Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1886) is regarded as one of the most famous of all stories relating to doubles. The term Doppelgänger, coined by Jean-Paul Richter in 1796, was hallowed by the Romantic Movement and became particularly popular in the 19th century caused by social upheavals and the consequences of the industrial revolution (cf. Fernandez Bravo 1992:343, 366). Beside the Doppelgänger motif, Stevenson’s writing reflects to a great degree the circumstances of the Victorian age. On the one hand, the 1880s were the time of the development of sciences and psychology. On the other hand, the life was influenced by the established religion raising morality to the highest norm and demanding repression of desires and sexuality. Resulting from this, “a split within the self” was realized not only by authors but by the whole society (op. cit.:365). Consequently, the “Freudian concept of the split personality appeared in literature before the actual theory itself was proposed” (ibid.). Doppelgänger as well as split personalities became a common motif and were “used to explore issues of identity, sexuality and morality” (Bell 1992:176). According to Stevenson’s wife, one of the most important influences was “another strange case of ‘multiple personality’” by which Stevenson was “deeply impressed” (Showalter 2000:190). While he was writing Jekyll and Hyde, the author read in the Archives de Neurologie, a French journal on sub-consciousness, the case of Louis V., who was a male hysteric that “underwent a startling metamorphosis” beginning in his adolescence (ibid., cf. ibid.). All these facts in addition to Stevenson’s „passionate aim ‘to find a body, a vehicle for that strong sense of man’s double being’ which he had felt as a student in Edinburgh when he dreamed of leading ‘a double life – one of the day, one of the night’“ may have been his inspirations which culminated in the writing of the novel (Stevenson quoted in op. cit.:191).
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. A general definition
3. Alternating personality: A definition
4. Character analysis of Jekyll and Hyde
5. Conclusion
6. Bibliography
Research Objective & Core Themes
This paper examines the literary motif of the "double" (Doppelgänger) in Robert Louis Stevenson’s "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" to determine whether Jekyll’s condition corresponds to the clinical concept of an alternating personality or represents a unique literary construct.
- Theoretical definitions of the Doppelgänger and alternating personality.
- Application of Freudian concepts to the characters of Jekyll and Hyde.
- Narrative structure and the role of focalisation in character construction.
- Distinction between manifest and latent doubling.
- The influence of Victorian social values on identity and repression.
Excerpt from the Book
Character analysis of Jekyll and Hyde
Before analysing the characters, the title of the novel The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde points out the protagonist, Dr. Jekyll, and at the same time the antagonist, Mr. Hyde. Although both are theoretically one person, I will regard them as two identities in my analysis. By beginning the story with the introduction of Mr. Utterson, who is also a main character, his importance is emphasized. Moreover, the story is told by several narrators. The majority of the chapters are told by a heterodiegetic, covert narrator. In addition, it is an internal focaliser as proper names and the 3rd person singular are used:
Mr Utterson the lawyer was a man of a rugged countenance, that was never lighted by a smile; cold, scanty and embarrassed in discourse; backward in sentiment; lean, long, dusty, dreary, and yet somehow lovable. At friendly meetings, and when the wine was to his taste, […] (Stevenson, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde:9).
The character of Utterson gained its importance not only by being firstly introduced but also by having a close relationship to the protagonist as well as to the other minor characters. Stevenson intelligently arranged the narrating voice in order to keep the reader in suspense. While Utterson “is not technically the narrator, the story is told almost as though he were” (Rogers 1970:93). This is caused by the fact that Utterson largely is the focaliser whose thoughts, emotions, perceptions, and memories play an important role: “He could have wished it otherwise; never in his life had he been conscious of so sharp a wish to see and touch his fellow - creatures; for, struggle as he might, there was borne in upon his mind a crushing anticipation of calamity” (Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde:48). Above all, Utterson’s important position in the novel is emphasized by being the character who investigates (“‘If he be Mr Hyde,’ he had thought, ‘I shall be Mr Seek’”) and finally reveals the mystery of Dr. Jekyll respectively Mr. Hyde (op. cit.:21).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: The introduction establishes the literary context of the Doppelgänger motif in the 19th century and outlines the research objective regarding Jekyll and Hyde's personality.
2. A general definition: This section explores various dictionary and literary definitions of the "double," highlighting the complexity of the term in academic discourse.
3. Alternating personality: A definition: This chapter defines the clinical concept of alternating personality and introduces Freudian theory as a framework for analyzing the fragmentation of the self.
4. Character analysis of Jekyll and Hyde: The chapter provides a detailed examination of both characters, analyzing their roles, narrative presentation, and the evidence regarding whether Hyde constitutes a separate entity or a manifestation of Jekyll’s psyche.
5. Conclusion: The conclusion synthesizes the research findings, confirming that while Jekyll and Hyde do not perfectly align with traditional definitions of multiple personality, their unique nature maintains the novel's significance.
6. Bibliography: Lists all primary and secondary literature used to support the analysis of the novel and the theoretical framework.
Keywords
Doppelgänger, Stevenson, Jekyll and Hyde, alternating personality, Victorian age, Freud, identity, split personality, character analysis, narrative voice, psychoanalysis, duality, repression, literature, 19th-century horror.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper explores the concept of the double (Doppelgänger) in Robert Louis Stevenson's novel to evaluate if the protagonist fits the definition of an alternating personality.
Which central thematic fields are analyzed?
The study covers literary motif history, psychological theories of the self, and Victorian-era social norms regarding repression and morality.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to determine how the "double" in the novel diverges from classic definitions and to investigate the extent to which the transformation represents a psychological dissociation.
What scientific methods are applied?
The author employs literary analysis, specifically looking at character development, focalization, and the application of psychoanalytic theory to literary figures.
What does the main part of the paper cover?
The main part analyzes the characters of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, their motivations, their narrative representation, and the scientific debate surrounding their identity.
Which keywords best describe the paper?
Key terms include Doppelgänger, identity, Victorian age, split personality, and psychoanalysis.
Why is the role of Mr. Utterson considered important in the analysis?
Utterson serves as the primary focalizer, guiding the reader through the mystery and providing a stable, albeit limited, perspective on the protagonist's descent.
How does the author interpret Hyde's existence?
The author concludes that Hyde is not an independently existing person but rather a split-off, projected part of Jekyll's personality, as evidenced by his lack of a true physical history.
- Quote paper
- Corinna Roth (Author), 2006, Analysis of the Double in Stevenson's "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/82251
