...All three articles, poetryfoundation.org, britannica.com, and biography.com, do justice to Robert Louis Stevenson’s life and career, but poetryfoundation.org provides the best understanding of the author and his work. First of all, the first sentence in the article about Robert Louis Stevenson at poetryfoundation.org is, “Robert Louis Stevenson is best known as the author of the children’s classic Treasure Island, and the adult horror story, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.” This shows that poetryfoundation.org helps you understand Stevenson’s life better because the first sentence they state is what he is best known for. Poetryfoundation.org tells you the most important and needed information about Stevenson. Second of all, Britannica’s short summary of Robert Louis Stevenson was, “Robert Louis Stevenson, in full Robert Louis...
Words: 369 - Pages: 2
...Mohannad Zawi Mr. Mackay ENG-4U0 October 31st, 2011. The Fight for Survival Can Truly Lead People to Do Things They Wouldn’t Do When it comes to The Road by Cormac McCarthy & Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson, it takes a lot to compare the two. Can these classic literary novels truly be compared? Luckily, you will find just how much they can be compared as you read this essay. In order to consider just how similar these 2 books are, consider the following: The main characters of their respective books ultimately aim to survive their landscapes, both of the main characters are on a journey for the betterment of their lives, and both of these novels portray similar themes. While one book has a seemingly miniscule cast and the other a large ensemble of roving buccaneers, they still manage to be comparable, and through their similarities a better experience is enjoyed for fans of the books. Both main characters of their respective books ultimately aim to survive by dealing with harsh environments. We understand that The Man from The Road has to deal with a barren, apocalyptic wasteland, and with this situation he uses his knowledge & wits to survive this harsh environment, for example, he carves makeshift bullets out of wood in order to scare off attackers: “While the boy slept he sat on the bunk and by the light of the lantern he whittled fake bullets from a tree branch with his knife, fitting them carefully into the empty bores of the cylinder and then whittling...
Words: 1877 - Pages: 8
...Evolution of a Jekyll and Hyde Personality 1886, was the birth of Jekyll and Hyde, published by Robert Louis Stevenson. Known to be one of Stevenson’s best novels, the novel is about a doctor named Henry Jekyll who struggles with the inner conflict of dual personalities with his hidden evil persona, Edward Hyde. Dr. Jekyll was a prominent doctor who is widely respected in his era. In addition, his friendly demeanor made him well connected and well liked. But despite being so well made, Dr Jekyll was seen spending a great deal of his time battling strong evil urges which he found repugnant for his stature. Believing that two entities were living inside his body, he tries to develop a serum in an attempt to repress such urges, but in doing so, Dr Jekyll unleashed an even more dreadful representation of the pure evil that resided within him, who is known as Mr Hyde. With no moral vindication, Hyde committed heinous acts of brutality and murder with often no remorse. As time went by, Hyde became a larger entity in his body as Jekyll was slowly succumbing to the thrills and immoral freedom that Hyde gave in his rampage. The aforementioned novel was written as a fiction in the Victorian age of the 1800s, but dual personalities are still apparent and very real in today’s context. This behavior is scientifically known as Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), or better known for its previous appellant, Multiple personality Disorder (MPD). Much like Jekyll and Hyde’s dual personality...
Words: 1537 - Pages: 7
...How has your study of The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and an appropriation of your own choosing enhanced your understanding of how and why cultural values are maintained and changed? “The strange case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde” by Robert Louis Stevenson, follows the duplicitous notion of a single body containing both the erudite Dr. Jekyll and the depraved Mr. Hyde. Stevenson’s novella imagines an inextricable link between civilization and savagery, and the palpable influence of cultural value and standard. Set within the height of the Victorian era circa 1886, this duality of human nature is examined by a specific Eurocentric interpretation, narrated by the mild-mannered lawyer Mr Utterson. Steven Moore’s filmic appropriation of the original novella is the BBC television series “Jekyll”, which encapsulates the similar split personality of Dr Tom Jackman and his alter ego ‘Mr Hyde’, within today’s current context. Through analysis of both the novella and the first episode of the film adaptation, a clear similarity between both protagonist’s circumstances is observed. However, the effects societal interpretation has on this controversy is varied in such a way, which distorts the very nature of duplicity, and thus the definition of the classic trope of Jekyll and Hyde. Social respectability and the desire to pursue pleasure both offer the fantasy solution of having a second self to carry the burden of one’s vices. Dr Jekyll explores the circumstance of an educated, Victorian...
