Character List
Mr. Gabriel John Utterson:
Mr. Utterson is the main character in the novel. Utterson is a lawyer who takes it upon himself to solve the strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Though there is something “lovable” about Utterson, he is exceedingly dull and unimaginative in the course of the novel, not wanting to believe that Jekyll and Hyde could be related to anything supernatural. It is only at the end, when Utterson learns the truth behind the two men. Utterson is a dynamic character. Towards the end, he seems to become more willing to believe that something other than outer appearances and status can affect the person. Even someone upstanding like Dr. Henry Jekyll could have an evil and dangerous side.
Mr. Richard Enfield:
Mr. Enfield is Utterson’s friend. Though the two rarely speak when around each other and are both seen as dull and boring, they take weekly Sunday walks. Enfield is a static character. He remains dull throughout the novel.
Dr. Hastie Lanyon:
Dr. Lanyon was once one of Jekyll’s colleagues and closest friends. Yet, the two had a falling out as Jekyll was more interested in mysticism and the supernatural and Lanyon wanted to have no part in Jekyll’s “unscientific balderdash.” Dr. Lanyon serves as a foil of Dr. Jekyll. He is a dynamic character, because at the end of the novel, he sees that there truly is a supernatural world. This, however, eventually leads to his downfall.
Dr. Henry Jekyll:
Dr. Jekyll is the protagonist of the novel. He is seen in society as a good and charitable man. Yet, he knows he has a dark side and, instead of letting it be a burden on himself, he brings it out through his counterpart; Edward Hyde. Jekyll is a dynamic character as he becomes more desperate to rid himself of Hyde as the novel goes on. His fight against Hyde lasts until the end of the novel.
Mr. Edward Hyde:
Mr. Hyde is the antagonist of the novel. The people know him as an extremely evil and deformed man (although no one is capable of pointing out exactly what is wrong with him). Hyde is Jekyll’s evil counterpart – the person that Jekyll wants committing all of his evil deeds so that he can sleep easier. Hyde is a static character. He stays the same evil person. If anything, he gets worse toward the end.
Mr. Poole:
Mr. Poole is Dr. Jekyll’s butler. He is very loyal to the doctor and worries over him as the doctor’s behavior gets more and more strange. This lasts until the end when he enlists Utterson’s help. Poole is a static character. He does not change much, other than his increased worry over Jekyll.
Symbols and Motifs
Dr. Jekyll’s house and Laboratory:
It is fairly obvious that Dr. Jekyll symbolizes good while Mr. Hyde symbolizes evil. Dr. Jekyll’s house is big, grand, and beautiful. It represents the goodness in him and also his status. On the other hand, it shows that although the house is beautiful, inside lies the evil that Jekyll is trying to hide. The laboratory is on the opposite side of the house. From the outside, it is ugly and decrepit. It is where Jekyll performs his experiments and turns himself from the goodhearted Henry Jekyll to the heartless Edward Hyde. It represents evil.
Silence:
Silence is a large part of the book. Many of the characters do not like to discuss anything. They are against gossip and sharing secrets with one another. For instance, Dr. Jekyll does not like to talk about Mr. Hyde, Mr. Utterson does not like to ask too many questions, and Mr. Enfield does not want to name Hyde after he saw an incident happen. This is a representation of how reputation was so important in that era. No one wanted a bad name, so they did not say enough that could make people see them differently.
Appearances:
Robert Louis Stevenson is descriptive of every character and on significant places in the novel. Most notable in the novel is the description (or lack thereof) of Mr. Edward Hyde. Those who have seen Hyde have trouble describing him because he simply radiates dislike. They claim that there is something deformed about him, but cannot pinpoint the place. This symbolizes the period of time in which Stevenson lived – which, everything, for the most part, was judged by appearances. Mr. Utterson also symbolizes this idea that outward appearances are the sole important judgment on a person. For instance, Utterson does not believe that there could possibly be anything wrong with Dr. Jekyll because of Jekyll’s high status.
