Blog Post #9

Freebie

Blog Post #8

Part 1)

For the Mr. Hyde characterization I am choosing the excerpt from Chapter 1. For the Dr. Jekyll one I am choosing the excerpt from Chapter 3. I would also like to point out that you ruined the book for me because I did not know that Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde are the same person until I watched the Arthur video.

The difference in the descriptions of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde are interesting because Stevenson is, in essence, describing the same person. By having the characters of the book perceive Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in such different ways however, it shows the duality of identity and internal conflict that one person can hold. The man described as Mr. Hyde in chapter one by Mr. Enfield is a polar opposite being from the Dr. Jekyll portrayed in chapter three by Mr. Utterson. Enfield states that there is “something down-right detestable” about Mr. Hyde, although he “can name nothing out of the way”. This means that while he finds Mr. Hyde’s appearance utterly repulsive, there is no way to quantify the way he looks with words. On the other hand, Dr. Jekyll is described to be “a large, well-made, smooth-faced man”, which contrasts with that of Mr. Hyde’s because Dr. Jekyll’s appearance is physically described and he is shown to be somewhat attractive. Stevenson uses appearance to develop a positive image with Dr. Jekyll to the reader by creating his character to be handsome, and a negative image with Mr. Hyde by showing his appearance to be hideous.

Stevenson also uses character’s actions and their reactions to elicit a response from the audience in the novella. In chapter one, the nature of Mr. Hyde is shown when he mercilessly hits a young girl and shows no remorse. The characters show their attitudes towards Mr. Hyde by demonstrating utter disdain towards him and what he had done. At the dinner party in chapter three, Dr. Jekyll makes a questionable decision to keep Mr. Hyde in his will, against Mr. Utterson’s wishes, but Mr. Utterson respects Dr. Jekyll’s choice because he believes him to be a good person. This speaks to how Dr. Jekyll is perceived as a good man to others because although Mr. Utterson abhors Mr. Hyde, he respects Dr. Jekyll’s wishes because he believes him to be a good man.

Part 2)

Dr. Jekyll                                              Mr. Hyde

I am Dr. Jekyll.                                       

                                                               I am Mr. Hyde. 

I am beloved by all,

dinner guests adore me,

I have loyal friends.

                                                                 

                                                               I live in the obsolete,                                                          

                                                               None can describe me,

None know my true identity.                 None know my true identity.

I despise Mr. Hyde,

I am a good man,

but I cannot escape him.

I am admired by many,

                                                               I am hated by all.

I cannot escape the truth that,

I am Mr. Hyde.                                      I am Dr. Jekyll.

The intended purpose of this poem is to demonstrate that Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde are the same person and to highlight their differences in personalities. It is shown that they are the same person by having them say that they are each other in the final line. The differences in their personalities are shown by having them describe themselves. Dr. Jekyll talks about how he is a good person who is admired by all, and Mr. Hyde talks about how everyone hates him and how he lives in obscurity.