The Importance Of Minor Characters In Robert Louis Stevenson's Novella

Stevenson writes ‘The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’ with the intention of showing the reader the duality of man and explores this through the juxtaposition of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. In this novella, Stevenson also uses the environment and setting of the story to represent the contrast between Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a novel written by Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson and published in 1886. It concerns a lawyer, Gabriel Utterson, who investigates the strange occurrences between his old friend, Dr. Henry Jekyll, and the reclusive Mr. Edward Hyde. This novel represents an ideology in Western culture; the perpetual conflict between humanity’s virtuosity and immorality. It is interpreted as an accurate guidebook to the Victorian era’s belief of the duality of human nature. This essay will explore Mr. Edward Hyde and whether Stevenson intended for him to be a mere character in the novel or something of wider significance.

“Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” is a novella written by Robert Louis Stevenson, a Scottish author. Written and published 1886, this novella reflects on the individual, and societal behavior during the Victorian era. During the Victorian era people, were supposed to behave like a normal person. Certain behaviors were highly restricted for example, showing evil. Instead, they were expected to give respect for everyone. People who acted out against the norm during this period were usually sent to asylums because such behaviors were unacceptable. People in this society did just that, they behaved as if they were perfectly normal. This does not mean that their bad side did not exist. Instead, they hid their

Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a complex and tricky novel to fully grasp, but the reader can come to understand many parallels to their own lives. Stevenson’s creation has stood the test of time because of its power to astonish; even if one previously new the outcome. This power has made Jekyll and Hyde, a pair that will continue to provoke thought in many readers in generations to

Stevenson's Use of Literary Techniques in The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

Dr Lanyon is portrayed as being innocent in the novel. The fact that Lanyon refers to Jekyll’s scientific ideas as “balderdash” and “too fanciful” suggests that these ideas are too bizarre and out there, this perhaps may be suggesting that Lanyon is a very almost “by the book” sort of person and the fact that these “fanciful” ideas proposed by Jekyll causes him to refrain from being friends suggests his moral behaviour and perhaps his innocence for wanting to stay out of this “devilish” mans “balderdash”. Similarly, the quote, “I sometimes think if we knew all, we should be more glad to get away”, this demonstrates that Lanyon has seen this alto-ego and would rather die than live with this. Perhaps Stevenson is emphasising Lanyon’s

“Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde” is a gothic novel written by Robert Louis Stevenson that was first published in 1886. It’s about a lawyer from London named G.J. Utterson who explores strange events that involves his old friend Henry Jekyll and Edward Hyde. The novel’s influence on language is extraordinary, with the phrase “Jekyll and Hyde” coming to the meaning of a person of diversity in moral character from one situation to the next (French literature).

Dr Lanyon first appears in Chapter 2 when Utterson goes to consult him about the strange will of their friend Dr Jekyll. He is described as a "hearty, healthy" gentleman with a warm manner of welcoming his friend that is based on "genuine feeling". (2) This emphasis on his good qualities and his genuine friendship is important. (3) It makes us trust him and believe his judgement may be right when he says that, because Jekyll "began to go wrong", he has seen little of him during the last ten years. In fact, he becomes uncharacteristically agitated and talks angrily of Jekyll's ideas as "scientific balderdash". This raises our level of interest in what Dr Jekyll might be involved in. (4)

Lanyon is the prosecution charging Dr. Jekyll within the story. Lanyon acts as the prosecution due to his disbelief and fear of the events that played out before him when Hyde transformed into Jekyll. Lanyon viewed the transformation as monstrous and described Jekyll as “a man restored from death” (Stevenson 53). Due to Lanyon’s scientific beliefs and foundations, “[he] asked [him]self if [he] believed it, and [he] [could] not answer” (Stevenson 53). The event that took place before him were so terrible that he could not “dwell on it without a start of horror” (Stevenson 53).

Stevenson's Use of Literary Techniques in The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

In the Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde it is regarded that these identities are two different persons but this is not the case, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde are one in the same. There is much confusion when reading this literary work by Robert Louis Stevenson; this piece is regarded as horrific and disturbing in many ways. But the biggest twist is when it is reveled to the reader that these two people are the same and that below the surface of Dr.Jekyll is an evil man who enjoys committing evil acts. Mainly that Dr. Jekyll believes he has no choice but to commit these horrid acts because he has no control over is evil side. I don’t believe this is the case, Hyde isn’t a real person and doesn’t exist, nor is he someone who commits

Jekyll believes that medicine can be used transcendentally, while Lanyon believes he is out of his mind. Jekyll in the form of Hyde states rather spiritedly that Lanyon has “denied the virtue of transcendental medicine,” meaning that Lanyon does not believe in the ways of mystical medicine. Jekyll though, believes that he has found a great use for medicine, being he “compound a drug by which (his spirit’s) powers should be dethroned from their supremacy, and a second form and countenance substituted.” One could imply that after discussing his practices with his longtime friend and fellow scientist, it lead to the termination of their friendship. It is known that the two discussed Jekyll’s views as Jekyll states “you who have so long been bound to the most narrow and material views, you who have denied the virtue of transcendental medicine, you who have derided your superiors--behold,” before transforming in front of Lanyon.

	Robert Louis Stevenson’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde has evolved into one of the most acclaimed pieces of literature in modern American society. One aspect of a continual spark of interest with the novel is motion pictures. Various directors through the years have interpreted the book through their own eyes and the following is a depiction of that. One might question Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’s overwhelming success. Theme restaurants, Broadway shows and movies all have indicated a public interest in the classic. Americans especially have been fascinated with Stevenson’s portrayal of the split personality Dr. Jekyll whom many can relate too.

Working Thesis: Robert Louis Stevenson’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, is a poignant example of the consequences of signification and humanity’s pursuit of meaning, which in this story lead to devastating results.

The book of “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” was written nearly over a century ago. The fictional novella was written the year of 1885 in England, by Robert Louis Stevenson. The author wrote a gothic mystery story, told by a narrator that follows Mr. Utterson’s point of view. Mr. Utterson is the attorney of Dr. Jekyll, and his point of view comes from the outside of the home. Stevenson accomplished tremendous success, ensuring his fame as a writer for his previous works and, for “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”. Moreover, decades later, a successful writer known as Valerie Martin wrote the novel “Mary Reilly”. Author Valerie Martin’s ‘Mary Reilly’ is retelling of Robert Louis Stevenson’s ‘The strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’ from the trusted housemaid, living in the home. The books have different insights, but also similarities. These stories portray a good and evil character, who lives a double life. Stevenson and Martin distinguish distinctive perspectives in each book; in addition, the loyalty the narrators acquire to Dr. Jekyll is described through their characterization.