Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde Theme Analysis
The Themes of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
Journal #1
Serena Richard
Mrs. Capyk
ENG4U
Monday, October 6th, 2014
In the short story, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, we are introduced to many intricate characters that in turn help mold and create very captivating and universal themes. Two themes that will be examined in further detail are Good vs. Evil and Friendship. Our first notable theme is Good vs. Evil and the struggle that accompanies this powerful fight for domination. Dr Jekyll, a decent and intelligent man, is in a constant battle with the evil inside himself. He is tempted by dark fantasies that control his mind. Jekyll believes that “man is not truly one, but truly two” (Stevenson, 83). …show more content…
Thus Dr. Jekyll creates another version of himself, named Hyde, that helps him fulfill all his evil fantasies. By creating this persona, Jekyll is allowing the evil inside of him to become more prominent. He describes being Hyde as feeling “younger, lighter, happier in body” and becoming evil “braced and delighted [him] like wine” (Stevenson, 86). In Jekyll’s perspective, evil is freeing. In the end it was also his downfall, “God knows; I am careless; this is my true hour of death, and what is to follow concerns another than myself. Here then, as I lay down the pen and proceed to seal up my confession, I bring the life of that unhappy Henry Jekyll to an end” (Stevenson, 108). Jekyll gives up and lets evil, personified in Hyde, take complete control of his mind and body. When an individual makes the choice to give evil dominance and not …show more content…
Mr Utterson, a respectable lawyer, represents the perfect Victorian gentleman. He always seeks to maintain peace, does not gossip, and is very considerate of his friends’ reputations. At first, rather than misjudge his good friend Jekyll and believe that he and Hyde are actually friends, Utterson chooses to believe that Jekyll is in fact being blackmailed by Hyde, “Or else he would see a room in a rich house, where his friend lay asleep, dreaming and smiling at his dreams; and then the door of that room would be opened, the curtains of the bed plucked apart, the sleeper recalled, and lo! there would stand by his side a figure to whom power was given, and even at that dead hour, he must rise and do its bidding” (Stevenson, 15). The scenario of blackmail seems more probable in Utterson’s mind. He wants to believe the best of his friend. Also, this shows that Utterson cares for his friend because he does not want Jekyll’s reputation to be tarnished by a poisonous man. Stevenson underscores the idea that friends are loyal, protective and
Journal #1
Serena Richard
Mrs. Capyk
ENG4U
Monday, October 6th, 2014
In the short story, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, we are introduced to many intricate characters that in turn help mold and create very captivating and universal themes. Two themes that will be examined in further detail are Good vs. Evil and Friendship. Our first notable theme is Good vs. Evil and the struggle that accompanies this powerful fight for domination. Dr Jekyll, a decent and intelligent man, is in a constant battle with the evil inside himself. He is tempted by dark fantasies that control his mind. Jekyll believes that “man is not truly one, but truly two” (Stevenson, 83). …show more content…
Thus Dr. Jekyll creates another version of himself, named Hyde, that helps him fulfill all his evil fantasies. By creating this persona, Jekyll is allowing the evil inside of him to become more prominent. He describes being Hyde as feeling “younger, lighter, happier in body” and becoming evil “braced and delighted [him] like wine” (Stevenson, 86). In Jekyll’s perspective, evil is freeing. In the end it was also his downfall, “God knows; I am careless; this is my true hour of death, and what is to follow concerns another than myself. Here then, as I lay down the pen and proceed to seal up my confession, I bring the life of that unhappy Henry Jekyll to an end” (Stevenson, 108). Jekyll gives up and lets evil, personified in Hyde, take complete control of his mind and body. When an individual makes the choice to give evil dominance and not …show more content…
Mr Utterson, a respectable lawyer, represents the perfect Victorian gentleman. He always seeks to maintain peace, does not gossip, and is very considerate of his friends’ reputations. At first, rather than misjudge his good friend Jekyll and believe that he and Hyde are actually friends, Utterson chooses to believe that Jekyll is in fact being blackmailed by Hyde, “Or else he would see a room in a rich house, where his friend lay asleep, dreaming and smiling at his dreams; and then the door of that room would be opened, the curtains of the bed plucked apart, the sleeper recalled, and lo! there would stand by his side a figure to whom power was given, and even at that dead hour, he must rise and do its bidding” (Stevenson, 15). The scenario of blackmail seems more probable in Utterson’s mind. He wants to believe the best of his friend. Also, this shows that Utterson cares for his friend because he does not want Jekyll’s reputation to be tarnished by a poisonous man. Stevenson underscores the idea that friends are loyal, protective and