Dr. Jekell And Mr. Hyde :: essays research papers

The Dominion of Evil The term Jekyll and Hyde, now a part of our plebeian language, can be found in most dictionaries. Random lexicon definitions of Jekyll and Hyde include 1) One who has quasi-schizophrenic, alternating phases of pleasantness an unpleasantness. 2) A person having a split personality, one side of which is good and the other satanic. 3) This phrase refers to a person who alternates surrounded by charming demeanor and extremely unpleasant behavior. This sentiment revolves around the experience of Dr. Jekyll, enabled by drinking a potion, into living as his own living side, whom he names Hyde. Stevenson intended Jekylls disposition to be pronounced Je (French word for I) Kill (Je-Kill = I kill), as an indication that the doctor wanted to isolate the despicable persona of himself, suitably named Hyde, meaning low and vulgar hold in or flesh which must(prenominal) hide from civilization. When Robert Louis Stevenson wrote the story Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, he po rtrayed mans black nature as a portion of his total makeup, and showed that the evil portion will often express itself much forcefully and powerfully than do the other aspects. Throughout life, a person can develop a sense of the conflict that actually involves ones good and evil natures. Often a persons current actions reflect their puerility experiences. Jekyll, described by Stevenson, born wealthy, grew up handsome, honorable, and distinguished. Yet, throughout much of his life, he commits secret acts which he thoroughly regrets. Early in Jekylls development, Stevenson had him realise a profound duplicity of life...so profound a double bargainer and that man is not truly one, but truly two. Intellectually, he evaluates the differences between his private life and his public life and, ultimately, he becomes obsessed with the view that at least two different entities, maybe even more, amuse a person. Jekylls reflections and his scientific knowledge lead him to contemplate the chance of scientifically isolating these two components. With this in mind, he begins to experiment with various(a) chemical combinations. When Jekyll discovers the correct formula and drinks it, he is approaching a portly fifty years of age after his transformation into Edward Hyde, he feels younger, lighter, and more sensual, thereby indicating the appeal of the evil side. At that point, he acknowledges the thorough and uninitiated duality of man. He sees the necessity to try to separate the two selves, to hide that shameful part of himself from the world, and therefore stay in control of his evil nature.