Robert Louis Stevenson was a Scottish novelist, born and went to school in Edinburgh, Robert suffered from serious swelling and inflammation in his bronchial tubes for much of his life but continued to write and travel. Robert is most known for writing these book child’s Garden of Verses, Treasure Island, Kidnapped, Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The novel I will be writing about is “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”. “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde “ was first published in 1886 the book is about a London lawyer who investigates strange occurrences between Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Robert Louis Stevenson in 1886 wrote the book ¨The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde ̈ which showcases how good and evil are intertwined and defined by each other throughout the book.
Robert Louis Stevenson was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, on November 13, 1850, Lighthouse design was his fathers and families profession. Stevenson developed a desire to write in his early life,having no interest in the family business of lighthouse engineering. At a young age, Robert was diagnosed with tuberculosis due to his “poor chest shape”(Campbell) and “industrial pollution from the dust in his family’s factories”(Campbell). He also traveled a lot some of the places has been to include the Hawaiian Islands, Samoan islands, France and many more.
“The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” was influenced by a nightmare Stevenson had.̈The original idea occurred to him in a nightmare from which his wife awakened him from In fact Stevenson was upset his wife woke him up, But eventually, Stevenson developed a full story, originally the story was a straight horror story. After reading it to his wife she suggested some changes and only 3 days later Stevenson was finished with the book and published it on January 5, 1886.
127 our experts are availableright now
“The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” was published on January 5, 1886, during this time in Edinburgh, Scotland it was a terrible place to live.The cities’ “crime rates were at an all-time high”(Walliss), poor station and a lot of people died due to diseases,also and overcrowding was a big issue during this time. Edinburgh, Scotland was also dirty and noisy, the quality of life of like was very poor during this time. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde takes place in the 1800s in victorian to represent an advancement in science, economic growth, and the awakening of socially repressed feelings and behaviors during this time.
During the 1800s in victorian many scientists devoted their time to study new breakthroughs, and most scientists gained fame and wealth if they discovered something new. One of the reasons Robert Louis Stevenson made Dr.Jekyll a scientist to represent advancements in science and economic growth during this in victorian. The main theme that is represented in the book is “is that man’s soul is paired with both elements of good and evil”.
In the short ‘The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde ’ Stevenson represents many themes but really tries to display 4 main themes. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde are symbolized through an allegory about the good and evil that exists in all men. Dr. Jekyll was a “well respected doctor” who tries and hide the evil side of him by making Mr.hyde and fails, which leads to the second theme represented in the book.Which is that evil is stronger than good Stevenson displays that evil is stronger than good closer to the end of the book when Mr.Hyde completely takes over Dr. Jekyll .The third theme the book represents is the failure of evil because Hyde ends up dead without Dr. Jekyll aka the good. And the final thing the book represents is good and evil are intertwined and defined by each other. To conclude,In the short ‘The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’ Stevenson represents many different themes and ideas throughout the book.
Stevenson’s uses symbolism and setting to display character traits , the object Stevenson symbolizes is the two doorway doors.Throughout the whole book Dr. Jekyll always uses the door that symbolizes him while Mr hyde always uses the door that symbolizes him.Stevenson uses the doors to represent good and evil,points of access.And uses the doors to drive and reveal Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde character traits.The doctor’s home is part “square of ancient , handsome houses ” and it’s doors are a “great air of wealth and comfort(Stevenson) “. This quote represents Dr. Jekyll character as well-made, very rich, and well-respected. Mr.Hyde doors are described as “broken(stevenson)” made of “sinister block(stevenson)” and “no windows(stevenson)”.Hydes doors resemble his character as both being broken and mysterious. Just like his doors Hyde’s character is very mysterious and described throughout the book as ugly. To conclude Stevenson uses the doors to represent good and evil and character traits throughout the book
Robert Louis Stevenson uses setting to play an import role in the novel ‘The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’.In the book Dr. Jekyll represents good while Mr.hyde’s character represents evil, Stevenson uses them to symbolize is that man’s soul is paired with both elements of good and evil”. The novel takes place in london but draws heavily on Stevenson’s knowledge of his hometown Edinburgh to create a chilling setting which emphasises the themes of “good and evil”(Tudor). Setting is used most as a symbol for the characters of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. In the book Jekyll owns a fancy town house in the book it’s described to have an “open fire”. This represents Jekyll to be wealth and have fancy taste. Hyde on the other hand hydes “windows are covered (Stevenson)” and has door has “nor knockers”. Hydes settling leads the reader to interpret that hyde is a secretive person who lurks in the shadows as lives only in the night. To conclude, Robert Louis Stevenson uses setting to play an import role in the novel.
“The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” had a significant social impact because it made readers question which personality they resemble most. Also impacts the audience socially by displaying the troubles that people go through to fit into society. Dr.Jekyll wants to perceived as some his not, he wants to be perceived as a well respected doctor that would never do anything wrong.
