Double personality of of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Book Review Sample)

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How the issue of split/double personality is reflected in the multiples narratives of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1886) done by Robert Louis Stevenson’s is viewed to be a highly famous story that relates to doubles. The phrase Doppelganger, which Jean-Paul Richter invented in the year 1796, was sanctified by Romantic Movement. This made it to be liked in the 19th Century. This was brought about by social turmoil as well as the outcomes of industrial revolutions (Corinna, par.4). Apart from the Doppelganger motif, the writings of Stevenson mirror largely the Victorian age circumstances.
Life was inclined to the religion that was established and this raised morality to the greatest norm besides requiring repression of sexuality as well as desires. This brought about "a split/ divide within the self" which the society as well as the authors experienced (Saposnik, 720).
Accordingly, the "Freudian notion of split/double personality became evident in literature long before the proposition of the actual theory" .Doppelganger and split personalities were very common themes and they were applied in exploring identity issues, morality as well as sexuality issues. Stevenson’s wife states that one of the highly significant influences was "a different strange ‘multiple personality case’" which "deeply impressed" Stevenson. Stevenson had a passionate aim of establishing a body or the drive for the sturdy sense of the double being of man. He had the feeling of this while he was studying at Edinburgh when he had the dream of having ‘a double life – the night one and the day one. This could have prompted him to write the novel. Doppelganger theme was at its peak during the 19thcentury where several works that deals with this theme were written. When the novel is read, it is evident that the Doppelganger in Hyde and Jekyll is not the model of a double.
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde puts much emphasis on a notion that humanity is in nature dual despite the fact that this theme only emerges fully in the last chapter of the book at the time that the whole story of the relationship between Jekyll and Hyde is revealed. Hence, the theory of the duality of human character is confronted after every event of the novel is witnessed. The central theme of the novel is posited as the duality of human nature. Besides, the book also forces the readers to think about the features of the duality (Swearingen, 37).
Jekyll is of the assertion that "man is truly two and not one." Besides, Jekyll is of the imagination that human soul is the battlefield for a "fiend" and an "angel" with the two battling for mastery. Nevertheless, his potion, that he assumed would purify and separate every element, thrives only in getting the dark part into being—Hyde appears, but without any angelic counterpart. When unleashed, Hyde takes over slowly, until Jekyll stops existing. Whether man is half fiend and half angel, one questions what occurs to the "angel" as the novel ends. Probably the angel offers way completely to the devil of Jekyll. Or probably Jekyll is just erroneous: man isn’t "two" but is the primitive being personified in Hyde, taken under cautious control by law, civilization, as well as conscience. This theory points out that the potion pulls away the civilized appearance, revealing the essential nature of man. Undoubtedly, the novel veers off to describe Hyde as being animalistic, being ugly and hairy; conducting himself as guided by instinct instead of reason; he is described by Utterson as a primitive and "troglodyte" creature.
Nonetheless, if Hyde were an ordinary being, he would not be expected to be delighted in crime. Certainly, he appears to commit brutal acts against individuals who are innocent for no good reasons but just enjoys the act-something that ordinary people cannot do. He is happily and deliberately immoral. He is aware of the moral law but cannot abide by it. All these have the implication that probably, civilization also has its dark sides.
Eventually, whilst Stevenson clearly affirms that there are two aspects of human nature, he does not fully disclose the constitution of the aspects. Probably they entail virtue and evil; probably they represent the inner characters of individuals as well as the veneer imposed by civilization. The richness of the book has been enhanced by Stevenson by leaving the readers to look within them in order to establish the two sides of the human nature.
The Importance of masks in The Picture of Dorian Gray
The Picture of Dorian Gray offers information concerning the "masks individuals wear in order to have their faces covered and the faces individuals wear in order to ensure that their masks are covered. It should be noted that not all individuals depict their true selves. Besides, a number of individuals do everything possible in order to conceal their souls that may highly be corrupted. It is an undeniable fact that all individuals must have at one time tried to hide their true selves.
This timeless truth has been told by Wilde by using the Dorian who has the wish or remaining beautiful as well as young all through his life. This is however the wish of every individual. Basil, an artist, paints the portrait of Dorian. After the completion of the painting, he finds that he is very beautiful and whishes to remain the same all through his life. The wish that he made was very true. He remains beautiful all through his life, however, he values pleasure more than morality and this makes his soul to wither gradually withers. As his soul was withering, the painting was also withering. The painting becomes old and is a clear illustration of how his soul was: cruel and ugly. The insensitivity of Dorian finally makes his ally to commit suicide. Besides, the wicked needs of his heart make him to kill a close friend of his. Dorian, though appears to be charming, youthful, as well as turns into a monster.
It should be noted that all individuals at given times must have been afraid to illustrate their actual colors. On the same note, all individuals at some given points in time wished to be beautiful as well as forever. Dorian Gray’s pictures illustrate the dreadful outcome when the wishes eventuate.
The masks as used in the play make the appearance of the characters to be misleading, thereby giving the characters additional sense of mystery. It should also be noted that physical appearance is also a mask hiding the exact contents of each soul of the characters.
The beauty of Dorian was a mask to him. The mask ended up ruining him. It ruined the beauty as well as the youth he had longed for. If it was not for the beauty as well as youthfulness, the life of Dorian may have been devoid of stain. In hypocrisy, Dorian was wearing the mask of goodness. Curiosity made him to leave in self-denial. Masks also make sure that the truth is known after a fall.
The conceptualized thoughts of evil as well as the downfall of man soul presented in the two books are extraordinarily similar in style and manner; the two writers attempt to convey the escapist character of evil. Despite the fact that they differ in the methods, the cycles of events in the two books are comparable. The first theme is shame, the remorse brought about by evil deeds; even when cunningly introduced, it is an undeniable force behind the novels’ two major characters. In the two novels, the characters are required to contend with the misdeeds they do, whether they are deliberate or not.
Dorian Gray referred to as "Prince Charming" is the novel’s main character. He is twenty year old young man as the novel commences. He is extraordinarily looking good, and both Lord Henry and Basil Hallward are fascinated by the innocent beauty he has. His scarlet lips that are finely curved, his frank looking blue eyes as well as his hair that is crisp gold is admired by Henry. Dorian is Lord Kelso’s grandson. His beautiful mother, Lady Margaret Devereux, had the opportunity to marry anybody she liked, but wet ahead to marry a soldier who was penniless and who died in a fight. Soon after his demise, Margaret also died. Dorian inherited his parent’s money after growing up. Dorian is described by Basil as having "a beautiful and simple nature," and definitely he is a charming and agreeable man. At times, he is however, thoughtless. The picture of Dorian Gray becomes corrupt and aged though he persists to look innocent and fresh. After killing a very young woman, he is surprised to obtain no divergence in his surroundings or vision. Basil states that at times Dorian enjoys hurting him. The influence of Henry makes Dorian to le...