Words: 1076 - Pages: 5
...The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson is one of the greatest examples in literature showing the faults of humankind. Many of Dr. Jekyll’s colleagues and other scientists warned against him pursuing the path of unknown science, however, he was careless and ignored all of them. Both Jekyll and Hyde suffered addiction and were too weak-willed to overcome their temptations. The two sides of one person, Jekyll and Hyde, representing the battle between good and evil. The body below shall prove the three faults of humankind that can be found in the novel. The first point shows that there were much carelessness and ignorance in the novel. In the novel, Jekyll explains how the science community advised against going through...
Words: 779 - Pages: 4
...The novel Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, by author Robert Stevenson, is a story about Dr. Jekyll, a well respected wealthy doctor, who believes that man is truly two separate people. One evil, and one good. As he goes down the path of finding the best of both worlds he creates a potion that allows him to become the darker half of himself, named Mr. Hyde. As murders and strange encounters start happening, those close to Dr. Jekyll notice that he is acting strange. Not knowing about his other side, they realize that Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde have some sort of relationship. As Jekyll’s transformations become out of control, his friends soon find out the truth, that Jekyll and Hyde are the same person. In this novel, Stevenson illustrates that every person has a good and evil side, it is just a matter of making sure one doesn’t overpower the other....
Words: 609 - Pages: 3
...In the novel Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde, Robert Louis Stevenson uses imagery, diction, and details to create a mysterious mood.The book Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson is a very old classic written in the Victorian London time period. The book was written after he had a nightmare and that gave him the inspiration to write the book. The book turned out to be a big success and is now a inspiration to many people to do many different things. In his book there is a lot of imagery, diction, and details that make the book better and more enjoyable book to read. Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde uses a lot of imagery in the book in different ways to make the book better. As stated from the book “the door… was blistered and destained.” This was on page 49. This quote from the book conveys imagery by using details about how the door looks and the two words also sound like mysterious or dark words to help with the mood of the story. As said from the book “ As he spoke into a large, low roofed, comfortable hall… “ this was on page 62, This shows imagery by using key adjectives in order to give a picture in your head on how the place looks. “... by a bright, open...
Words: 673 - Pages: 3
...Robert Louis Stevenson was a 19th century Scottish writer. He is most notable for his novels Treasure Island, Kidnapped, and Strange Cases of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Born November 13 1850 in Edinburgh Scotland. Robert Louis Stevenson started to have breathing problems at a young age and later it developed into tuberculosis. His father Thomas Stevenson was in the business of lighthouse design, so Robert enrolled at the age of 17 to the University of Edinburgh. The lighthouse design business wasn’t what Robert wanted to do but he wanted to help his family. After a short time in the lighthouse design program he decided to go into law school as a compromise with his father. He entered what was called the Scottish bar, which was an organization for lawyers. Around this time in his life he traveled a lot to places like France, Europe, and England all so he could be around young artists while he was still finishing law school. Robert graduated from law school in 1875, he never really put his law degree to use. Stevenson had a good eye for fashion. He adopted a wide brimmed hat, a cravat, and a boy’s coat, which got him the nickname of Velvet...
