In the 1880's, Robert Louis Stevenson created the forever popular novel The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The story isn't simply about a man with two sides nor is it about a man taking a potion to be bad. This is a story that can look as though it is as simple as good vs. evil but runs to the depths of man vs. man and self vs. self. The well known basic theme of the novel involves the duality of good and evil. The classic tale of good vs. evil is just the surface of Jekyll and Hyde, the depth of it goes beyond a story into reality of the one that is kept inside most of us.
The description of the street in the first chapter shows us the theme of duality. The street is described as any other street in London, with store fronts that stand out brightly in contrast of the dingy neighborhood. . A door which is described as dull and blistered, where tramps slouch to strike matches on the panel and schoolboys stab knives into the moulding stand
s out from the well-kept commercial fronts. We are now introduced to Hyde by a story. Hyde tramples over a young girl and pays people off not to say anything. This is where good and evil are reinforced. As Mr. Enfield watched this happen, Hyde runs through the door that so obviously represents a path toward evil. When Hyde is introduced in chapter two, even though we get the sense of evil from him already, he is described to have something physically wrong with him. As though he's not a fully developed man. We are never told how he's disable but we know there is something completely wrong with him. While even looking at his name, Hyde pronounced like hide, which can be seen as a term to describe how he hides behind Jekyll.
An interesting line is said in chapter three. "I can be rid of Mr. Hyde at any point." Although this may be true, it's the concept of self versus self. Does Jekyll have control of Hyde or has he lost his control? We see in t
All papers and essays are for research and reference purposes only!
Copyright 2002-2009
Direct Essays , LLC. All Rights Reserved. DMCA Webmasters make $$$$