While Victorian society is often praised for its pristine lifestyle, Robert Louis Stevenson argues that this lifestyle was a pretense for what was actually going on and often brought about the worst of society. In Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Stevenson advocates for the necessity of moral responsibility through his portrayal of dualism in Victorian era. Victorian culture produced the desire of perfection and admiration among higher-class individuals, which manufactured the suppression of natural desires. This fear of not achieving perfection or respect, which tremendously engulfed the Victorian lifestyle, is vividly portrayed in the novel. Mr. Hyde embodies the imperfection of society, and the natural desires of human nature that
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Jekyll and Mr. Hyde—to demonstrate the duality of man. Jekyll is an esteemed and wealthy lawyer, while Hyde is a “violent” and “vile” beast (Stevenson 8). On the surface, the novel may appear to represent the struggle between good and evil. However, Stevenson’s novel is an attack of the societal values of the Victorian era. The economic prosperity of the England’s industrial era generated snobbish values of the upper class that feared inadequacy. People feared committing any wrongdoings that could lead to a loss of respect. Similarly, people felt less inclined to speak about unprofessional topics for the sake of maintaining social perfection. For example, Mr. Enfield is very reluctant to address his confrontation with Mr. Hyde to Mr. Utterson. Victorians simply disregarded any primitive topic they wished not to address. Stevenson successfully captures this sentiment with Enfield’s character: “the more [an event] looks like Queer Street, the less I ask,” (Stevenson 11). Enfield wishes to simply ignore a situation than risk tainting his reputation. As a result, Enfield and Utterson are reluctant to fully address Jekyll’s situation that they presume to be blackmail. Perhaps Enfield and Utterson could have saved Jekyll had they not worried about social …show more content…
Stevenson enumerates the fears of imperfection, but highlights the even greater fear of the suppression of duality. Hyde contributes to the overall effectiveness of the novel because he embodies the consequences of Stevenson’s fear. It is natural for one to exemplify both good and evil desires; Victorian values did not echo this sentiment. Social perfection was the standard for the bourgeois members of society. Jekyll’s attempt to muzzle his desires produces Hyde. Man is naturally both good and evil: “Of the two natures that contended in the field of my consciousness, even if I could rightly be said to be either, it was only because I was radically both,” (Stevenson 49). Instead of dabbling with both desires, Jekyll suppresses the bad desires in fear of being castigated for appearing imperfect. Jekyll must hide behind a mask to express his true desires. Hyde is able to give into man’s evil desires without staining his reputation. More harm than good ultimately results in this suppression, as Hyde is able to commit murder and act without any moral
Jekyll and Mr. Hyde—to demonstrate the duality of man. Jekyll is an esteemed and wealthy lawyer, while Hyde is a “violent” and “vile” beast (Stevenson 8). On the surface, the novel may appear to represent the struggle between good and evil. However, Stevenson’s novel is an attack of the societal values of the Victorian era. The economic prosperity of the England’s industrial era generated snobbish values of the upper class that feared inadequacy. People feared committing any wrongdoings that could lead to a loss of respect. Similarly, people felt less inclined to speak about unprofessional topics for the sake of maintaining social perfection. For example, Mr. Enfield is very reluctant to address his confrontation with Mr. Hyde to Mr. Utterson. Victorians simply disregarded any primitive topic they wished not to address. Stevenson successfully captures this sentiment with Enfield’s character: “the more [an event] looks like Queer Street, the less I ask,” (Stevenson 11). Enfield wishes to simply ignore a situation than risk tainting his reputation. As a result, Enfield and Utterson are reluctant to fully address Jekyll’s situation that they presume to be blackmail. Perhaps Enfield and Utterson could have saved Jekyll had they not worried about social …show more content…
Stevenson enumerates the fears of imperfection, but highlights the even greater fear of the suppression of duality. Hyde contributes to the overall effectiveness of the novel because he embodies the consequences of Stevenson’s fear. It is natural for one to exemplify both good and evil desires; Victorian values did not echo this sentiment. Social perfection was the standard for the bourgeois members of society. Jekyll’s attempt to muzzle his desires produces Hyde. Man is naturally both good and evil: “Of the two natures that contended in the field of my consciousness, even if I could rightly be said to be either, it was only because I was radically both,” (Stevenson 49). Instead of dabbling with both desires, Jekyll suppresses the bad desires in fear of being castigated for appearing imperfect. Jekyll must hide behind a mask to express his true desires. Hyde is able to give into man’s evil desires without staining his reputation. More harm than good ultimately results in this suppression, as Hyde is able to commit murder and act without any moral