Words: 1098 - Pages: 5
...King Solomon’s Mines, a colonial novel King Solomon’s Mines (1885) was a popular boys’ adventure novel by the Victorian adventure writer and fabulist Sir H. Rider Haggard. It was the first English fictional adventure novel set in Africa . It tells of the search of an unexplored region of Africa by a group of three adventurers for the missing brother of one of the party. The story is narrated by Allan Quatermain, a kind of big game hunter and adventurer who also leads the expedition. They have a lead/clue that the missing brother is somewhere in the interior of Africa, lost on his own quest for King Solomon's mines, a legendary place. The novel is generally believed to have played a part in the British fancy for Africa, and the ‘scramble for Africa’. It is also considered to be the genesis of the Lost World literary genre, a precursor of science fiction. The major interest of the novel now may be its scholarly value, the colonialist attitudes Haggard expresses, the way he portrays the relationships between the white and African characters. 1. Haggard does portray some Africans in their traditional—from a Victorian perspective—literary posts as barbarians, and constant racist commentary can be detected throughout the novel: the mildest form it takes is the superiority complex of whites over blacks. For instance, when it demonstrates the kind of technological gap that existed between the blacks and the whites, through the exhibition of firepower, referred to as ‘the magic...
Words: 952 - Pages: 4
...Representation of Victorian Values in Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a well-renown novel written by Robert Louis Stevenson in 1808. Stevenson was always fascinated with the idea of a split personality, so he includes this concept into the heart of his story. But despite the novel focusing on the de facto detective case of Mr. Hyde’s whereabouts and his connection with his polar opposite, Mr. Jekyll, the context presented in the plot and characters of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde criticizes the morality and respectability of Victorian values in the late nineteenth century. The book approaches this through its recurring themes of the upholding of one’s reputation, regression of thoughts and ideas beyond logic, and conflicting nature of duality. In the novel, both the main and supporting characters prioritize more in defending the reputation of themselves and their peers than taking the right course of action. This act confines with the principles of Victorian respectability in which preserving order, etiquette, and appearance was vital. An appropriate example of this sort of mentality is with Dr. Jekyll, one of the prominent characters of the book. The doctor holds a prestigious reputation and is well-respected by his friends and colleagues. When Jekyll throws a dinner party at random, background characters who live in the dark, fictitious setting of London attend in large numbers. However, when his reputation is put on...
Words: 1205 - Pages: 5
...Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: is Jekyll a tragic hero? Dr. Jekyll is certainly one of the most complex and layered characters in the novel, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson. His character can be interpreted in many ways. In order to describe Jekyll as a tragic hero, one first must decide what a tragic hero is. A tragic hero is someone who was born into wealth or nobility. Also the character must be someone of great respect and admiration to fall down the social ladder. They are responsible for their own fate and suffer with a flaw which will no doubt lead to their demise. This flaw will doom the character to make a serious misjudgement. This character must also inevitably realise they have made an irreversible mistake. They meet their end with honour and dignity. Finally, the audience should feel pity or fear with respect to the characters actions. Jekyll certainly fits the criteria of a tragic hero if we consider how he was born into a wealthy family. His parents were upper-middle class people who introduced Jekyll to the upper-middle class life from a very young age. This may have influenced Jekyll’s lifestyle and his attitudes. Dr. Jekyll was also highly admired and respected throughout society. He was known as a good man and one of the best doctors in the country. He lived in an illustrious two hundred and fifty thousand pound estate in one of the richest parts of London; this would be an estate worth many millions of pounds today. On the other hand...
Words: 725 - Pages: 3
...seen as a monster throughout the book. Both personalities of Dr. Jekyll try and balance each other out but are not able to which leads to the ultimate self destruction of both. The idea of the Hegelian Dialect, that everything have a thesis, antithesis, as well as synthesis can be seen throughout the book as a reflection of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. One of the first impression that we receive of Jekyll is how much education he has. The author first brings up Jekyll when Mr. Utterson, Jekyll’s friend who is a lawyer, sits down to look over Jekyll’s will. You are able to understand that the education the Jekyll has received is extraordinary when Utterson says,“…in case of the decease of Henry Jekyll, M.D., D.C.L., LL.D., F.R.S., & C…” (Stevenson 17). The abbreviations that come after Jekyll’s...
