growing upon the back of his hand after his first involuntary Hyde transformation. Without doubt, is aiming to depict Hyde as an animal. Yet it is not his appearance which causes such unrest in all the characters who meet him. Rather it his essence of pure evil which they sense, Enfield described him as like Satan, and Utterson as having Satan’s signature. Hyde is pure evil. Stevenson suggests, by the immense disgusted reactions of the characters who meet him, that to see Hyde, is to see your own evil manifestation. In wanting to kill Hyde, they are rejecting what is in fact part of themselves. SUPPRESSION This leads to Stevenson’s most poignant social commentary within the novel. That suppressionShow MoreRelatedThe Duality of Man in Literary Works and Critical Essays1580 Words   |  7 Pagesin the Dual Brain interpreted from Literary Works and Critical Essays The lifelong struggle for control and recognition of the human mind has been a popular and evolving science since the late-nineteenth-century. Many notable authors, scientists, and laymen have been fascinated with the study since then. Robert Louis Stevenson is one of the more notable authors to write about dual personalities with his short story, â€Å"Markheim,† and the novella, †The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.† The latterRead MoreJekyll And Hyde Character Analysis968 Words   |  4 PagesStrange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, explores the duality of human nature. 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