Many people are familiar with the story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, but few know the origin of the story. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was written by Robert Louis Stevenson and first published in 1886. The book was an instant success and has been adapted for stage and screen numerous times.
The story is about a Dr. Jekyll who creates a potion that unleashes his dark side, Mr. Hyde. Dr. Jekyll struggles to keep control of Mr. Hyde and the two eventually clash with tragic results.
The book is considered a classic of horror literature and has been influential on many subsequent authors. If you’re a fan of horror stories, then you should definitely check out The Unusual Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
R.L.S wrote the novella Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, which takes place in nineteenth-century London. We understand Dr. Jekyll’s struggle against Mr. Hyde, who vie and fight for control of their shared body in this book. R.L.S was born at a time when scientists weren’t sure whether this was possible, but the concept of good vs evil extremes is still relevant today.
Dr. Jekyll is the better known of the two because he’s able to maintain some control over Mr. Hyde, but as time goes on it becomes clear that Mr. Hyde is becoming more powerful. The story ends with Dr. Jekyll killing himself in order to prevent Mr. Hyde from taking over completely, but it’s not clear if this is successful or not. Many people have interpreted this story in different ways, but one common theme is that of duality and the battle between good and evil.
The novel’s primary subjects are violence, humanity, and deterioration. Violence is represented throughout the book by the assassination of Lord Carew’s brother, Sir Danvers Carew, in chapter 4. This was a devastating and distressing murder. Mr Dr Jekyll was an intellectual example of humanity who controlled his impulses and reactions through introspection, study and self-improvement efforts.
Dr. Jekyll, on the other hand, is a respectable gentleman who would never dream of harming anyone.
Human nature is another major theme in the book. Dr. Jekyll’s experiments show that there are two sides to every human being – the good and the evil. Dr. Jekyll represents the good side while Mr. Hyde personifies the evil within us all. Dr. Jekyll is able to suppress his darker side for a while, but eventually it takes over and he is unable to control it any longer. This highlights the battle that every human being faces between good and evil.
The third theme of deterioration is also evident throughout the novel. Dr. Jekyll starts off as a well-respected man, but as Mr. Hyde takes over, he starts to lose his good reputation. His friends and acquaintances are repulsed by Mr. Hyde’s behavior and Dr. Jekyll is eventually disowned by his family. This downward spiral highlights the destructive power of evil.
The Unusual Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a classic novel that explores the duality of human nature. It is a story of violence, human nature, and deterioration that has captivated readers for centuries.
The theme of human nature is represented by the conflict between Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde for control of their common body in chapter 4, when Dr. Jekyll loses control and Mr. Hyde is set free. “With a fury like that of an ape” R.L.S compares Mr. Hyde to an ape or any other kind of animal, implying he has abandoned his humanity.
Deterioration is widespread in the novel, as with Mr. Hyde’s mental state after having murdered someone, Mr. Carew because he can’t be forgiven and can’t go back to being a good guy since his personality and mind have deteriorated. Dr. Jekyll’s physical state also deteriorates, as he becomes more and more like Mr. Hyde in appearance.
The idea of a double is explored in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, with Dr. Jekyll being the good side and Mr. Hyde being the evil side, representing the battle between good and evil that exists within every human being. Dr. Jekyll is a well-respected member of society, while Mr. Hyde is a hideous creature who is feared by everyone who sees him.
The novel also explores the idea of man’s dual nature, with Dr. Jekyll being a successful, respected scientist who turns into the evil Mr. Hyde when he drinks his potion. This represents the two sides of human nature, the good and the evil.
Dr. Jekyll is unable to control his transformation into Mr. Hyde, and this ultimately leads to his downfall. The novel ends with Dr. Jekyll committing suicide, as he can no longer live with the knowledge of what he has done as Mr. Hyde.
I comprehended the Victorian period in this book, particularly how London would have appeared. London may have had sectors of poverty and luxury, with the two groups kept apart and unable to socialize, as well as distinct classes among the population recognized by the construction they lived in and their appearance.
Dr. Jekyll is a wealthy, successful doctor who is well-liked and respected in his community. Hyde is his evil alter ego, a deformed creature who commits horrible crimes. Dr. Jekyll struggles to keep Hyde under control but eventually succumbs to his darker nature. This story is a fascinating exploration of the duality of human nature, as well as a commentary on the repressive societal norms of the Victorian era.
In developing the character of Dr. Jekyll, Stevenson contrasted Jekyll’s world to that of Hyde in order to highlight their distinctions. “This was Henry Jekyll’s favorite house; a gentleman who inherited a quarter million pounds” (199). Victorians expected gentlemen to act with great class and politeness, as they would dress nicely and immediately identifiable clothes. Dr. Jekyll is well-dressed while Mr. Hyde is always clothed in rags and filthy looks.
Dr. Jekyll is a well-mannered man, while Mr. Hyde is an ill-mannered creature. Dr. Jekyll is always willing to help people, while Mr. Hyde would rather hurt them. Dr. Jekyll is known for his work in the medical field, while Mr. Hyde is known for murders throughout London. Dr. Jekyll has many friends, while Mr. Hyde has no friends at all. Dr. Jekyll is loved by almost everyone, while Mr. Hyde is feared and hated by almost everyone who knows of him.”
Stevenson then goes on to say that even though they are complete opposites, they both have something in common: they are both Dr. Henry Jekyll. Dr. Jekyll is a good man who sometimes lets his dark side, Mr. Hyde, take over. Dr. Jekyll created a potion that would transform him into Mr. Hyde so that he could act out his dark desires without anyone knowing it was him.
However, the potion ended up being too strong and Dr. Jekyll couldn’t control when he turned into Mr. Hyde. Eventually, Mr. Hyde took over Dr. Jekyll completely and the only way to turn back into Dr. Jekyll was to drink another potion, which he didn’t have time to do before he died.