He doesn’t want to show the outside work that deep inside he truly enjoys violence.”Losing control from covering his unrestrained identity leads to his destruction”() . The story ended up making people question themselves and how they try and change themselves to try and fit into society. Also left reads thinking if in there daily life they acted like hyde evil,mean, and sinful or like Dr.Jekyll nice and well respected. To conclude, “ The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” impacted the audience socially by displaying the troubles that people go through to fit into society.
“The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” has a huge cultural impact on the literature industry even to this day. There are novels that are classified as timeless classics, some novels which are timeless,” readers all over the world can associate with their characters and find between the fictional events and their everyday life.” ‘The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’ can be considered a timeless novel. There are a great number of movies and books which can be connected to “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”.The characters Jekyll and Hyde appear in countless movies and books some explain include tv shows Teen Titans, Justice League, Legion of Superheroes. And the most popular movie that was influenced by the “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” is the Hulk. Bruce Banner and the Hulk are characters influenced by Jekyll and Hyde. To conclude, the “Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” by Robert Stevenson has had a big impact on modern pop culture.
Robert Louis Stevenson was a very unique minded person and released many popular and well loved stories that will be remembered . He will be remembered most for the short story called “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”.“The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” is a novel which showcases how good and evil are intertwined and defined by each other throughout the book. Also one of the first literary insights to have split personality characters. To conclude, Robert Louis Stevenson lived a very influential life as a writer and will forever be remembered.
Work Cited
- Arata, Stephen D. ‘The sedulous ape: atavism, professionalism, and Stevenson’s ‘Jekyll and Hyde.’ (Robert Louis Stevenson).’ Criticism, vol. 37, no. 2, 1995, p. 233+. Gale In Context: High School, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A17249752/GPS?u=j170902005&sid=GPS&xid=d020bc4f. Accessed 26 Jan. 2020.
- Campbell, Charles. ‘Women and Sadism in Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde: ‘City in a Nightmare’.’ English Literature in Transition 1880-1920, vol. 57, no. 3, 2014, p. 309+. Gale General OneFile, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A372883475/GPS?u=j170902005&sid=GPS&xid=7d7020b9. Accessed 20 Jan. 2020.
- Eprile, Tony. ‘A true history of the notorious Mr. Edward Hyde.’ Ploughshares, vol. 21, no. 2-3, 1995, p. 88+. Gale In Context: HighSchool, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A17386985/GPS?u=j170902005&sid=GPS&xid=8795bf3 8. Accessed 14 Jan. 2020.
- Piper, August, Jr. ‘Multiple personality disorder: witchcraft survives in the twentieth century.’ Skeptical Inquirer, May-June 1998, p. 44+. Gale In Context: Science, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A20615415/GPS?u=j170902005&sid=GPS&xid=1c10fe20. Accessed 20 Jan. 2020.
- Singh, Shubh, and Subho Chakrabarti. ‘A study in dualism: The strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.’ Indian Journal of Psychiatry, vol. 50, no. 3, 2008, p. 221. Gale Academic OneFile,https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A188404551/GPS?u=j170902005&sid=GPS&xid=21b8384f. Accessed 25 Jan. 2020.
- Stiles, Anne. ‘Robert Louis Stevenson’s Jekyll and Hyde and the double brain.’ Studies inEnglish Literature, 1500-1900, vol. 46, no. 4, 2006, p. 879+. Gale In Context: High School,https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A155825493/GPS?u=j170902005&sid=GPS&xid=e700c047. Accessed 19 Jan. 2020.
- Suner, Ahmet. ‘The Late Victorian Economy of Countenance in Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr.Hyde.’ Papers on Language & Literature, vol. 54, no. 3, 2018, p. 219+. Gale In Context:HighSchool,https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A553905872/GPS?u=j170902005&sid=GPS&xid902 ba408. Accessed 19 Jan. 2020.
- Tudor, Lucia-Alexandra, and Ana Maria Hojbota. ‘Horrific Janus: doctor by day, monster by night.’ Romanian Journal of Artistic Creativity, vol. 1, no. 2, 2013, p. 206+. Gale Academic OneFile, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A368380479/GPS?u=j170902005&sid=GPS&xid=52bb7be5. Accessed 20 Jan. 2020.
- Walliss, John. ‘Crime in England, 1688-1815.’ Law, Crime and History, vol. 4, no. 3, 2014, p. 87+. Gale Academic OneFile, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A431966879/GPS?u=j170902005&sid=GPS&xid=d5f9fe0d. Accessed 26 Jan. 2020.
- Wright, Daniel L. ”The prisonhouse of my disposition’: a study of the psychology of addiction in ‘Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.’.’ Studies in the Novel, vol. 26, no. 3, 1994, p. 254+. Gale In Context: High School, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A15957606/GPS?u=j170902005&sid=GPS&xid=8e7c0856. Accessed 20 Jan. 2020.
- Xia, Tianqiong, et al. ‘CITY NEWCOMERS’ADAPTATION TO URBAN LIFE, PERSONAL WELL-BEING, AND SOCIAL SUPPORT.’ Social Behavior and Personality: An International Journal, vol. 46, no. 7, 2018, p. 1201+. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints,https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A547374441/GPS?u=j170902005&sid=GPS&xid=88092582. Accessed 26 Jan. 2020.
