The gothic novel emerges by the end of the 18th century as a reflection of repression'; as a rebellion of the imagination against the tyranny of reason of the Enlightment. However, there are many different stages in the development of a gothic tradition - from the illuministic gothic to a more internalised psychological narrative. As the gothic suffers transformations, it goes deeper within itself in order to deal with psychological problems used to dramatise the character's uncertainties and conflicts when faced with a difficult social situation. (Jackson: 99). .
Dualism is a fundamental theme in the 19th century gothic and it is one of the literary myths' produced by the desire of otherness' during that period. Robert Louis Stevenson's The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is perhaps one of the most famous examples of 19th century literature of the double' in which an individual is split into two or more contrasting personalities or haunted by a shadow' figure who may be a repressed part of himself. Even though the novel can be read in a number of ways, I aim at, via quotes from the text, showing that the novel is neither about two different people or even two people that dwell inside one man, but one man with two impulses roaring to be heard inside of him. Thus, the term double refers to the essential duality within a single character on the further presumption that the duality centers on the polarity of good and evil.
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I considered important to begin by distinguishing the terms used in many texts by many different authors and which I even used in the introduction of this paper to refer to the subject in question. Particularly, when doing my research, I found out that some chose the word Doppelganger, others just Double or Split personality, and since the terms are not that identical, I felt the need for them to be defined at the outset. .
The term Doppelganger is defined in The Macmillan English Dictionary for advanced learners (2002) as "1 someone who looks like someone else- 2 "a spirit that some people believe looks like someone who is alive-.
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...
Dr Jekyll represents not the pure good, but the whole of a person, and Mr Hyde represents pure evil and contains little of Dr Jekyll in him. ... Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde are dual not only in behaviour but also in stature as well. Dr Jekyll is described as a "smooth faced- tall man, whereas Mr Hyde is perceived to be a man with much smaller stature, a visible hunch and much younger than Dr Jekyll. ... Although a lot more restrained than Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Mr Utterson too has elements of duality within his character. ... Dr Jekyll's house is also a symbolic representation of the duality. ...
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 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...
Even before being introduced to Dr Jekyll or Mr Hyde, the ideas of dualism are already being played out. ... The contrast between the two men is evident, Dr Jekyll being well respected and esteemed, and Mr Hyde being aggressive and antagonistic. ... The change is Dr Jekyll's physical appearance connotes that the topic of Mr Hyde is a very hidden one, and that he does not feel comfortable discussing it, even with his close friend Mr Utterson. ... Dr Jekyll is embodying the idea of dualism with his relationship with Mr Hyde as he is outwardly a well-respected gentleman however inwardly he i...
In Robert Louis Stevenson's Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. ... s dual personalities were not self-inflicted, unlike Jekyll's. ... This would be equivalent to Dr. ... Because he and Hyde were one, Jekyll was infatuated with the "dual" nature of humanity. ...
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...
