Dr Jekyll And Hyde Compare And Contrast Analysis
Dr Jekyll and Hyde Essay (contrasts)
In this essay I will be exploring the variety of contrasts that Robert Louis Stevenson presents within the novel ‘The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’.
Contrast is used effectively in the opening paragraph in the novel through Stevenson’s portrayal of Utterson. It is said that the lawyer ‘’was never lighted by a smile’’ and in discourse he is ‘’cold, scanty and embarrassed’’ This conveys him as an unsociable, introverted person. Stevenson uses alliteration to highlight his personality: “lean, long, dusty, dreary” emphasises his dull nature, but these seem to be at odds with the word ‘lovable’ .Nonetheless, this is contradicted towards the end of the same sentence where it states that in ‘’friendly …show more content…
meeting’’ whilst enjoying wine something eminently beaconed from his eyes. In a contradictory manner Stevenson begins to define Utterson to suggest the dual nature of man, the main theme he constantly explores throughout the novel. Indeed, Uttersons contrasting traits are not only from his personality it is also asserted within his job, being a lawyer he must be composed, loquacious and confident but as he is not any of these it is quiet curious, he himself is a mystery having distinct characteristics.
Another way in which Stevenson effectively uses contrast is through the novels setting. The clean street within the “dingy neighbourhood’’ shone out like “a fire in the forest’’. This implies the fact that the street is prominent yet it is curious because it’s within an ‘’dingy’’ neighbourhood. “Like a fire in the forest” helps to convey how the street is like an oasis in an otherwise unpleasant area- but fire is an interesting point of comparison because aside from offering light and warmth, drawing attention to the eye it can also have a sense of danger and cause destruction. This depicts the fact that fire can be portrayed in a positive and negative aspect therefore having contrasting sides. By using such techniques Stevenson tries to reveal the dual nature of Dr. Jekyll and Hyde in a deceptive way, hiding the revelations of the dual nature hidden within text.
Stevenson also uses symbols to effectively convey contrasts in Victorian society.
The first chapter of Dr Jekyll and Hyde is titled “Story of the Door’’. The purpose of the door is to keep others from knowing what lies within; they are a way of hiding the truth under the cover of false appearances, this can also refer to the famous phrase “behind closed doors’’ as doors are the great secret keepers. They represent man’s desire of privacy and to hide his true nature from others by not ruining their reputation. As within the Victorian era, reputation was very important, receiving a bad portrayal from others was like dishonouring your entire life for good. There is a hint of all not being what it seems. This contradiction is reinforced in the description of Jekyll’s house. It seems to symbolize Jekyll’s moral nature, the two parts of the house with its two entrances reflecting his dual nature. The description of DR. Jekyll’s ordinary door is quiet meaningful. ‘’The door wore a great air of wealth and comfort, though it was now plunged in darkness except for the fan-light’’. The Jekyll side of his character is represented by the doors ‘’air of wealth and comfort’’ Jekyll’s name gathers the respect and admiration of English society. However, this contradicts the fact that he is a man ‘’plunged into darkness’’. The Hyde side of his character, hidden behind the ‘’blistered’’ and ‘’distained’’ cover of the laboratory door brings an evil darkness into his life chasing away the light of DR. Jekyll’s goodness. This prepares us metaphorically for the core meaning of the novel: a world of duplicity in which social acceptability disguising evil and hypocrisy are shown to exist in as close juxtaposition as Hyde’s door to
Jekyll’s.
Stevenson even uses the structure of the novel to make contrasts. The story opens with a third person narrative. We are told about Mr Utterson; his personality, lifestyle and qualities. The fact that it is third person Utterson can hide his true emotions; this limits our ability to see things yet we still share the fear and bewilderment as we ponder on the situation that unfolds. After the description of Utterson, Stevenson then moves on to Enfield’s first person narrative. This is where he proclaims the story about the door. The last two chapters (Dr Lanyon’s Narrative and Henry Jekyll’s statement) are also shown in first person, this is convincing to the reader because it is from their own point of view. The juxtaposing narrative’s within the novel hints the dual nature with Jekyll and Hyde. As a story contains more than one side, it adds complexity; it’s not simple or straight forward because the perspective changes like the duplicity of an individual’s personality.
The weather is also used by Stevenson to portray contrasts. Throughout the story; the weather is constantly foreshadowing the mood of the event that is taking place. Often the renderings are quite subtle in illustrating the ambiance of the story. Fog obscures sight and accordingly introduces elements of mystery and evil into the story. Fog is especially present when DR. Utterson visits the homes of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Stevenson even suggests that the lamps are left on all day to combat the darkness of Hyde’s surroundings; pure light does not shine there. Clearly this has meaning beyond literal level. Through the description of the fog & blackness, Stevenson creates a nauseating atmosphere around Mr. Hyde and adds repulsion associated with Sir Danvers murderer. In the initial parts of the Carew murder case Stevenson describes the weather as “Cloudless ... and brilliantly lit by the full moon’’ this shows that prior the horrific incident, the atmosphere is conveyed in a pleasant way as the murderer (Hyde) has not yet stricken therefore there is nothing to hide but then later the weather changes unexpectedly as in contrast fog is encountered to cover the truth about Hyde’s identity from others and to allow him to escape effortlessly from the murder he has pleasurably committed. Nevertheless, Jekyll’s house is surrounded by the same fog, implying the connection between Jekyll and Hyde. As Jekyll’s secret identity begins to consume his life the mysterious fog increases its strength and begins to enter his home in chapter 5. This represents Dr. Jekyll’s hidden life, his force to keep his true identity from others; his home becomes a place of secrecy.