Universal Meaning
Robert Louis Stevenson created several universal meanings throughout this novel. Yet, one of the most over powering of them all is: “No matter what the appearance, evil lies within everything.” Stevenson demonstrates this meaning by creating a significant feeling of evil darkness and goodness. Through the use of his main characters, Mr. Utterson, Dr. Lanyon, Dr. Jekyll, and Mr. Hyde, Stevenson shows the stark contrast between the characters that somehow fits them all together to prove his universal meaning. There is goodness and kindness in all of the characters, yet Stevenson shows that each of the characters, no matter their status, can cast a negative light.
Writing Prompt Selection
1983. From a novel or play of literary merit, select an important character who is a villain. Then, in a well-organized essay, analyze the nature of the character’s villainy and how it enhances meaning in the work. Do not merely summarize the plot.
Possible Thesis: Through the infamous villain Mr. Edward Hyde, Robert Louis Stevenson demonstrates that evil lies within everyone, even the good at heart.
Passage and Analysis
It seems she was romantically given, for she sat down upon her box, which stood immediately under the window, and fell into a dream of musing. Never (she used to say, with streaming tears, when she narrated that experience), never had she felt more at peace with all men or thought more kindly of the world. And as she so sat she became aware of an aged beautiful gentleman with white hair, drawing near along the lane; and advancing to meet him, another and very small gentleman, to whom at first she paid less attention. When they had come within speech (which was just under the maid's eyes) the older man bowed and accosted the other with a very pretty manner of politeness. It did not seem as if the subject of his address were of great importance; indeed, from his pointing, it some times appeared as if he were only inquiring his way; but the moon shone on his face as he spoke, and the girl was pleased to watch it, it seemed to breathe such an innocent and old-world kindness of disposition, yet with something high too, as of a well-founded self-content. Presently her eye wandered to the other, and she was surprised to recognise in him a certain Mr. Hyde, who had once visited her master and for whom she had conceived a dislike. He had in his hand a heavy cane, with which he was trifling; but he answered never a word, and seemed to listen with an ill-contained impatience. And then all of a sudden he broke out in a great flame of anger, stamping with his foot, brandishing the cane, and
carrying on (as the maid described it) like a madman. The old gentleman took a step back, with the air of one very much surprised and a trifle hurt; and at that Mr. Hyde broke out of all
bounds and clubbed him to the earth. And next moment, with ape-like fury, he was trampling his victim under foot and hailing down a storm of blows, under which the bones were audibly
shattered and the body jumped upon the roadway. At the horror of these sights and sounds, the maid fainted.
Diction:
Romantically, dream, peace, kindly, beautiful gentleman, innocent, kindness, self-content
Dislike, heavy, ill-contained impatience, flame of anger, madman, clubbed, ape-like fury, storm, shattered, horror
Imagery:
Beautiful gentleman, stamping his foot, clubbed, trampling his victim, bones audibly shattered
Details:
Manner of politeness, only inquiring the way, he had in his hand a cane, surprised and a trifle hurt
Language:
The language used is almost dream-like, especially at the beginning of the passage. With words such as “innocent” and “self-content,” it is almost as if the man, though old, is childlike a kindly. However, the dream quickly turns nightmarish as Hyde enters the scene. The language thereafter is ugly and a sharper tone is given.
Syntax:
Stevenson uses several parenthetical statements throughout this passage. This is to remind the reader that it is the maid telling the story. Mr. Utterson heard the story, but he did not see it happen. Therefore, the parenthetical statements are used to show that this is the maid’s point of view and it could possibly be a bit biased. Stevenson uses longer sentences, which kind of takes away from the horror of the situation because they are so drawn out. Shorter, choppier sentences would have given the reader more of a sense of unease. The long sentences are steady and thoughtful.
