The fact that Robert Louis Stevenson’s Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was published in the year after private male homosexual acts was made illegal […] Two characters that paint the most homosexual undertones are Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Utterson. While Jekyll represents the negative and repressed views of homosexuality, Utterson is the opposite. Utterson’s characterization represents homosexuality that was tolerated in the 19th century. Through clever storytelling and characterization, Stevenson’s Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is able to provide insight on how homosexuality was viewed in the 19th century. Mr. Hyde is the embodiment of Jekyll’s repressed homosexuality. Firstly, Hyde’s victims reflect Jekyll’s repressed feelings. The first victim is “a girl of maybe eight or ten” (Stevenson 3). His act of trampling the young girl shows his resentment toward women. This is because the Victorians try to force their views onto him and that he should be …show more content…
Hyde the embodiment of Jekyll’s repressed homosexuality, he also represents all of the negative aspects of being a homosexual in the 19th century. The most visible homosexual men in the 1800’s were middle to low class men and outsiders (Evans and Onorato). Hyde lives in the “dismal quarter of Soho” (Stevenson 22) which is described as a “dingy street [with] many ragged children huddled in the doorways, and many women […] passing out, key in hand, to have a morning glass” (Stevenson 23). This shows the reader that Hyde is indeed a man of low standings, which fits the stereotype of the 19th century gay man. Another key point is that Hyde is accused of blackmailing Jekyll by Enfield as he calls Hyde’s house the “Black Mail House” (Stevenson 5). It was not uncommon knowledge in the 19th century that homosexuals were blackmailed by both straight men and other homosexuals (Norton). Stevenson’s portrayal of Mr. Hyde illustrates to the audience on the dark side of being a homosexual in the
In his 1994 paper, Claiming the Pardoner: Toward a Gay Reading of Chaucer's Pardoner's Tale, Steven F. Kruger begins with an intriguing reference to Allen Barnett's 1990 short-story Philostorgy, Now Obscure. Barnett, according to Kruger, understands the Pardoner to be "a voice that might angrily challenge or campily subvert the legacies of homophobia" (Barnett 118). Kruger, however, is skeptical of such an interpretation of the Pardoner, because of the homophobic way in which Chaucer wrote him. Thus, Kruger is concerned that if the Pardoner is "claimed", the modern gay community might involve themselves in this bigotry.
Hyde’s physical appearance alongside his violent actions contribute to his notorious reputation. Described as “pale and dwarfish”, he gives the “impression of deformity without any nameable malformation” with his “displeasing smile”, home to a “sort of murderous mixture of timidity and boldness”, speaking with a “husky” and “somewhat broken voice” (B1). Saposnik explains the reason behind Hyde’s metaphorical descriptions: “essentially that is what he is: a metaphor of uncontrolled appetites, an amoral abstraction driven by a compelling will unrestrained by any moral halter. Such a creature is, of necessity, only figuratively describable, for his deformity is moral rather than physical.” (Saposnik)
Throughout the book ,The Strange Case of Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde the author Robert Louis Stevenson portrays the theme of temptation repeatedly through the story. An example of this theme in the story is the temptation for Dr.Jekyll to turn into Mr.Hyde(by taking a drug). During the novel the temptation for Dr.Jekyll to turn into Mr.Hyde who is the”evil” side of Dr.Jekyll dramatically increases due to the moral weakness of Dr.Jekyll .The reason why Dr.Jekyll enjoys turning into Mr.Hyde is because of the pleasures and adventures that occur while being Mr.Hyde. However Dr.Jekyll had come to a point of decision,to be Jekyll who “had more of a father’s interest” (page 48),or Hyde “who had more than a son's indifference”(page 48) Stevenson compares
In the article, “Women and Sadism In Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”, Campbell covers the absence of women throughout the novel by Robert Louis Stevenson. Campbell states that some of the reasons of why women seem absent include Victorian censorship, theme of homosexuality, the theme of patriarchy’s failure and the lack of what Jekyll requires to avoid his experiment (the love of a good woman). Although it seems women are absent they are present as inhabitants of the city, defining the cityscape, and receiving all the violence of Mr. Hyde either direct victims or shocked witnesses, some examples being; the little girl, the angry women accusing Hyde of hurting the girl, the housekeeper, the match girl and the maidservant at the window.
Queen Victoria was placed on the English throne in 1837, shortly after the death of William IV. She would continue to reign over the United Kingdom until her death in 1876 as one of the longest reigning monarchs in world history. Young Victoria was only eighteen years old when she came to power over a rather large empire that was considered to be one of the most powerful in the world. A young lady who was barely eighteen and unmarried caused quite a stir among the English parliament and subjects. An unwed, female, teenage monarch was a tremendously progressive concept in 19th century Europe that was not always welcome or publicly accepted.
