An Analysis Of Leading Characters’s Personality In Robert Louis Stevenson’s Novel: Strange Case Of DR. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde
APPENDICES
i. Autho’s Biography and WorksRobert Lewis Balfour Stevenson was born on 13th November 1850 in Edinburgh, Scotland. He changed the spelling of his second name to Louis when he was about 18, and dropped the third when he was 23.
Throughout his childhood, he suffered chronic health problems that confined him to bed. The strongest influence during his childhood was that of his nurse, Allison Cunnigham, who often read aloud Pilgrim's Progress and The Old Testament, his most direct literary influences during this time. In 1867, he entered Edinburgh University as a science student, where it was tacitly understood that he would follow his father's footsteps and become a civil engineer. Robert, however, had much more of a romantic nature at heart and while obstentiously working for a science degree, he spent much of his time studying French Literature, Scottish history, and the works of Darwin and Spencer. When he confided to his father that he did not want to become an engineer and instead wished to pursue writing, his father was naturally upset. They settled on a compromise ? Robert would study for the Bar and if is literary ambitions failed, he would have a respectable profession to fall back on.
In order to fully understand the world in which Stevenson was raised, it is necessary to understand that there were two Edinburghs, both which played a part in molding his personality and outlook. On one hand was New Town, respectable, conventional, deeply religious, and polite. On the other was a much more bohemian Edinburgh, symbolized by brothels and shadiness. The juxtaposition of the two aspects in contrast to each other made a deep impression and strengthened his fascination with the duality of human nature, later providing the theme for The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
In the autumn of 1873, Stevenson was taken ill with nervous exhaustion and a severe chest condition, consequently, his doctor ordered him to take an extended rest abroad. For the next six months, he convalesced in the South of France, working on essays. On his return to Edinburgh, he spent much of his time writing book reviews and articles and experimenting with short stories. Slowly but surely, he earned a name for himself in journalism and his pieces began appearing in distinguished journals such as The Fortnightly Review. At this time, he met an American married woman, Fanny Vandergrift Osbourne, ten years his senior, whom was in Europe trying to escape her estranged husband's influence. For three years, Stevenson (still in ill health) continued his relationship with her and eventually followed her to San Francisco, where she obtained a divorce from her husband and married Stevenson in May 1880.
During this time, he published his first book, An Inland Voyage in 1878, an engaging account of a canoeing holiday in Belgium. In August 1880, the Stevensons returned to England. The story of Stevenson life from this point forward is a story centered on a search of a climate where he could live without the fears of his failing health. He and his wife wintered in the South of France and lived in England from 1880-1887, and this time was marked by an active period of literary achievement.
His first novel, Treasure Island, was published in 1883, followed by The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1886) and Kidnapped (1886). For the first time in his life, Stevenson had became a popular author.
Upon the death of his father in 1887, Robert Louis Stevenson decided to leave England and sailed for America, where he stayed for a year. In May 1888, accompanied by his wife, his step-son, and his mother, he set sails for the South Seas. Eventually, Stevenson was so enchanted by the life of the South Seas that in December 1889 he bought an estate in Apia, Samoa, convinced that he could never endure the harsh winters of his native Scotland or England. Apia was a perfect location because the climate was tropical but not wild, the people were friendly and hard working, and it possessed a good postal service. He lived at his 300 acre estate, Vailima, in the hills of Apia until his death five years later. The list of his writings for 1890-94 reveals an impressive range of activities. During this time, he completed two of his finest novellas, ?The Beach of Falesa' and The Ebb Tide, two novels, The Wrecker and Catriona, the short stories ?The Bottle Imp,' ?The Isle of voices' and ?the Waif Woman,' and the short pieces collected under the title of Fables. He also worked on a number of novels that he did not live to complete, including St. Ives, The Young Chevalier and Heathercat. He worked with enthusiasm on Weir of Hermiston until the day of his death, December 3, 1894. On that day, he dictated another installment of the novel, seemed in excellent spirits, and was talking to his wife in the evening when he felt a violent pain in his head and almost immediately lost consciousness.