Words: 2967 - Pages: 12
...Bug Club New Bug Club titles for Key Stage 1 Book Band Level Goldilocks and The Big Mess Orange A Ben 10: The Omnitrix Great Cities: Exploring London Goldilocks and The Clever Plan Orange B Orange – All Levels Turquoise A Ben 10: The Transmodulator My Skateboarding Scrapbook Superman Family Adventures: Superman and the Robots Goldilocks and the Porridge Problem Ben 10: The Krakken Welcome to the Circus Sharma Family: What’s Out There? Turquoise B Turquoise – All Levels Purple A Young Robin Hood: Hit and Miss Living in a Castle Superman Family Adventures: Jimmy’s Super Watch Sharma Family: Stop That Dog! Young Robin Hood: Marian to the Rescue When Animals Attack Sharma Family: Best Birthday Ever! Purple B Purple – All Levels Gold A Young Robin Hood: The Great Escape Pirates: Life at Sea Superman Family Adventures: Lex Luthor Gets a Job Tales of Taliesin: The Powerful Potion Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs: Flint the Inventor The Truth About Fish and Chips Tales of Taliesin: The Magic Storm Gold B Gold – All Levels Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs: Weird Weather George Stephenson: The Train Man Superman Family Adventures: The Purple Superman Title Fiction Fiction Genre Non-Fiction Fiction Fiction Non-Fiction Comic Fiction Fiction Non-Fiction Fiction Fiction Non-Fiction Comic Fiction Fiction Non-Fiction Fiction Fiction Non-Fiction Comic Fiction Fiction Non-Fiction Fiction Fiction Non-Fiction Comic New Bug Club titles for Key Stage 2 Book Band Level Flash the Dog Bounces In...
Words: 573 - Pages: 3
...Themes Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work. The Duality of Human Nature Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde centers upon a conception of humanity as dual in nature, although the theme does not emerge fully until the last chapter, when the complete story of the Jekyll-Hyde relationship is revealed. Therefore, we confront the theory of a dual human nature explicitly only after having witnessed all of the events of the novel, including Hyde’s crimes and his ultimate eclipsing of Jekyll. The text not only posits the duality of human nature as its central theme but forces us to ponder the properties of this duality and to consider each of the novel’s episodes as we weigh various theories. Jekyll asserts that “man is not truly one, but truly two,” and he imagines the human soul as the battleground for an “angel” and a “fiend,” each struggling for mastery. But his potion, which he hoped would separate and purify each element, succeeds only in bringing the dark side into being—Hyde emerges, but he has no angelic counterpart. Once unleashed, Hyde slowly takes over, until Jekyll ceases to exist. If man is half angel and half fiend, one wonders what happens to the “angel” at the end of the novel. Perhaps the angel gives way permanently to Jekyll’s devil. Or perhaps Jekyll is simply mistaken: man is not “truly two” but is first and foremost the primitive creature embodied in Hyde, brought under tentative control by civilization, law, and conscience. According...
Words: 4255 - Pages: 18
...Themes Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work. The Duality of Human Nature Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde centers upon a conception of humanity as dual in nature, although the theme does not emerge fully until the last chapter, when the complete story of the Jekyll-Hyde relationship is revealed. Therefore, we confront the theory of a dual human nature explicitly only after having witnessed all of the events of the novel, including Hyde’s crimes and his ultimate eclipsing of Jekyll. The text not only posits the duality of human nature as its central theme but forces us to ponder the properties of this duality and to consider each of the novel’s episodes as we weigh various theories. Jekyll asserts that “man is not truly one, but truly two,” and he imagines the human soul as the battleground for an “angel” and a “fiend,” each struggling for mastery. But his potion, which he hoped would separate and purify each element, succeeds only in bringing the dark side into being—Hyde emerges, but he has no angelic counterpart. Once unleashed, Hyde slowly takes over, until Jekyll ceases to exist. If man is half angel and half fiend, one wonders what happens to the “angel” at the end of the novel. Perhaps the angel gives way permanently to Jekyll’s devil. Or perhaps Jekyll is simply mistaken: man is not “truly two” but is first and foremost the primitive creature embodied in Hyde, brought under tentative control by civilization, law, and conscience. According...
Words: 4255 - Pages: 18