In order to maintain his level of respect, Dr. Jekyll had to hide indiscretions form his youth by experimenting and creating his alternate persona, Mr. Hyde. In his novel, Stevenson presents Hyde as sexual aspect
In the novella of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, the night time and fog backdrop wherever Edward Hyde showed himself suggested to the alluding of Hydes indescribable physical attributes along with his strong impulses that goes on deep in the human mind, shown through his out lashes on his victims, from his lack of morals and sense of ego and
Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a novella introducing the jubilant, outgoing Doctor Henry Jekyll and the mysterious, deformed Edward Hyde in their story of confusing scenarios. The story is influenced by a mysterious and frightening dream Stevenson had, from this he developed the story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. This novella is a representation of the battle of good versus evil that one can acquire with one’s self, Dr. Jekyll represents the good and Mr. Hyde represents the evil. Having a wicked side and a good side is challenging because if in distress or confusion, it is easier to become mean, it’s necessary to control these two sides.
The novella Jekyll and Hyde tells the tragic story of a battle between good and evil, a battle for total control over the mind and soul. The clash between the pure and impure sides of man: a fight to the finish. It explores the aspect of a person’s good and bad side; holy and unholy, the one who bathes himself in God’s light and the one whom plays with The Devil’s fire. The battle between the good-willed Dr. Jekyll, and his evil persona: the murderous Mr. Hyde. The author, Stevenson, presents this in numerous ways and describes the two conflicting sides well.
Jekyll and Hyde TCEA In the novella The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson, the predominant archetypal theme is “good and evil exist in all humans, and we live our lives struggling with these two forces.” This theme describes the duality of good and evil in Dr. Jekyll—the good being Jekyll and bad being Hyde— and the struggle he has with both sides fighting for dominance within himself. The emotional mindset and the physical attributes of Jekyll and Hyde show the good and evil within themselves.
“The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde” by Robert Louis Stevenson is a book that intrigues one’s mind, because it makes us question ourselves about the balance between the two opposing forces. The story starts out with Mr. Utterson, a lawyer and a great friend of Dr. Jekyll, hearing about Hyde for the first time, who is very shady and somewhat misconfigured. Mr. Utterson hears about Hyde’s bad reputation, and his usage of Dr. Jekyll’s laboratory; therefore, Mr. Utterson suspects some kind of relationship between Hyde and Dr. Jekyll. Mr. Utterson’s friend Lanyon, who is a doctor, dies after Dr. Jekyll goes into seclusion; Mr. Utterson goes to Dr. Jekyll’s house to seek the truth behind Lanyon’s death, but he instead sees Hyde dead. Mr. Utterson
This distinct use of visual imagery creates a stark contrast between two seemingly different personas who will later be revealed to be different sides of Dr. Jekyll himself. The use of environment and setting also aids in distinguishing the two characters. When Mr. Utterson visits Hyde in his home, the surrounding environment is portrayed as a “dingy street” and “a gin palace” with “many ragged children huddled in the doorways” (Stevenson 1689). These images are symbolic of vice and poverty, all of which emphasise the perverse and deviant nature of Hyde as he commits several sins in the novel and is lacking in morals. On the other hand, Dr. Jekyll’s home is often depicted as “warmed by a bright, open fire”, “large”, and “comfortable” (Stevenson 1685), an embodiment of the Victorian outward respectability and “moral”
This story mainly talks about the ugly side of that society, people were insane back then and they did things we would never agreed with any of those, story between Dr. Jekyll and Mr.Hyde were a great example of that dark society. For Dr. Jekyll, a good known person, did a lot tremendous things on science, his kindness was praised all over London, however, he didn't get a chance to express the negative emotions of his life, he feels that he might need something sort of medicine to make him become an evil person that may allow him to not to be such a nice person and do express those negative things. Like people now going boxing all the time to do that, but instead, a scientist wants to do that in a scientific way. Mr. Hyde, such an evil person,
Robert Louis Stevenson’s literary work, “Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”, is one of his most notable works. It was written during the Victorian era when there were huge emphasis placed on social morality. He sets out to understand the differences between dual personalities, good and evil (evil definitely not being within the social norm). He sums up his story by stating: “All human beings, as we meet them, are commingled out of good and evil: and Edward Hyde, alone, in the ranks of mankind, was pure evil.” Robert explains his reasons for writing the book that he did, while talking about the time and era.
In 1886 the book "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde", written by Robert Louis Stevenson, was released and became one of the most popular Stevenson's work. It was a huge success all around the world, bringing a lot of distinct aspects from the Victorian Era, such as conflicts between social classes; the influence of religion in people's life; the importance of people's reputation; conflicts