...Themes Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work. The Duality of Human Nature Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde centers upon a conception of humanity as dual in nature, although the theme does not emerge fully until the last chapter, when the complete story of the Jekyll-Hyde relationship is revealed. Therefore, we confront the theory of a dual human nature explicitly only after having witnessed all of the events of the novel, including Hyde’s crimes and his ultimate eclipsing of Jekyll. The text not only posits the duality of human nature as its central theme but forces us to ponder the properties of this duality and to consider each of the novel’s episodes as we weigh various theories. Jekyll asserts that “man is not truly one, but truly two,” and he imagines the human soul as the battleground for an “angel” and a “fiend,” each struggling for mastery. But his potion, which he hoped would separate and purify each element, succeeds only in bringing the dark side into being—Hyde emerges, but he has no angelic counterpart. Once unleashed, Hyde slowly takes over, until Jekyll ceases to exist. If man is half angel and half fiend, one wonders what happens to the “angel” at the end of the novel. Perhaps the angel gives way permanently to Jekyll’s devil. Or perhaps Jekyll is simply mistaken: man is not “truly two” but is first and foremost the primitive creature embodied in Hyde, brought under tentative control by civilization, law, and conscience. According...
Words: 4255 - Pages: 18
...Themes Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work. The Duality of Human Nature Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde centers upon a conception of humanity as dual in nature, although the theme does not emerge fully until the last chapter, when the complete story of the Jekyll-Hyde relationship is revealed. Therefore, we confront the theory of a dual human nature explicitly only after having witnessed all of the events of the novel, including Hyde’s crimes and his ultimate eclipsing of Jekyll. The text not only posits the duality of human nature as its central theme but forces us to ponder the properties of this duality and to consider each of the novel’s episodes as we weigh various theories. Jekyll asserts that “man is not truly one, but truly two,” and he imagines the human soul as the battleground for an “angel” and a “fiend,” each struggling for mastery. But his potion, which he hoped would separate and purify each element, succeeds only in bringing the dark side into being—Hyde emerges, but he has no angelic counterpart. Once unleashed, Hyde slowly takes over, until Jekyll ceases to exist. If man is half angel and half fiend, one wonders what happens to the “angel” at the end of the novel. Perhaps the angel gives way permanently to Jekyll’s devil. Or perhaps Jekyll is simply mistaken: man is not “truly two” but is first and foremost the primitive creature embodied in Hyde, brought under tentative control by civilization, law, and conscience. According...
Words: 4255 - Pages: 18
...Themes Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work. The Duality of Human Nature Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde centers upon a conception of humanity as dual in nature, although the theme does not emerge fully until the last chapter, when the complete story of the Jekyll-Hyde relationship is revealed. Therefore, we confront the theory of a dual human nature explicitly only after having witnessed all of the events of the novel, including Hyde’s crimes and his ultimate eclipsing of Jekyll. The text not only posits the duality of human nature as its central theme but forces us to ponder the properties of this duality and to consider each of the novel’s episodes as we weigh various theories. Jekyll asserts that “man is not truly one, but truly two,” and he imagines the human soul as the battleground for an “angel” and a “fiend,” each struggling for mastery. But his potion, which he hoped would separate and purify each element, succeeds only in bringing the dark side into being—Hyde emerges, but he has no angelic counterpart. Once unleashed, Hyde slowly takes over, until Jekyll ceases to exist. If man is half angel and half fiend, one wonders what happens to the “angel” at the end of the novel. Perhaps the angel gives way permanently to Jekyll’s devil. Or perhaps Jekyll is simply mistaken: man is not “truly two” but is first and foremost the primitive creature embodied in Hyde, brought under tentative control by civilization, law, and conscience. According...
Words: 4255 - Pages: 18
...In the novel Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde, Robert Louis Stevenson uses imagery, diction, and details to create a mysterious mood.The book Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson is a very old classic written in the Victorian London time period. The book was written after he had a nightmare and that gave him the inspiration to write the book. The book turned out to be a big success and is now a inspiration to many people to do many different things. In his book there is a lot of imagery, diction, and details that make the book better and more enjoyable book to read. Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde uses a lot of imagery in the book in different ways to make the book better. As stated from the book “the door… was blistered and destained.” This was on page 49. This quote from the book conveys imagery by using details about how the door looks and the two words also sound like mysterious or dark words to help with the mood of the story. As said from the book “ As he spoke into a large, low roofed, comfortable hall… “ this was on page 62, This shows imagery by using key adjectives in order to give a picture in your head on how the place looks. “... by a bright, open...
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...In Robert Louis Stevenson's novel The Strange Case Of Dr.Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, his characters relate to Freud's psyche. Freud made these things that connect your personality, they are the Id, Ego, and Superego. Id does whatever it wants at that time without thinking about the consequences. Ego means the part of the personality that maintains the balance between the id and superego. The superego dictates our belief of what's right or wrong and is represented by an angle on your shoulder. The characters in this book represent Freud’s psychoanalysis by the way that they act and look in this novel in many different ways. The character that relates to the id's Mr.Hyde he represents this because he is extremely evil. Mr.Hyde absolutely...
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...Many people say they have a dark side to them. What if that dark side came out as a physical trait or a another person inside of you. Well in the book The Strange Case of Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde they show that there is not always and wonderful side to a new scientific discovery. The novel suggests that limitations to science and self limitation should have a boundy. Some science is not to be discovered. In the book they show the arrogant mind of Dr.Jekyll and the mysterious life and personality of Mr.Hyde. All goes well unit the mysterious and curious Mr.Hyde draws attention to himself by trampling a little girl and not showing any interest and paying no attention to the little girl whatsoever. Later on Mr.Utterson discovered that the Mr.Hyde...
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...Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Robert Louis Stevenson uses Dr.Lanyon and Dr.Jekyll to show good and evil. Lanyon and Jekyll are both medical doctors and old friends but beyond their old relationship and being doctors they have little in common. Lanyon is a strict doctor who always follows the rules. He is described as, "a hide-bound pedant,”(57) meaning a very conservative, inflexible person. Jekyll is a mad scientist type of a doctor, proven through his experiment with Mr. Hyde. Lanyon refers to Jekyll as, “‘unscientific balderdash’”(47). There are several examples of Lanyon being the good and Jekyll being the evil but the clearest one that involves them is Lanyon's experience with Mr.Hyde when he comes as a agent of Dr.Jekyll’s. I this case Jekyll transforms from Hyde into himself and Lanyon is distraught. Lanyon explains that,“my soul sickened at it; and yet now when that sight has faded from my eyes, I ask myself if I believe it, and I cannot answer. My life is shaken to its roots; sleep has left me; the deadliest terror sits by me at all hours”(102). This shows how much what Jekyll has done effected Lanyon and how terrible it must have been. Lanyon is a strict and formula gentleman it would take an earthquake to shake him yet Dr.Jekyll is capable. Stevenson creates good and evil throughout the novella the Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde yet the clearest is through Dr.Lanyon and Dr.Jekyll. ...
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