This paper is about the instabilities of narration and meaning in Robert Louis Stevenson's "Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hide".
Robert Louis Stevenson’s late-Victorian novel "Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" takes place in London between 1883 and 1885, and deals with the dual life of a man named Dr. Jekyll. He secretly separates his second, immoral personality called Mr. Hyde with the aid of drugs, what enables him to live out his desires by violence.
His lawyer and friend, Mr. Utterson, aspires to figure out what is going on with his friend and the suddenly emerging troublemaker Hyde, after some indications, that Dr. Jekyll has dealings with him. The double personality of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde leads to an instability of characters, narration and meaning, what invites the reader to have a closer look at the novel’s properties.
But the revealing figure is neither Dr. Jekyll nor Mr. Hyde. It is Mr. Utterson who enables the reader to follow the mysterious story of them, what often gets neglected by critics as well as the role of women for the presentation of instability of meaning and narration.
Table of Contents
- Story of the Door
- Search for Mr. Hyde
- Dr. Jekyll was Quite at Ease
- The Carew Murder Case
- Henry Jekyll's Full Statement of the Case
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper analyzes the instabilities of narration and meaning in Robert Louis Stevenson's Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. It examines how narrative techniques and character portrayals contribute to the novel's unsettling atmosphere and ambiguous interpretations.
- Instability of Character
- Narrative Structure and Focalization
- The Role of Women
- Social Commentary on Victorian London
- Ambiguity and Multiple Interpretations
Chapter Summaries
Story of the Door: This introductory chapter establishes the enigmatic Mr. Hyde through the narrative of Mr. Enfield, Utterson's distant kinsman. Enfield recounts a disturbing incident involving Hyde's callous trampling of a young girl, highlighting Hyde's inherent deviance and the narrative's initial failure to fully explain his character. This unexplained deviance immediately creates instability for both Utterson and the reader, setting the stage for the novel's overarching themes of mystery and ambiguity. The chapter primarily focuses on establishing the mystery surrounding Hyde through the limited, yet unsettling, perspective of Enfield.
Search for Mr. Hyde: Driven by Enfield's account, Utterson begins his investigation into Hyde's identity and his connection to Dr. Jekyll. His search, though initially fruitless, reveals the unsettling physical description of Hyde and the growing unease surrounding Jekyll's behavior. The inability to definitively describe or understand Hyde mirrors the narrative's own instability, leaving the reader as uncertain and intrigued as Utterson.
Dr. Jekyll was Quite at Ease: This chapter offers a temporary sense of normalcy, with Jekyll appearing calm and composed. However, underlying tensions remain, hinting at the precariousness of Jekyll's situation and the underlying instability of his dual existence. The chapter serves as a crucial moment of calm before the storm, emphasizing the fragility of Jekyll's carefully constructed façade.
The Carew Murder Case: The brutal murder of Sir Danvers Carew by Hyde serves as a turning point, escalating the mystery and intensifying the instability within the narrative. Hyde's violent act underscores the darker aspects of his personality and the escalating consequences of Jekyll's experiment. The chapter marks a definitive shift from subtle unease to open conflict, pushing the narrative towards its climax.
Henry Jekyll's Full Statement of the Case: In his final confession, Jekyll reveals the full extent of his experiments and the disastrous consequences of his attempt to separate his good and evil selves. The instability of Jekyll's character is laid bare through his own account, which further destabilizes the reader’s understanding of his dual nature. The shift between first and third-person narration showcases Jekyll's strained relationship with his Hyde persona. The detailed explanation of the experiments and their consequences provides closure while simultaneously deepening the understanding of the novel’s central conflict and thematic concerns.
Keywords
Dual personality, narrative instability, Victorian London, social commentary, ambiguity, Mr. Utterson, Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hyde, multiple narration, internal focalization, moral ambiguity.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Study of Robert Louis Stevenson's Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
What is the purpose of this document?
This document provides a comprehensive overview of Robert Louis Stevenson's Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, including a table of contents, objectives, key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords. It serves as an academic resource for analyzing the novel's narrative structure, character development, and thematic concerns.
What are the key themes explored in the novel?
The key themes explored include the instability of character, narrative structure and focalization, the role of women in Victorian society, social commentary on Victorian London, and the ambiguity and multiple interpretations possible within the narrative. The central theme revolves around the duality of human nature and the consequences of suppressing or separating one's "good" and "evil" selves.
What is the structure of the provided analysis?
The analysis is structured to provide a thorough understanding of the novel. It begins with a table of contents, outlining the chapters. It then details the objectives and key themes of the study. Subsequently, it offers chapter-by-chapter summaries, analyzing narrative techniques and character development. Finally, it concludes with a list of keywords that encapsulate the novel's core concepts.
What are the chapter summaries included in this analysis?
The analysis includes summaries for each chapter: "Story of the Door," "Search for Mr. Hyde," "Dr. Jekyll was Quite at Ease," "The Carew Murder Case," and "Henry Jekyll's Full Statement of the Case." Each summary highlights key events, narrative techniques, and their contribution to the overall themes of the novel. The summaries analyze how each chapter contributes to the overall mystery and ambiguity, culminating in Jekyll's confession.
What are the keywords associated with this analysis of Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde?
The keywords associated with this analysis include: dual personality, narrative instability, Victorian London, social commentary, ambiguity, Mr. Utterson, Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hyde, multiple narration, internal focalization, and moral ambiguity. These keywords effectively capture the core concepts and themes explored in the novel and its analysis.
What narrative techniques are analyzed in this document?
The analysis focuses on the instability of narration and how narrative techniques like multiple perspectives (particularly Utterson's and Jekyll's) and shifting focalization contribute to the unsettling atmosphere and ambiguity of the novel. The use of first-person and third-person narration is also examined, especially in Jekyll's final confession.
What is the significance of the setting (Victorian London)?
The setting of Victorian London is crucial. The analysis considers how the social norms and moral codes of Victorian society contribute to the novel's themes of repression, duality, and the consequences of societal pressures. The analysis also examines how the city itself reflects the hidden darkness and moral ambiguities within the seemingly respectable facade of Victorian society.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Maike Heberle (Autor:in), 2020, Instabilities of Narration and Meaning in Robert Louis Stevenson's "Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde", München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1187627