Introduction
Mr. Utterson the lawyer was a man of a rugged countenance that was never lighted by a smile; cold, scanty and embarrassed in discourse; backward in sentiment; lean, long, dusty, dreary and yet somehow lovable. At friendly meetings, and when the wine was to his taste, something eminently human beaconed from his eye; something indeed which never found its way into his talk, but which spoke not only in these silent symbols of the after-dinner face, but more often and loudly in the acts of his life. He was austere with himself; drank gin when he was alone, to mortify a taste for vintages; and though he enjoyed the theater, had not crossed the doors of one or twenty years. But he had an approved tolerance for others; sometimes wondering, almost with envy, at the high pressure of spirits involved in their misdeeds; and in any extremity inclined to help rather than to reprove. “I incline to Cain’s heresy,” he used to say quaintly: “I let my brother go to the devil in his own way.” In this character, it was frequently his fortune to the last reputable acquaintance and the last good influence in the lives of downgoing men. And to such as these, so long as they came about his chambers, he never marked a shade of change in his demeanour.
Significance:
This first paragraph introduces Mr. Utterson, the main character of the novel. He is described as “lean, long, dusty, dreary, and yet somehow” – as though if added as an afterthought – “lovable.” This is important to the rest of the novel because to truly understand all of the symbolism behind the novel, the reader must understand Mr. Utterson. He is incredibly important as he is the person striving to solve the case. So, it is important to know that Mr. Utterson, although dull, he is also quite human and good at heart. It says that he “had an approved tolerance for others; sometimes wondering, almost with envy, at the high pressure of spirits involved in their misdeeds; and in any extremity inclined to help rather than reprove.” That is, Utterson is a loyal man and does not simply disown a friend because of their misdeeds. He’d rather help. This sets up the plot for the rest of the story, when Mr. Utterson is inclined to help solve the strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
Quotes
“He is not easy to describe. There is something wrong with his appearance; something displeasing, something down-right detestable. I never saw a man I so disliked, and yet I scarce know why. He must be deformed somewhere; he gives a strong feeling of deformity, although I couldn’t specify the point.” (7)
“I believe you fully; I would trust you before any man alive, ay, before myself, if I could make the choice; but indeed it isn’t what you fancy; it is not as bad as that; and just to put your good heart at rest, I will tell you one thing: the moment I chose, I can be rid of Mr. Hyde.” (18)
“Utterson, I swear to God,” cried the doctor, “I swear to God I will never set eyes on him again. I bind my honour to you that I am done with him in this world. It is all at an end. And indeed he does not want my help; you do not know him as I do; he is safe, he is quite safe; mark my words, he will never more be heard of.” (26)
“I saw what I saw, I heard what I heard, and my soul sickened at it; and yet now when that sight has faded from my eyes, I ask myself if I believe it, and I cannot answer. My life is shaken to its roots; sleep has left me the deadliest terror sits by me at all hours of the day and night and I feel that my days are numbered, and that I must die; am duet I shall die incredulous.” (59)
“It was on the moral side, and in my own person, that I learned to recognize the thorough and primitive duality of man; I saw that, of consciousness, even if I could rightly be said to be either, it was only because I was radically both; and from an early date, even before the course of my scientific discoveries had begun to suggest the most naked possibility of such a miracle, I had learned to dwell with pleasure, as a beloved daydream, on the thought of the separation between these elements.” (61)
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Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Group Paper
Once released in 1886, Stevenson described it as a “fine bogey tale.” The tale explores the relationship between civilization and savagery, in the same way as to how the more developed Western world was exploring the other, lesser side of the world. Without a doubt, in The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Robert Louis Stevenson establishes the universal idea of man having two sides. Similarly as to how human beings have reason and animals have instinct, Dr. Jekyll symbolizes virtue whereas Mr. Hyde represents evil. However, the implication being, that one must embody both aspects despite what Victorian society has imposed. Please refine the thesis!
Improve this paragraph! See comment for advice.
Dual nature is portrayed even in the most unexpected characters. Mr Utterson, a seemingly bland and normal man of Victorian society, has a dual nature which he tries to avoid by resisting pleasures and watching other people’s evil unravel, instead of indulging in his own. “He was austere with himself; drank gin when he was alone, to mortify a taste for vintage; and though he enjoyed the theater, had not crossed the doors of one for over twenty years. But he had an approved tolerance for others; sometimes wondering, almost with envy, at the high pressure of spirits involved in their misdeeds...” (1). Mr. Utterson knows his evil exists, but instead of completely suppressing it like Dr. Jekyll, he finds a way to balance it so he can still lead a normal life. He drowns the pleasure of wine with gin because if he allows pleasure to seep in, it might overtake him and bring out his evil. He deals with his love for the theater in a similar manner.