So finally (in 1890), they took up residence in Samoa where he became very involved with the islanders, their way of life and their politics. He continued writing and was known to the Samoans as 'tusitala', that is, 'writer of tales'. Also he was able to enjoy a lot of outdoor activities, though nothing too strenuous. It was undoubtedly the happiest period of their lives but, unfortunately, was to last only 4 years.
He died, in the evening, on 3rd December 1894 in Samoa, aged 44. By his own wish he was buried there, on the summit of Mount Vaea. Fanny died 20 years later.
SELECTED LIST OF WORKS ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON
Novelshas been filmed frequently. In an 1881 letter to W. E.
Henley, he provided the earliest known title, "The Sea Cook, or Treasure Island: a Story for Boys".
- (1885) Stevenson’s third full-length narrative, an action romance set in the imaginary Germanic state of Grünewald.
much depicted in plays and films, also influential in the growth of understanding of the subconscious mind through its treatment of a kind and intelligent physician who turns into amonster after imbibing a drug intended to separate good from evil in a personality.
- hat tells of the boy David Balfour's
pursuit of his inheritance and his alliance wittroubles in Scotland.
- 1889), a masterful tale of revenge, set in Scotland, America, and India.
- lso filmed (1966).
- 1893), also known as David Balfour, is a sequel to Kidnapped, telling of Balfour's further adventures.
1896). Unfinished at the time of Stevenson's death,
considered to have promised great artistic growth.1897).
Unfinished at the time of Stevenson's death, the novel was completed by
Short Story
- 1882)
(1887); contains 6 stories.
(also known as South Sea Tales) (1893)
contains three longer stories.- 1896) contains 20 stories: The persons of the tale, The sinking ship,
The two matches, The sick man and the fireman, The devil and the innkeeper, The penitent, The yellow paint, The house of Eld, The four reformers, The man and his friend, The reader, The citizen and the traveller, The distinguished stranger, The carthorse and the saddlehorse, The tadpole and the frog, something in it, Faith, half faith and no faith at all, The touchstone, The poor thing, The song of the morrow.
Poetry
- 1885), written for children but also popular with
their parents. Includes such favourites as "My Shadow" and "The Lamplighter". Often thought to represent a positive reflection of the author's sickly childhood.
- (1887). Based on a famous Scottish ghost story.
- Ballads (1891)
- 1896)
Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalytic theory states that an individual’s personality is divided into three different parts the id, ego, and superego. The id consists of unethical, irrational, driving instincts for sexual gratification, aggression, and general physical and sensual pleasure. The superego represents the outer expectations forced on the personality by society and culture. The ego acts as the mediator between the impulses of the id and the superego. The ego allows the personality to cope with the inner and outer demands of its existence. The balance of these three parts determines a person’s personality (Stevenson 1). Freud’s theory explains that humans can be ruled by their hidden impulses and passions instead of their rational thoughts. The imbalance of the id, ego, and superego is reflected in the double life of Henry Jekyll.
In the novel Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Dr. Jekyll discovers a way to separate his benevolent and malicious sides into two different individuals. While Henry Jekyll is an honest, respectable doctor Mr. Hyde is a younger but deformed man who indulges in filthy pleasures. Jekyll began experimenting in order to live a carefree lifestyle so he could fulfill his internal lusts and desires as Mr. Hyde without fear of tainting his own good name. Dr. Jekyll believes “…that man is not truly one, but two” and because of this he is able to live out his evil passions while maintaining his social stature (Stevenson 7).
