The Main Message Of Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde

Regardless of the genre of the novel, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a work of fiction that deals with the theme of good and evil. It also deals with themes such as friendship, loyalty, appearance, and reputation. If you are a university student and received as homework to write an essay about this novel, you better read the details about the plot and characters of "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" in order to better understand the deep meaning of the topics discussed next.

Good Versus Evil

Choosing between good and evil is a constant battle in our lives. We make mistakes, we are tempted and we are exposed to bad behavior. It is our job to learn how to choose the right things in life.

There are many works of literature that explore this topic, but Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a classic example of how to tackle the conflict between the good and the evil.

The author of this novel, Robert Louis Stevenson, believed that everyone has a good and an evil side. He was also fascinated by the duplicity of life.

He decided to create a novel that would highlight the contrast between good and evil. He drew heavily on his hometown of Edinburgh, Scotland, to provide the backdrop for his tale.

Duality Of Man

Throughout the novel, Jekyll is drawn to the dark side of his personality. He begins to feel younger and lighter in his body. But his curiosity leads him to a deadly reversal of power.

The Victorian era was a time when society longed for success and respect. Men were expected to be good, but acted hypocritically. Many crimes were committed, bolstering Hobbes' theory that all men are born evil. The criminal Hyde is one of these men.

In The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Robert Louis Stevenson demonstrates the duality of human nature. He uses control as a device to show that both good and evil are distinct entities.

The dual nature of man is depicted as ape-like. This emphasizes the Victorian idea of dualism of human nature.

Repression

Sigmund Freud formulated the theory of repression, the act of excluding undesirable desires from the conscious mind. This is a very important concept, as it explains the human dilemma of combining the good and evil sides of our nature.

In the novel, Dr. Jekyll is a respected doctor, yet his inner demons flare up when he tries to suppress his darker side. In order to overcome this, he uses science to retrieve repressed human needs.

He uses this scientific technique to develop a potion that will transform him into Mr. Hyde, a fictional character who represents the opposite of him. The potion creates a strange effect, causing his physical appearance to radically change. The potion also gives him a fever. This is a sign of the amount of repression that has occurred.

Friendship And Loyalty

Throughout the novel, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, loyalty and friendship play a key role. Utterson, the main character, is a rationalist, lawyer, and sleuth who values friendship over curiosity. He is willing to keep secrets and never back down if he is acting in the best interests of his friend. This loyalty helps the plot advance.

Utterson begins to question the good character of Henry Jekyll. He suspects that the eminent doctor may be hiding a dark secret from him. He wonders if Hyde is blackmailing the good man. He also questions Poole, Jekyll's butler, about the strange visits.

Utterson is loyal to his friends, even if he is skeptical about the good qualities of Jekyll. He cares deeply about Jekyll's well-being and is always concerned about his friend's safety.

Appearances And Reputation

Throughout the novel Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, appearances and reputation play a central role. In Victorian Britain, a gentleman's reputation was important. In fact, a man's reputation could be destroyed if he was found to be a bad person.

In the book, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde are characters who represent good and evil in society. The authors, Robert Louis Stevenson and Mary Shelley, comment on the obsession with appearance in society. They also address the importance of a private soul.

Although the two main characters are young, their behaviour in the novel shows complex attitudes towards change. Both characters have a strong, negative opinion of Hyde, even though they may not be able to explain it.

Hyde represents a part of Jekyll's personality that has not been nourished. Hyde's face evokes a repulsive reaction in most people. It is a powerful and intimidating figure, with a signature that can be read as Satan's.