More specifically, dual nature or the struggle between good and evil is explored through the perspective of Mr. Utterson. Mr. Utterson inherently disapproves of Mr. Hyde and the relationship between the two. He describes his fear for his friend Dr. Jekyll seeing “Satan’s signature upon a face, it is on that of your new friend[Mr. Hyde]…’”(10). He is perplexed by Jekyll’ s trust in Hyde- a man Utterson calls “hardly human” (10), and comparing him to Satan. The heavy contrast Utterson makes between Jekyll and Hyde is the duality of Dr. Jeykll revealed as Hyde. Mr. Utterson is so disgusted with Dr. Jekyll’ s will- leaving everything to Mr. Hyde because “offended him both as a lawyer and as a lover of the sane and customary sides of life,”(6). He thinks the two are so different and he believes Hyde is pure evil. He thinks of it as a disgrace that Dr. Jekyll would associate himself with a man such as Hyde- even to the point of entrusting him with everything he has. These passages show how R.L. Stevenson is conveying an overall statement of the importance of balance in character. Mr. Utterson remarks that Mr. Hyde offended the “sane and customary sides of life” providing evidence that Jekyll created Hyde as an escape from the society he lived in. These passages strongly contrast the two characters and this is necessary to put Hyde in perspective. The Duality of Jekyll observed by Utterson was characterized as reason versus instinct. In these passages, Hyde is referred to as hardly human, making him the instinctual version of Jekyll. Hyde feels no moral responsibility and that makes him stronger than Jekyll because he is free to do whatever he does. Stevenson is saying, by comparing Hyde to Satan, that there needs to be a balance in order to prevent such a severe duality.
Refine / fix all the following supporting paragraphs. Work on refining your use of evidence and integrating it into your argument.
Jekyll’s duality reveals a tremendous amount about dual nature, portraying it more as suppressed base instincts against social, moral behavior. In his letter, Jekyll advocates that no man can be entirely refined, as he has natural, animalistic instincts. He states, “man is not truly one, but truly two…I learned to recognize the thorough and primitive duality of man” (43). Here, Stevenson makes the clear distinction between the side of hide that is socially acceptable and his inner instincts. Stevenson attempts to transcend this example to all of humanity by repeating the word “man”. Jekyll insists that both natures are present within man, it is merely the expression of them that deems him ‘evil’. “the two natures that contended in the field of my consciousness…if I could rightly be said to be either, it was only because I was radically both” (43). By stating that he is “radically both”, Jekyll states that both personas are strong – each occupying a large part of his being. In having Jekyll, the rational persona, explain everything, Stevenson strengthens his argument that both personas exist within man; Stevenson goes as far to imply that since they are naturally there, the repression of either results in a unhealthy imbalance.
This implication is later put into words through Jekyll’s point of view. Upon describing the meaning behind his dual nature, Dr. Jekyll states that "the lower side of me, so long indulged, so recently chained down, began to growl for licence" (50). By using words such as "chained down" and "growl" to describe Dr. Jekyll's "lower side" (Mr. Hyde), Stevenson reflects the animalistic characteristics in man. Stevenson similarly reflects these characteristics as Dr. Jekyll is describing how he "sat in the sun on a bench, the animal within me licking the chops of memory" (50). Here, Stevenson explicitly portrays Mr. Hyde as an "animal". In contrast, virtue is exemplified through Dr. Jekyll's sense of virtue, which can be seen as he explains that "it was on the moral side, and in my own person, that I learned to recognise the thorough and primitive duality of man" (43). By explaining that Jekyll learned of the duality of man on the "moral side" in his "own person", his sense of reason and virtue is reflected in direct contrast to the "primitive" Hyde. These conflicting elements further explain the power struggle within man's duality. Although Jekyll's element of reason reflects a sense of virtue, it is not purely good and balanced enough to compete with Hyde's element of animal instinct, which reflects a sense of pure evil.