In this essay I will be exploring the variety of contrasts that Robert Louis Stevenson presents within the novel ‘The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’.
Contrast is used effectively in the opening paragraph in the novel through Stevenson’s portrayal of Utterson. It is said that the lawyer ‘’was never lighted by a smile’’ and in discourse he is ‘’cold, scanty and embarrassed’’ This conveys him as an unsociable, introverted person. Stevenson uses alliteration to highlight his personality: “lean, long, dusty, dreary” emphasises his dull nature, but these seem to be at odds with the word ‘lovable’ .Nonetheless, this is contradicted towards the end of the same sentence where it states that in ‘’friendly …show more content…
meeting’’ whilst enjoying wine something eminently beaconed from his eyes. In a contradictory manner Stevenson begins to define Utterson to suggest the dual nature of man, the main theme he constantly explores throughout the novel. Indeed, Uttersons contrasting traits are not only from his personality it is also asserted within his job, being a lawyer he must be composed, loquacious and confident but as he is not any of these it is quiet curious, he himself is a mystery having distinct characteristics.
Another way in which Stevenson effectively uses contrast is through the novels setting. The clean street within the “dingy neighbourhood’’ shone out like “a fire in the forest’’. This implies the fact that the street is prominent yet it is curious because it’s within an ‘’dingy’’ neighbourhood. “Like a fire in the forest” helps to convey how the street is like an oasis in an otherwise unpleasant area- but fire is an interesting point of comparison because aside from offering light and warmth, drawing attention to the eye it can also have a sense of danger and cause destruction. This depicts the fact that fire can be portrayed in a positive and negative aspect therefore having contrasting sides. By using such techniques Stevenson tries to reveal the dual nature of Dr. Jekyll and Hyde in a deceptive way, hiding the revelations of the dual nature hidden within text.
Stevenson also uses symbols to effectively convey contrasts in Victorian society.
The first chapter of Dr Jekyll and Hyde is titled “Story of the Door’’. The purpose of the door is to keep others from knowing what lies within; they are a way of hiding the truth under the cover of false appearances, this can also refer to the famous phrase “behind closed doors’’ as doors are the great secret keepers. They represent man’s desire of privacy and to hide his true nature from others by not ruining their reputation. As within the Victorian era, reputation was very important, receiving a bad portrayal from others was like dishonouring your entire life for good. There is a hint of all not being what it seems. This contradiction is reinforced in the description of Jekyll’s house. It seems to symbolize Jekyll’s moral nature, the two parts of the house with its two entrances reflecting his dual nature. The description of DR. Jekyll’s ordinary door is quiet meaningful. ‘’The door wore a great air of wealth and comfort, though it was now plunged in darkness except for the fan-light’’. The Jekyll side of his character is represented by the doors ‘’air of wealth and comfort’’ Jekyll’s name gathers the respect and admiration of English society. However, this contradicts the fact that he is a man ‘’plunged into darkness’’. The Hyde side of his character, hidden behind the ‘’blistered’’ and ‘’distained’’ cover of the laboratory door brings an evil darkness into his life chasing away the light of DR. Jekyll’s goodness. This prepares us metaphorically for the core meaning of the novel: a world of duplicity in which social acceptability disguising evil and hypocrisy are shown to exist in as close juxtaposition as Hyde’s door to
Jekyll’s.
Stevenson even uses the structure of the novel to make contrasts. The story opens with a third person narrative. We are told about Mr Utterson; his personality, lifestyle and qualities. The fact that it is third person Utterson can hide his true emotions; this limits our ability to see things yet we still share the fear and bewilderment as we ponder on the situation that unfolds. After the description of Utterson, Stevenson then moves on to Enfield’s first person narrative. This is where he proclaims the story about the door. The last two chapters (Dr Lanyon’s Narrative and Henry Jekyll’s statement) are also shown in first person, this is convincing to the reader because it is from their own point of view. The juxtaposing narrative’s within the novel hints the dual nature with Jekyll and Hyde. As a story contains more than one side, it adds complexity; it’s not simple or straight forward because the perspective changes like the duplicity of an individual’s personality.
The weather is also used by Stevenson to portray contrasts. Throughout the story; the weather is constantly foreshadowing the mood of the event that is taking place. Often the renderings are quite subtle in illustrating the ambiance of the story. Fog obscures sight and accordingly introduces elements of mystery and evil into the story. Fog is especially present when DR. Utterson visits the homes of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Stevenson even suggests that the lamps are left on all day to combat the darkness of Hyde’s surroundings; pure light does not shine there. Clearly this has meaning beyond literal level. Through the description of the fog & blackness, Stevenson creates a nauseating atmosphere around Mr. Hyde and adds repulsion associated with Sir Danvers murderer. In the initial parts of the Carew murder case Stevenson describes the weather as “Cloudless ... and brilliantly lit by the full moon’’ this shows that prior the horrific incident, the atmosphere is conveyed in a pleasant way as the murderer (Hyde) has not yet stricken therefore there is nothing to hide but then later the weather changes unexpectedly as in contrast fog is encountered to cover the truth about Hyde’s identity from others and to allow him to escape effortlessly from the murder he has pleasurably committed. Nevertheless, Jekyll’s house is surrounded by the same fog, implying the connection between Jekyll and Hyde. As Jekyll’s secret identity begins to consume his life the mysterious fog increases its strength and begins to enter his home in chapter 5. This represents Dr. Jekyll’s hidden life, his force to keep his true identity from others; his home becomes a place of secrecy.