Good and evil: simply put, every person on Earth has both sides. Although the two are complete opposites, they coexist as a part of human nature — under a pleasant exterior, everyone has another side. The idea of these two qualities is explored in The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (John W. Lowell Company, 1886). One day, while on their weekly stroll, the distinguished lawyer Mr. Utterson and his friend Enfield pass by a mysterious and unkempt house. Enfield then tells Mr. Utterson of a horrendous tale he witnessed, in which a hideous man named Mr. Hyde tramples a young girl after running into her. After being threatened with having his career ruined, Mr. Hyde enters the mysterious house, then reappears with a check of a hundred pounds
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Hyde to portray his personality. Mr. Hyde is first introduced through the story of Enfield. When Enfield tells his story, he struggles to depict Hyde, saying, “He is not easy to describe. There is something wrong with his appearance; something displeasing, something downright detestable… He gives a strong feeling of deformity, although I can’t specify the point” (13). Enfield also describes how the family of the little girl from before and the witnesses of the gruesome scene all despised Mr. Hyde as soon as they saw him, even from far away. Mr. Utterson has the same reaction, seeing Mr. Hyde and saying to Dr. Jekyll, “The last, I think; for oh, my poor old Henry Jekyll, if I ever read Satan’s signature on a face, it is on that of your new friend” (20). All of these people see Mr. Hyde as so hideous because that is what he is, a monster on both the inside and the outside. People are unable to describe him because there is no one as unsightly as him; he is not contained within the borders of what humans consider “normal.” Since he is a creature made from a potion, Hyde does not belong with humanity, which is why humans find it so difficult to express his …show more content…
Hyde’s characterization through characters’ words and actions and the creation of Dr. Jekyll’s identity through his values, Stevenson also uses characterization to create the development of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The ending of the novel is when Dr. Jekyll finally reveals that his alter ego is Mr. Hyde. Now that the entirety of Jekyll’s story is exposed, the character development of Jekyll is more clear. Dr. Jekyll is, without doubt, a dynamic character. Before Jekyll turns completely into Mr. Hyde, he is a gregarious man, throwing parties and inviting guests to dinner and overall enjoying the company of others. Stevenson describes him, stating, “...he now sat on the opposite side of the fire...smooth-faced man of fifty, with something of a slyish cast, perhaps, but every mark of capacity and kindness” (23). At first, Jekyll only tries to separate his favorable nature from his malevolent nature. However, his evil side only grows more and more and eventually takes over his innocent side. Jekyll submits to pleasure (61); once one does that, there is no going back and the desire for pleasure will only grow. He altogether turns into Hyde as a result of his change and acquiescence to
Hyde to portray his personality. Mr. Hyde is first introduced through the story of Enfield. When Enfield tells his story, he struggles to depict Hyde, saying, “He is not easy to describe. There is something wrong with his appearance; something displeasing, something downright detestable… He gives a strong feeling of deformity, although I can’t specify the point” (13). Enfield also describes how the family of the little girl from before and the witnesses of the gruesome scene all despised Mr. Hyde as soon as they saw him, even from far away. Mr. Utterson has the same reaction, seeing Mr. Hyde and saying to Dr. Jekyll, “The last, I think; for oh, my poor old Henry Jekyll, if I ever read Satan’s signature on a face, it is on that of your new friend” (20). All of these people see Mr. Hyde as so hideous because that is what he is, a monster on both the inside and the outside. People are unable to describe him because there is no one as unsightly as him; he is not contained within the borders of what humans consider “normal.” Since he is a creature made from a potion, Hyde does not belong with humanity, which is why humans find it so difficult to express his …show more content…
Hyde’s characterization through characters’ words and actions and the creation of Dr. Jekyll’s identity through his values, Stevenson also uses characterization to create the development of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The ending of the novel is when Dr. Jekyll finally reveals that his alter ego is Mr. Hyde. Now that the entirety of Jekyll’s story is exposed, the character development of Jekyll is more clear. Dr. Jekyll is, without doubt, a dynamic character. Before Jekyll turns completely into Mr. Hyde, he is a gregarious man, throwing parties and inviting guests to dinner and overall enjoying the company of others. Stevenson describes him, stating, “...he now sat on the opposite side of the fire...smooth-faced man of fifty, with something of a slyish cast, perhaps, but every mark of capacity and kindness” (23). At first, Jekyll only tries to separate his favorable nature from his malevolent nature. However, his evil side only grows more and more and eventually takes over his innocent side. Jekyll submits to pleasure (61); once one does that, there is no going back and the desire for pleasure will only grow. He altogether turns into Hyde as a result of his change and acquiescence to