Stevensons Use of the Concept of Duality in Dr Jekyll and...

Stevensons Use of the Concept of Duality in Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde was written during the 19th century by Robert Louis Stevenson. It was written during a time where Victorian society had a lot of strong moral values. These values were very strict and controlled every aspect of the Victorian lifestyle. Aggression and fighting was looked down on and arguments were much preferred to be settled verbally. Hostile behaviour could even be seen as a sin and could transform the image of a person. The upper class society had a high status and stuck to these moral values in fear of losing their dignity. They didnt seen to cause any sins and looked down on and accused lower classed†¦show more content†¦We are immediately aware of his high moral standards. He is austere with himself therefore he disallows himself to indulge or enjoy himself, though he enjoyed the theatre, he had not crossed the door of one for twenty years. Utterson seems to be the ideal Victorian man. However we know that in previous years he has allowed his da rker interior side of him to show. When thinking about his past he is humbled to dust by the many ill things he has done. From the first chapter we can also interpret the different sides to one family. Along with Utterson, we are introduced to Mr Richard Enfield, who is a distant relation to Utterson. Enfield is described as, a well-known man about town, which suggests he is less than respectable. Utterson is attracted to the dark side of Enfield as he envied the high pressure of spirits involved in their misdeeds. This again underlines the hidden aspects of Uttersons nature and the contrast between him and his kinsman Enfield. Another event where Stevenson uses duality is between ones appearance and personality. Later on in the book Utterson goes to meet Hyde and is instead greeted by his maid. She is described as having an evil face, smoothed by hypocrisy. However her manners areShow MoreRelatedStevensons Representation of Evil in Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Essay1424 Words   |  6 PagesStevensons Representation of Evil in Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is a classic novel telling the story of the struggle between good and evil. The good being shown in the form of a well-respected Doctor Henry Jekyll and the evil being released from a lengthy repression in the form of Mr Edward Hyde. In my essay I will be concentrating on the influences of the Victorian age and how Stevenson involved aspects of his own life into the writing of the bookRead MoreHow Does Stevenson Portray the Duality of Man in the Opening Chapters of ‘the Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’?1845 Words   |  8 Pagesthe duality of man in the opening chapters of ‘The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’? 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Classic works of literature and new pop culture novels are the basis of much of the discussion used in everyday life, and man is delving deeper into the novels known and loved. Dedicated readers are contemplating the purpose of this phrase in this chapter, why this word is used here, and what theme best expresses the author’s main idea. Probably the most popular theme in literature today is the use of duality. DualityRead MoreDr Jekyll And Mr Hyde Analysis1709 Words   |  7 Pagescommingled out of good and evil.† Robert Louis Stevenson was no fool when it came to understanding the duality of human nature evident within mankind. In his novella, the Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Stevenson is able to explore his interests concerning the dark, hidden desires that all human beings are guilty of possessing. In his story, a well-respected professional by the name of Dr. Jekyll experiments with the idea o f contrasting personalities and successfully undergoes a physical separationRead MoreThe Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde By Robert Stevenson Essay2071 Words   |  9 Pagestemptation and conscience in human nature The well-known story titled The strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde written by Robert Stevenson (2003), can be interpreted in many different ways as evidenced by several critics contrasting themes. Garrett provides a strong focus on the conflicting identities of good and evil living within a man whereas Brantlinger’s focus is to reveal the inspiration behind Stevenson’s ‘Allegory’ and connect it to similar works of its time period. Linehan takes a differentRead MoreThe Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde Essay1434 Words   |  6 PagesDoubleness in gothic literature often explores the duality of humanity. It asks whether there was inherent goodness and evil within a person. In The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Robert Louis Stevenson engages with the idea of an individual being comprised of two separate entities—a double in one body—the evil Mr. Hyde and the good Dr. Jekyll. This split person of Jekyll and Hyde talks back to the optimistic ideas about humanity, such as Ralph Waldo Emerson. He writes in his address â€Å"The