The Significance of Edward Hyde's Character in The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

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The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a novel written by Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson and published in 1886. It concerns a lawyer, Gabriel Utterson, who investigates the strange occurrences between his old friend, Dr. Henry Jekyll, and the reclusive Mr. Edward Hyde. This novel represents an ideology in Western culture; the perpetual conflict between humanity’s virtuosity and immorality. It is interpreted as an accurate guidebook to the Victorian era’s belief of the duality of human nature. This essay will explore Mr. Edward Hyde and whether Stevenson intended for him to be a mere character in the novel or something of wider significance. Enfield is the first to come across the mysterious Hyde when he witnesses Hyde’s trampling of a young girl in the street. As with the other characters who will also come across Hyde at some point during the novel, Enfield takes a loathing to Hyde as soon as he sets his eyes upon him. At this point, the reader may assume that Enfield dislikes Hyde because of this attack on the young girl. However, Enfield explains that, “He was perfectly cool and made no resistance, but gave me one look, so ugly it brought out the sweat on me like running.” (Page12). Stevenson uses this first impression to amplify the fact that Hyde is a diabolical man. Who else would trample over such an innocent child? He also uses this incident to create a sense of foreboding, to show what Hyde could do without exhibiting even the slightest remorse. Immediately, the reader asks “What will Hyde do next?” Enfield also finds it hard to describe Hyde when Utterson asks him the details of Hyde’s appearance, “There is something wrong with his appearance; something displeasing, something downright detestable. I ... ... middle of paper ... ...s malefactor who is deformed and doesn’t regret anything he does. No one seems to be able to describe him, even just after seeing him, which Stevenson deliberately uses to express a mysterious transgressor. Essentially, Hyde is part of Jekyll’s character; whilst Hyde fully embodies pure evil, it is possible to see how Jekyll, although seemingly morally decent, engaging in charity work and enjoying a reputation as a courteous and genial man, never fully embodies virtuousness. As Stevenson shows, it is through Hyde which this story is able to accelerate; although Hyde is not human, he is seen as an alter ego of Jekyll, and he also seems to be the object who is amplifying the common controversial beliefs of the Victorian era- Darwin’s theory of evolution and the constant struggle between good and evil in everyone due to the indoctrination and influence of the Church.

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