Hyde’s aggressive instincts that caused him to trample a little girl and murder Sir Danvers Carew represent the id. Gradually, Hyde begins to dominate Jekyll to the point where he cannot control his transformations, and soon Jekyll feels guilty and responsible for Hyde’s actions. Jekyll represents the superego or conscious that causes guilt to enforce right and wrong. When Dr. Jekyll’s experiments fail, he is unable to separate the two different personalities. Since the ego’s function is to act as a mediator between the id and the superego its function is eliminated when Dr. Jekyll is incapable of controlling his transformations. If the ego does not exist, there is no separation between the id and the superego (Dury).
In some cases in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde the id and the superego display the same characteristics. Freud once stated, “the normal man is not only far more immoral that he believes but also far more moral than he knows,” which implies that the unconscious id has its own principles, and therefore is not separate from one’s concious (Khan). There are many instances where Jekyll’s id does not escape his superego. Hyde shows traces of his conscious when he pays the family of the trampled girl for any damages he may have cause. His reaction to his violent behavior was characteristic of a Victorian gentleman. Hyde stated, “No gentleman but wishes to avoid a scene… name your figure” (Stevenson 10). He shows respect for others in society and pays off the girl’s family politely, which is uncharacteristic of a person that is controlled by the instincts of the id. Dr Jekyll displays characteristics of the id as he finds pleasure in the evil deeds of Mr. Hyde. Dr. Jekyll stated, about his transformation,
I felt younger, lighter, happier in body; within I was conscious of a heady recklessness, a current of disordered sensual images running like a millrace in my fancy, a solution of the bonds of obligation, an unknown but not an innocent freedom of the soul.
Dr. Jekyll has morals but he continues to allow Hyde, an individual lacking in moral and social skills, to carry out destructive acts. As Jekyll tries to control his id, the superego fails to counteract its desires and he cannot escape his self- destruction (Khan). In his final confession, Jekyll states, “My devil had long been cages, he came out roaring” (Stevenson ). In the double life of Jekyll and Mr. Hyde the id shows power over human personality. Dr. Jekyll cannot live his life resisting the unconscious desires of Hyde as well as his unacceptable behavior and evil nature. The more he wants to contain Hyde the more powerful Hyde becomes and the more he fights to emerge. Because Jekyll’s superego failed he cannot escape himself.
The personalities of Dr. Jekyll are dominated by the instincts of the id, which is always on the quest for pleasure and gratification of their needs. The id has a perception of its own, which controls the sinful behavior and feelings of Dr. Jekyll. The id can overcome the conscious thoughts and challenges the moral principles of the superego (Stevenson). In the personalities of Dr. Jekyll the ego is destroyed and cannot mediate between the id and the superego. Without the ego the concept of reality is lost and the id and superego are in direct conflict. (Stevenson). This conflict causes Dr. Jekyll to succumb to urges that leads to the destruction of his life; he can no longer control his transformations or Hyde’s actions. Instead he must surrender to the fact that Hyde is more powerful than he originally intended. Many individuals do not acknowledge signs of the id, but the id demands immediate satisfaction regardless of the circumstances and possible effects.
The personalities of the Dr. Jekyll reflect the unconscious desires and the continuous internal conflict between the id, ego, and superego. The three divisions of the mind are constantly trying to keep each other in check, for example one will neutralize its influence on behavior. Even though the superego resists the impulses of the id, it cannot hold back its demands for enjoyment. The id neutralizes and commands an individual to find out the hidden desires of the mind (Stevenson). The actions of Jekyll represent the deepest, darkest secrets of unconscious thought and how they manipulate the human mind. Henry Jekyll believes that he can create another human being to carry out his wicked urges.
The destruction of the ego affects a person’s ability to balance reason and passion. The dominance of passion over moral and social norms causes the downfall of Dr. Jekyll. Without a working conscience individuals cannot make their own decisions because they are driven by pure impulse. Humans receive more gratification from making a positive impact on society rather than living out desires that come from unconscious thought. Henry Jekyll strives to experience all the pleasures in life, but the with absence of genuine emotion and good intentions.