The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll Essay Example

In the strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: Steveson used the architecture of Dr. Jekyll’s house very intelligently. The house can be regarded to be parallel to Dr. Jekyll’s double personality. Throughout the book, the house lends itself as a powerful prop, by which it is possible for Dr. Jekyll to use his house even when he is in the form of Mr. Hyde. The house, like Dr. Jekyll, has a dark side. On the front side of the house, it seems to be an elite, upper class, respectable home. However, the rest of the house is quite the opposite. As the book described it – “discolored wall on the upper; and bore in every feature the marks of prolonged and so did negligence.” Therefore the back door could be used by Mr. Hyde, with very few suspecting Mr. Hyde of having any connection to Dr. Jekyll. Steveson fit the architecture of the house into the story cleverly. The house supports Dr. Jekyll’s secret of being Mr. Hyde at times. The house symbolizes the double personality of its owner. Therefore Dr. Jekyll and his house have parallel characteristics. We are introduced to the back door right at the beginning of the book. The door is said to be – “ equipped with neither bell or knocker, was blistered and distained.” Along with the introduction of the door is the introduction of Mr. Hyde. Mr. Hyde’s appearance is described as “something displeasing, something downright detestable.” So right from the beginning, we are aware of Mr. Hyde’s connection with this mysterious door. Mr. Enfield’s story on page 2 gives a good understanding of the shady character of Mr. Hyde. A quote from the book that best describes this is “ The next thing was to get the money; and where do you think he carried us but to that place with the door? – whipped out a key, went in , and presently came back with the matter of ten pounds in gold and a cheque for the balance on Coutts’s, drawn payable