Evil Personas in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

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Evil Personas in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

Some believe that every individual has an evil persona trapped inside that is just waiting to get out! This may be true for some but it may also just be another excuse for one to commit evil deeds. In the novel Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, written by Robert Louis Stevenson, a prominent doctor (Dr. Jekyll) conducts a scientific experiment in which he compounds a certain mixture he consumes and transforms into an ugly, repulsive creature (Mr. Hyde), representing the pure evil that exists within him. This novel is truly an astonishing piece of literature that consists of many components that make it a marvelous piece of literature. Not only is the symbolism fascinating and intriguing, the literary word puns are very ironic and makes the novel interesting.

Dr. Jekyll believed that at least two different entities occupy a person’s body. His scientific knowledge led him to believe that he could isolate and separate the two separate components. Originally, the ultimate aim of Dr. Jekyll’s experiment was to discover his evil nature and isolate or reject it. But he became fascinated with this evil side of his nature because Hyde was more “free” and was able to satisfy all of Jekyll’s evil desires. Jekyll had once been “free” when he was younger, and able to do anything he pleased. All of this changed when he tried to portray the image of a light-hearted, good-natured person so he “hydes” his evil pleasures. He states in his confession letter, “…my medical studies began to increasingly focus on the origins and dimension of this phenomenon of duality. This investigation of course, bordered on the mystical and the transcendental, but only these disciplines co...

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...e cleverly says, “If he be Mr. Hyde….I shall be Mr. Seek”. Throughout the whole novel, he will travel on his journey to seek Mr. Hyde, who is hidden beneath Dr, Jekyll. Hyde and Jekyll were exact opposites of eachother, symbolizing the good and the evil. Although Utterson and Enfield are complete opposites, they can still get along. The word puns in the novel make it ironic and very appealing.

Dr. Jekyll’s theory of the duality of man’s nature proves to be true with the existence of the infamous Mr. Hyde. This theory can be applied to reality too, because at times, humans tend to have an evil side, but never really show it. This novel, for me, has been very educational and interesting. The two reasons that make this book enjoyable is the theme that is understandable, the intense irony, and the word puns. These components are crucial in making a novel appealing.

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