It is important to understand that while there may be a fine line between man’s two sides, we are all constantly struggling between them. Dr. Jekyll may be “fine, clear, cloudless, [chirrupy], and sweet,” but the “animal side within [him]” will always be “licking the chops of memory” (50). Even when Utterson claims that “[Hyde] seems hardly human!” and that he must be “something troglodytic” or “[Satanic],” (10) his curiosity and interest get the best of him. So much so, that he pursues the investigation throughout the entire novel. By no means does either of them achieve an ideal balance of the two natures. For that reason, a true masterpiece prompts the reader himself/herself to discover solutions.
Initially, the theme of dual nature is viewed simply as a battle between good and evil. Yet, as the novel progresses it becomes clear that it delves further into a person’s psyche. Jekyll is portrayed as a man who fights his natural, base instincts rather than indulge and accept them. By completely restricting himself from them, he destroys any sense of balance he could have naturally achieved. Stevenson advocates this natural balance; He demonstrates dire consequences for the repression of natural instincts, no matter what social conventions may say about them.
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In the novel ‘The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and My Hyde’ written by Robert Louis Stevenson, setting greatly enhances the reader’s appreciation of the novel’s important ideas. Throughout the novel, Stevenson expresses the ideas of dual human nature where individuals show seemingly good natured appearance to conceal their own repressed evil. These ideas are shown through the settings of Jekyll and Hyde’s residences, incongruent facets of the society in the novel’s setting and the effects the society has on the individuals.
The primary type of setting used to show the idea of dual human nature is Jekyll and Hyde’s residences. While Hyde is only a transformation of Jekyll, their residences are starkly contrasting. Jekyll lives in a wealthy mansion with “luxury and good taste”. Jekyll’s huge and wealthy rooms with warm colours and cosy fire connote Jekyll’s “large, well-made, handsome and kindly” character. He is appeared to be a very respectable public figure. Correspondingly, Hyde’s residence, with its decaying facade and air of neglect, symbolizes the corrupt and perverse Hyde. It is important to note that the buildings are adjoined. Although there is a clear distinction between Jekyll and Hyde, the connection between the buildings implies that good and evil are coexisting forces in an individual.
As the novel progresses, Stevenson shows that the society bears the same duality of nature of Jekyll and Hyde. This is most prominently shown through Hyde’s hideout in the novel. The blackness of the street, poverty, filth and prostitution conveys a picture of underworld part of London where dark evil secrets are concealed under the layers of the good part of the London. It shows that the high class and respectable members of society such as Jekyll neglect such problems. Through the effective use of setting, Stevenson is conveying the idea that individuals have tendencies of trying to appear to be good and respectable. However, beneath the superficial surface of the individual, there is always concealment of the dark side of the individuals.
Stevenson also enhances the reader’s appreciation of the idea of duality of human nature by showing the effects of society on individuals. The benefits of society can be seen in the compassion shown to the little girl trampled by Hyde and the social outrage and response to the murder of Carew. The negative effects of society can be seen in the duplicity of Jekyll who is repressed and restricted in expressing his shameful “irregularities”. Through the society’s effect on Jekyll and other individuals, Stevenson presents his view on his Calvinistic Scotland background, a very hypocritical and repressive society which instilled the idea that all forms of human pleasure, especially sex, are essentially debased, sinful and surrounded by guilt. However, thinking about it and doing it were obviously another matter, judging by the average family size or by the proliferation of brothels, unwanted children and back-street abortions in the major cities. In the novel, Hyde’s “short, ugly and deformed” appearance suggests that Jekyll has been suppressing his innate evil for a long while that the evil in himself is “small” and un-flourished.
Thus, Stevenson enhances the ideas that involve the dual human nature through the use of settings such as Jekyll and Hyde’s residences, the ugly side of the society and the effect of society on the individual. He is emphasising that individuals, even those highly respected ones, repress and conceal their innate evil side beneath their superficial level to appear to be upright in our society.
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