Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Robert Louis Stevenson’s, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is probably one of the best known works to come out of the Victorian Era. This short novella griped the audiences of the late nineteenth century Britons, and its popularity has not wavered. You would be hard pressed to find an average person who does not know the story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. In 1894 Joseph Jacobs wrote that “it stands beside The Pilgrim’s Progress and Gulliver’s Travels as one of the three great allegories in English.” While this novella displays many of the values of the Victorian Era, it really anticipates twentieth century pessimism. It struck “an undeniable truth of human nature.” Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde captivated millions of people, while displaying many of the key morals, principles, and ethics of the Victorian Era; it echoed the controversial Charles Darwin, Karl Marx, and Sigmund Freud. This story more relates to the modern gothic, than to traditional Victorian Era literature.
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a story seen from many different perspectives. It is about a …show more content…
Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, had lasting effects on the minds of Victorian society. Many values, morals, and principles of the era are apparent throughout the novel, especially those of male dominance and the importance of reputation. Stevenson was very aware of the new ideas about economy, society, and the human psyche, and used them in his story. The works of Charles Darwin, Karl Marx, and even Sigmund Freud can be seen as influences to Stevenson. This influence was also very apparent to the readers of his novella. These radical ideas drastically contradicted those of the normal and accepted. This story can be seen as a leader and groundbreaker for the modern gothic, as it has many similarities to such stories as Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. This tale is not so much and example of Victorian optimism because it truthfully anticipates twentieth century
Robert Louis Stevenson’s, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is probably one of the best known works to come out of the Victorian Era. This short novella griped the audiences of the late nineteenth century Britons, and its popularity has not wavered. You would be hard pressed to find an average person who does not know the story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. In 1894 Joseph Jacobs wrote that “it stands beside The Pilgrim’s Progress and Gulliver’s Travels as one of the three great allegories in English.” While this novella displays many of the values of the Victorian Era, it really anticipates twentieth century pessimism. It struck “an undeniable truth of human nature.” Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde captivated millions of people, while displaying many of the key morals, principles, and ethics of the Victorian Era; it echoed the controversial Charles Darwin, Karl Marx, and Sigmund Freud. This story more relates to the modern gothic, than to traditional Victorian Era literature.
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a story seen from many different perspectives. It is about a …show more content…
Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, had lasting effects on the minds of Victorian society. Many values, morals, and principles of the era are apparent throughout the novel, especially those of male dominance and the importance of reputation. Stevenson was very aware of the new ideas about economy, society, and the human psyche, and used them in his story. The works of Charles Darwin, Karl Marx, and even Sigmund Freud can be seen as influences to Stevenson. This influence was also very apparent to the readers of his novella. These radical ideas drastically contradicted those of the normal and accepted. This story can be seen as a leader and groundbreaker for the modern gothic, as it has many similarities to such stories as Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. This tale is not so much and example of Victorian optimism because it truthfully anticipates twentieth century