“The Speckled Band” by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” by Robert Louis Stevenson are two Victorian Era mystery stories with two completely different plots. Despite having two completely different plots and two completely different main messages, they both explore the similar theme of good and evil. Both of these stories express this theme through different cases and perceptions.
One of the hopefully blatantly obvious evils in both stories is murder. Both of the story’s mystery involve a murder and trying to solve these murders. Murder is, nevertheless, is explored differently in these stories. In the Speckled Band our antagonist Dr. Roylott has killed at least two people: his butler, Julia and attempted …show more content…
Roylott and Dr. Jekyll though mainly present with Dr. Jekyll. Dr. Roylott is mentioned to have used some form of Indian drugs, but substance abuse isn’t necessarily part of “The Speckled Band” at all. Drug abuse is more notably seen in “The Man with the Twisted Lip” with opium addicted Isa Whitney and in “The Blue Carbuncle” with alcoholic Henry Baker, both examples of noble people being ruined by drug abuse. Sherlock Holmes himself uses substance every once in a while, but he doesn’t present himself an addict despite Watson’s reaction to his partner’s cocaine habit. Holmes is more addicted to crime and solving mysteries. Differently, in “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” drug addiction is depicted heavily in the story as cause for a professional’s downfall as Dr. Roylott’s prone to violence and greed is his downfall. Dr. Jekyll as Mr. Hyde is often interpreted as a duality in human nature, there is both good and evil in everyone and the evil usually remains hidden and constrained while we maintain a façade of complete benevolence to display for society. This may not be too entirely true today, but in Victorian Era England it was commonplace due to the frantic efforts of society to hold up a conservative culture. Wright argues that while the duality nature of humans plays a role with the doctor, heavy psychological addiction is also illustrated by Dr. Jekyll (226). Mr. Hyde only ever appeared after the consumption of the
One of the hopefully blatantly obvious evils in both stories is murder. Both of the story’s mystery involve a murder and trying to solve these murders. Murder is, nevertheless, is explored differently in these stories. In the Speckled Band our antagonist Dr. Roylott has killed at least two people: his butler, Julia and attempted …show more content…
Roylott and Dr. Jekyll though mainly present with Dr. Jekyll. Dr. Roylott is mentioned to have used some form of Indian drugs, but substance abuse isn’t necessarily part of “The Speckled Band” at all. Drug abuse is more notably seen in “The Man with the Twisted Lip” with opium addicted Isa Whitney and in “The Blue Carbuncle” with alcoholic Henry Baker, both examples of noble people being ruined by drug abuse. Sherlock Holmes himself uses substance every once in a while, but he doesn’t present himself an addict despite Watson’s reaction to his partner’s cocaine habit. Holmes is more addicted to crime and solving mysteries. Differently, in “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” drug addiction is depicted heavily in the story as cause for a professional’s downfall as Dr. Roylott’s prone to violence and greed is his downfall. Dr. Jekyll as Mr. Hyde is often interpreted as a duality in human nature, there is both good and evil in everyone and the evil usually remains hidden and constrained while we maintain a façade of complete benevolence to display for society. This may not be too entirely true today, but in Victorian Era England it was commonplace due to the frantic efforts of society to hold up a conservative culture. Wright argues that while the duality nature of humans plays a role with the doctor, heavy psychological addiction is also illustrated by Dr. Jekyll (226). Mr. Hyde only ever appeared after the consumption of the