Brecht´s stage play is based predominantly on his own real life experiences and that Brecht needed a long time to develop it. On the other hand Stevenson used nothing but a dream to create his work, and he did so in a very short period of time. Brecht´s Der gute Mensch von Sezuantotally has 10 chapters, in addition you can find a prologue, five interludes and an epilogue. The prologue tells the reader about the three Gods on the way to Sezuan and what they expect of the people. In the interludes the happenings of the former chapter become summerized and the next chapter becomes introduced. The epilogue deals with the expression of an actor, he apologizes that there is no really an end inDer gute Mensch von Sezuan.The audience or the reader have to find their own end, inThe strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hydean end is given. In comparison to Stevensons narrative story, BrechtsDer gute Mensch von Sezuanis a stage play. Although the books are written in two different litterary forms, both introductions strike the point of social setting. The bookThe Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde begins with the first chapter “Story of the door” where Mr. Utterson is introduced by the narrator: “Mr Utterson the lawyer was a man of a rugged countenance […] he drank gin when he was alone” (Stevenson 3). In Der gute Mensch von Sezuanthe beginning is similar. In the prologue Wang introduces himself, he tells the reader that he is a water salesclerk and that the buisness is very hard: “Ich bin Wasserverkäufer hier in der Hauptstadt von Sezuan. Mein Geschäft ist mühselig. Wenn es wenig Wasser gibt, muß ich weit danach laufen. [...] Aber in unserer Provinz herrscht überhaupt große Armut“ (Brecht 7). In both books the introduction does not start with the protagonists, furthermore the introductions already show the reader at the begining whether the protagonists are poor or rich, in what kind of societies the protagonists live and what kind of characters Mr. Utterson and Wang are. The quotations point out at the beginning of both books that Wang is a worker, he has to work hard if he wants to earn money. In contrast Mr. Utterson is a more educated man and he does not need to work as hard as Wang does. The reader sees that in The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde the protagonists, as well as the other characters are more prosperous than in Der gute Mensch von Sezuan. [...]
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
1.1 Literary common grounds
1.2 Genesis of the works
2. Structural comparison
3. Social setting and character analysis
3.1 Character introductions
3.2 Social status and poverty
4. Narrative style and communication
5. The concept of the dual personality
5.1 Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
5.2 Shen Te and Shui Ta
6. Conclusion and reflection
Objectives and Themes
The work provides a comparative literary analysis of Robert Louis Stevenson’s "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" and Bertolt Brecht’s "Der gute Mensch von Sezuan." It examines how both authors utilize the motif of disguise and dual personalities to explore moral ambiguity and social survival within their respective societal contexts.
- Comparative analysis of literary origins and development.
- Examination of social structures and the impact of poverty on character motivation.
- Evaluation of narrative styles, specifically the difference between prose narrative and stage play dialogues.
- Investigation into the nature of dual identities and moral masks.
- Reflection on the relevance of the "good person" dilemma in contemporary society.
Excerpt from the Book
To start the comparison I would like to compare the basis on which the novels are written.
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a book based on Robert Louis Stevenson´s own experiences. The story has been written in 1885. The idea of the story came from Stevenson´s wife Fanny, when she had a nightmare. Fanny told his husband about this “horror-sory” and Stevenson was surprised about this “bogy-tale” and he was determined to write a narrative story. Robert Louis Stevenson wrote the story, but Fanny was not quite contented. Stevenson rewrote the story in three days and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde came into being. After the publication in January 1887 The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was recognized as a “grand work” (Maxiner 15). In addition to those differences the reader will immediately find striking differences in the outer appearances of both works.
Bertolt Brecht´s Der gute Mensch von Sezuan is based as well on real experiences. One day, in the year 1926, Brecht went to Dresden with two friends to a reading by a poet. Although Brecht was invited he got bad opera tickets. He was insulted about this situation, so he wrote a poem about three Gods who threaten to flood the city, because of less respect against other people. In his American and Scandinavian exile Brecht developed this idea further and combined it with the concept prostitution. After processing the motives and technologies of the chinese theatre and philosophy, Der gute Mensch von Sezuan came into being in 1953.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter highlights the literary commonalities between Brecht and Stevenson, focusing on the significance of character disguise.
2. Structural comparison: The section outlines the formal differences between the two works, noting the chapter and interlude structure of Brecht's play compared to the narrative flow of Stevenson’s novella.
3. Social setting and character analysis: This chapter contrasts the social status of characters like Utterson and Wang, examining how poverty influences their actions and moral choices.
4. Narrative style and communication: The analysis focuses on how the dialogue-driven nature of Brecht’s play offers a different understanding of character compared to the detailed descriptive narrative in Stevenson’s work.
5. The concept of the dual personality: This part investigates the psychological and practical motivations behind the "two faces" of the protagonists in both stories.
6. Conclusion and reflection: The work concludes by evaluating the ongoing relevance of the moral questions posed by both authors regarding human behavior in selfish societies.
Keywords
Comparative literature, Bertolt Brecht, Robert Louis Stevenson, dual personality, moral ambiguity, social status, disguise, Der gute Mensch von Sezuan, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, schizophrenia, narrative style, poverty, ethics, protagonists.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this research?
The research provides a comparative study of two major literary works, investigating how the authors portray human nature through the lens of dual identities and moral dilemmas.
What are the primary themes explored in this analysis?
The key themes include the impact of social status on individual morality, the necessity of disguise for survival, and the formal differences between narrative literature and stage drama.
What is the ultimate research question addressed by the author?
The work seeks to answer whether it is possible for a person to remain "good" in a world driven by self-interest and poverty.
Which scientific methodology is applied in this study?
The author employs a comparative literary analysis, contrasting the historical origins, narrative structures, and character motivations of the two selected works.
What content is covered in the main body of the text?
The main body examines the genesis of the stories, the socio-economic backgrounds of the protagonists, the stylistic differences between play and novella, and the psychological dualism of the characters.
Which keywords best describe this study?
The study is characterized by terms such as comparative literature, moral ambiguity, dual personality, social setting, and narrative technique.
How does the author characterize the dual identity in Brecht’s work?
The author describes Shen Te’s dual identity as a necessity for survival in a poverty-stricken environment, contrasting it with the internal split of Dr. Jekyll.
What does the author suggest about the ending of the two works?
The author notes that while "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" provides a definitive end, Brecht leaves the conclusion of "Der gute Mensch von Sezuan" open for the audience to determine.
- Quote paper
- Marc Dax (Author), 2005, Comparison between Bertolt Brechts "Der gute Mensch von Sezuan" and Robert Louis Stevensons "The strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/57514
