Jekyll and Hyde essay - Grade: A- PDF

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Using both textual and contextual analysis, write an essay analysing the connections between physical appearance and moral character in The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde...

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Ashleigh Lowrey - 85707448 Engl102 Final Take-Home Test Jekyll and Hyde – 986 words

Using both textual and contextual analysis, write an essay analysing the connections between physical appearance and moral character in The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Strange case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is one of the most famous works of horror/thriller fiction of all times (Mighall, ix). Jekyll and Hyde explores ideas of criminology, science and psychology, and includes sensational elements set in ordinary settings in order to shock readers and create a sense of unease. The novel centres on the concept of one’s inner self and analyses the connections between physical appearance and their moral character. These concepts were gaining momentum and attention at the time, for their moves in the development of science and psychology explanations. A Strange case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde examines the scientific concepts of physiognomy and phrenology; the notion that one could determine personality and morality based on the physical appearance of a person (Bacmann, 2012). This was popular and well believed as scientific knowledge in the early half of the 19th century and influenced many scientists and sociologists to expand further on these ideas, such as Cesare Lombroso. Lombroso performed autopsies on 66 criminals and claimed to have detected similarities between their skulls and those of primitive humans (Bradley, 17). He concluded, that criminals could be identified on the basis of physical features such as abnormal teeth, long arms, enormous brow ridges and head/skull shapes (Bradley, 17). Aspects of this concept can be seen in the novel through the description of Hyde. “Mr. Hyde... had never been photographed; and the few who could describe him differed widely, as common observers will. Only at one point, were they agreed; and that was the haunting sense of unexpressed deformity with which the fugitive impressed his beholders" (Stevenson, 24-25). Stevenson picked up on the connections of ideas surrounding crime and psychology of the time (Thompson, 2018). This idea can be explained as fin de-siècle, or the practical emancipation from traditional discipline (Nordau, 1895). This statement from Nordau “the unchaining of the beast in man…the trampling underfoot of all barriers which enclose brutal greed of lucre and lust of pleasure” (5), describes perfectly the relationship felt by Dr Jekyll towards his evil inner self, Mr Hyde. One important concept in Jekyll and Hyde that relates to the idea of a connection between one’s physical appearance and their moral characteristics is atavism. Atavism is “a notion connecting the re-appearance of so called primitive traits and their social and/or cultural implications” (Thompson, 2018). “Mr Hyde was pale and dwarfish, he gave the impression of deformity without any nameable malformation…he spoke with a husky, whispering and somewhat broken voice… God bless me, the man seems hardly human! Something troglodytic shall we say?” (Stevenson, 16). Hyde is described as having “ape-like” appearances and emotional qualities. These animal qualities suggests the emergent threat of a primitive, atavistic self, something that would have been recognise through the cultural backdrop of readers at the time, even from those upstanding people in society (Thompson, 2018). Jekyll almost uses this belief as a way to excuse himself from the actions taken by his alterego. This is similar to the character of Fettes in Stevenson’s novel The Body Snatcher. “Fettes is a

profound double-dealer, seeking consideration from his professional peers in the light of day, but offsetting this with what would be considered the exact opposite behaviour – blackguardly enjoyment – in the hours of darkness” (Mighall, xv). The idea of having two sides to oneself; a good and a bad side, is something explored in the novel and something that would have been an uneasy idea or belief at the time. Scientific investigations into the believes and issues regarding criminology, science and psychology. A critical aspect of the social setting in Jekyll and Hyde, is the importance of one’s social appearance and their reputation. Through Utterson, it is clear that the protection of reputation and character is essential (Thompson, 2018). Utterson as a lawyer, is a “man of rugged continence, that was never lightened by a smile; cold, scanty and embarrassed” (Stevenson, 5). Utterson is a professional working man, who denies himself pleasure and accepts that one’s solitude and the need for selfdiscipline and control is an important characteristic of the time (Thompson, 2018). Utterson and Enfield introduce the novels concern with questioning appearances and the “true self” that lies within; “"Putting questions....partakes too much of the style of the day of judgment. You start a question and it’s like starting a stone....away the stone goes, starting others; and presently some bland old bird (the last you would of thought about it) is knocked on the head in his own back garden and the family have to change their name..."here is another lesson to say nothing" said Enfield. "I am ashamed of my long tongue. Let us make a bargain to never refer to this again" (Stevenson 9-10). Throughout the novel Utterson develops into a more violent sense of mind and acts as a contrasting character to Hyde throughout the novel however, this idea is a façade as it shows how easy a working professional man like Utterson, can become like Hyde; “I let my brother go to the devil in his own way” (Stevenson, 2). This shows how social and physical appearances can be deceiving, as even men like Utterson are battling their “inner self” and continue to have moral issues. The Strange case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde explores and develops ideas and beliefs neighbouring psychology, criminology and science, and focuses on the battle between one’s “inner self” and they’re everyday characteristics. The connections between physical appearances and moral characteristics are scrutinised through the characters of Utterson and Hyde and develops and encourages the movement of learning and discovering more scientific explanations for things such as a “inner self”, and the moral destruction it can cause. The ideas proposed by Stevenson in Jekyll and Hyde can be used as a push towards ore scientific knowledge and investigation towards psychological disorders and how these can impact a person and society.

Bibliography

Books and Chapters in books Arata, Stephen. “The sedulous ape: atavism, professionalism, and Jekyll and Hyde.” Fictions of Loss in the Victorian Fin de Siècle. Cambridge ; New York: Cambridge University Press, 1996. 33-43. Print. Learn course site, http://learn.canterbury.ac.nz/mod/coursereadings/view.php?id=380683. Accessed 10 June. 2018. Armstrong, Tim. Extract from Chapter 7, "Distracted writing". Modernism, Technology, and the Body: A Cultural Study. Cambridge University Press, 1998. Print. Learn course site, http://learn.canterbury.ac.nz/mod/coursereadings/view.php?id=497247. Accessed 9 June. 2018. Bradley, T (2017). Explaining crime through the ages. Jarrod Gilbert and Greg Newbolt (Eds.), Criminal justice A New Zealand introduction. (pp 33-34). Auckland. Auckland University Press. Stevenson, Robert Louis. The strange case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Penguin Group, 2002. Stevenson, Robert Louis. Introduction to The strange case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, by Robert Mighall, Penguin Group, 2002, pp. Ix-xxxviii Lecture notes and slides Thompson, Chris. "Jekyll and Hyde Lecture Two" U of Canterbury, 25 May 2018. Lecture. Engl102, Learn Website. U of Canterbury, 2018. Accessed 12 June. 2018. Thompson, Chris. "Jekyll and Hyde Lecture Three" U of Canterbury, 30 May 2018. Lecture. Engl102, Learn Website. U of Canterbury, 2018. Accessed 12 June. 2018. Thompson, Chris. "Jekyll and Hyde Lecture One" U of Canterbury, 21 May 2018. Lecture. Engl102, Learn Website. U of Canterbury, 2018. Accessed 12 June. 2018. Websites Bacmann. Face to Face: Physiognomy and Phrenology. The Shelf, 24 Sept. 2012, http://blogs.harvard.edu/preserving/2012/09/24/face-to-face-physiognomy-phrenology/. Accessed 10 June. 2018. Nordau, Max. Degeneration. London: William Heinemann, 1895. 5-7. Web. [https://archive.org/details/degeneration035137mbp]. Learn course site, http://learn.canterbury.ac.nz/mod/coursereadings/view.php?id=382130. Accessed 9 June. 2018....