FREE ESSAY ON THE STRANGE CASE OF DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE

THE STRANGE CASE OF DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Robert Louis Stevenson in "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" is telling us
that we fear the knowledge of our duality so we keep silent. We are afraid of the truth,
about ourselves, so we stay quiet. Everyone has a part of himself or herself that they
don't reveal to anyone. We are afraid to show it but when it comes out we'd rather not
talk about it.
The author shows knowledge as a very important thing. "Now I shall know you again," said
Mr. Utterson. "It may be useful." This quote is said when Mr. Utterson meets Mr. Hyde for
the first time. Another quote that proves this is "I wish to see or hear no more of Dr.
Jekyll." Lanyon said this after he had seen Mr. Hyde turn into Dr. Jekyll and Mr.
Utterson was asking him questions about Dr. Jekyll. " Lanyon, you remember your vows:
what follows is under the seal of our profession..." Lanyon is about to find out about
Dr. Jekyll's secret.
Another pattern that the author shows as being important is fear. Mr. Utterson and Mr.
Enfield were walking together and seen Dr. Jekyll in his house. They were talking to him
when all of a sudden he started to change into Mr. Hyde. When they saw this they looked
at each other, both were pale and had an answering horror in their eyes. " I am afraid, I
think there has been foul play." Poole says this when he goes and talks to Mr. Utterson
about Dr. Jekyll. Also when Mr. Utterson and Poole want to talk to Dr. Jekyll and ask for
him but find out that Mr. Hyde is inside they swing an axe at his door. They hear a "
dismal screech, as of mere animal terror." Another way fear is shown is when Lanyon saw
Mr. Hyde turn into Dr. Jekyll. "O God and O God again and again." Lanyon said this after
what he saw.
Another major pattern is duality. You can see duality through out the whole book. One
example is Mr. Utterson and Mr. Enfield. Mr. Utterson is very popular around town. He is
also involved with the town. On the other hand Mr. Enfield was always quiet and didn't do
anything around the town. But they were always together. Another example is Dr. Jekyll
and Mr. Hyde. Dr. Jekyll was a smart, polite, and kind person. While Mr. Hyde was a
person who liked to have fun. He was a rude and an evil person. This shows duality
because Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was the same person. In the last chapter, the one that
Henry Jekyll wrote he says " Hence it came about that I concealed my pleasures." He wrote
saying that he was holding back. Also in the same letter he says "...I saw that, of the
two natures that contended in the field of my consciousness, I was both." In the same
chapter he says he had just woke up and looked at his hand and saw something weird. "It
was the hand of Edward Hyde."
Silence. Another thing he wanted us to know was important. " I wouldn't speak of this
note." Utterson said this when the guest compared the two handwritings of Dr. Jekyll and
Mr. Hyde. Also When Dr. Jekyll wrote a note to Mr. Utterson excusing himself when he
wouldn't see him The note said" ...to lighten this destiny, and respect my silence."
Lanyon left a letter to Mr. Utterson. When he opened it there was another letter that
said " not to be opened till the death or disappearance of Dr. Henry Jekyll." Mr.
Utterson was temped to open it but he kept this silent too. Mr. Utterson and Mr. Enfield
were walking and they seen Dr. Jekyll start to turn into Mr. Hyde. When they seen this
Mr. Enfield only nodded his head, and both walked on once more in silence. Another
example is when Poole takes Mr. Utterson a letter from Dr. Jekyll. After they read this
Utterson puts this in his pocket and says "I would say nothing of this paper." Also when
Mr. Utterson told Dr. Jekyll that he found out something about Mr. Hyde. When Dr. Jekyll
heard this he said " I do not care to hear more. This is a matter I thought we had agreed
to drop."
Robert Louis Stevenson wanted to tell us that we are all afraid of our other half. And
when we are afraid that instead of confronting it that we just ignore it. Knowledge is a
good thing if you use it in the right way. Fear shouldn't hold us back. We shouldn't
ignore our duality in ourselves. We shouldn't keep silent about anything. Most of us are
afraid to show our true self to anyone. But we shouldn't be afraid. Robert Louis
Stevenson wants us not to be afraid when we find out something new about ourselves, But
instead of being afraid and keeping it silent, let it be known.