Robert Louis Stevenson's novel, Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, has been called a "perpetual masterpiece of psychological terror that sprang from the deepest crevices of Stevenson's own subconscious -- a nightmare from which his wife awakened him" (Lombardi). The phrase "Jekyll and Hyde" is synonymous with man's internal war between good and evil (Auclair). Stevenson's story of the kindly scientist who drinks a potion that transforms him into a stunted, evil version of himself is a story of horror, which preceded modern psychology. .
Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory states that an individual's personality is divided into three different parts: the id, ego, and superego. The id consists of unethical, irrational, driving instincts for sexual gratification, aggression, and general physical and sensual pleasure. The superego represents the outer expectations forced on the personality by society and culture. The ego acts as the mediator between the impulses of the id and the superego. The ego allows the personality to cope with the inner and outer demands of its existence. The balance of these three parts determines a person's personality (Stevenson 1). Freud's theory explains that humans can be ruled by their hidden impulses and passions instead of their rational thoughts. The imbalance of the id, ego, and superego is reflected in the double life of Henry Jekyll. .
In the novel Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Dr. Jekyll discovers a way to separate his benevolent and malicious sides into two different individuals. While Henry Jekyll is an honest, respectable doctor Mr. Hyde is a younger but deformed man who indulges in filthy pleasures. Jekyll began experimenting in order to live a carefree lifestyle so he could fulfill his internal lusts and desires as Mr. Hyde without fear of tainting his own good name. Dr. Jekyll believes " that man is not truly one, but two" and because of this he is able to live out his evil passions while maintaining his social stature (Stevenson 79).
The Hydden Truth Is everyone a Dr. Jekyll: desperately attempting to keep his Mr. Hyde under control, secretly intrigued by what evil exists, and jealous of his incredible freedom from moral and political restraints? The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson was writte...
Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde The book Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde is a very interesting but complex with book. The book starts out with the introduction of Mr. Utterson and how he hears of a gruesome murder. Rumors were saying that a Mr. Hyde committed the murder and disappears into the darkness. Utterson n...
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: Irresponsibility in Scientific Exploration In every single movie we watch and in every book we read there is a plot. Whether it be between someone and nature or an agent against a villain, stories wouldn't be exciting without the "Good" versus "...
The relationship between Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in Robert Louis Stevenson's famed novel "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," is an interesting one on several levels. Dr. Jekyll created Mr. Hyde so he could fulfill instinctual desires that were considered wrong in his society without criti...
Duality in Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. "We should not live alternately with our opposing tendencies in continual see - saw of passion and disgust, but seek some path on which the tendencies shall no longer oppose, but serve each other to common end." (Osbourne, Vol 24, 208) Duality...
The story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is one that would have the most intelligent person thinking out loud to himself, "What the heck is going on in this story?" The way the story flows is in many ways, like a suspense movie where the audience wonders what will happen next or who the killer might be,...
In the novel, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, the character Dr. Jekyll becomes addicted and dependent upon a drug. This drug was not a "street drug", but just an experimental chemical drug that a chemist had made up-a sort of potion. Although the potion was made purely of compounded elements that had bee...
The strange case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde The respectability of Victorian society was that there was an upper class, a working class and a under class. ... Further-more the settings in the text between the front and entrance of the house that Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde reside in is that Jekyll uses the front entrance of the house and the back entrance of the house is used by Hyde because he tries to sneak in the house. "I saw Mr Hyde go in by the dissecting room". ... There is also Dr Lanyon who is a well known scientist who is good friends with both Dr Jekyll and Utterson. ... The text is a...
Throughout the novel, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Stevenson explores the idea of duality through both the characters and the setting of the novel. Specifically he explores the idea of duality within a person's personality, not only in Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde but also Lanyon and Utterson. ... Primarily, Stevenson's examination of duality is shown through what appears to be the two characters of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. ... The concept of duality is explored by the other personality of Dr Jekyll and his contrast to Mr Hyde in every aspect of his life. ... Conversely to Dr J...
The Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde The book The Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson is very entertaining and suspenseful. There are new mysteries in every page. The idea that someone could create a potion that would change him into someone else is m...
