Transcript Introduction: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Introduction: The Strange
Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr.
Hyde
Robert Lewis Stevenson
Born 1850 ~ Edinburg, Scotland ~ Sickly
Studied literature at Edinburg University
Had to move to a warmer climate because
of his deteriorating health
His first great writing success was
Treasure Island
Doctors told him he would die in a few
months, but he lived until 1894
Other Interesting Facts
Robert Louis Stevenson has a good
claim to be the inventor of the
Sleeping Bag, taking a large fleecelined sack with him to sleep on the
journey through France described in
his book Travels with a Donkey in the
Cevennes
Background
 Stevenson was interested in what made up a
person’s character: How a person can be both bad
and good
Central Themes in Dr. Jekyll
human ugliness originates in the soul
people who succumb to the temptations of
evil risk losing their capacity (ability) for
good
people who suppress, or restrain, their
natural desires risk having them surface
out of control.
First Interpretation: Man is born Evil
RLS had a strict Christian
and moral upbringing. The
idea of good vs. evil was
informed by his knowledge
of the Bible.
Thomas Hobbes thought
that humans were
naturally bad and would be
like animals in a “state of
nature”
In Christianity, original sin
says that people are born
inclined toward evil and
struggle to be good
Second Interpretation: Society
makes us evil
Context: Takes place in
Victorian Era (18371901) in London,
England
Members of the upper
class in Victorian times
were especially
expected to behave
virtuously and properly
at all and times.
Society: A Class Divided
Victorian society was
divided.
Social classes did not
mix. Behavior, among
members of the upper
class, was expected to
be exemplary at all
times.
The unrealistically rigid
morality of upper class
Londoners led many to
live double lives.
2nd Interpretation (Continued) :
Tabula Rasa
The Enlightenment
view was that
people are born
blank slates
society shapes the
person into good or
evil
Sigmund Freud, the
father of
psychotherapy,
believed that human
beings are powerfully
influenced by impulses
they are not aware of
Personality
Freud said there were three parts to a person’s
psychology
Ego- the conscious part of oneself (adult)
Id- the unconscious part of oneself (childlike)
Superego- as society, ethics, and morals.
To many readers, Hyde represents Dr. Jekyll’s
subconscious desire to be freed from society’s
restrictions.
People need to repress desires for society to work.
What to consider…
Are good and evil innate OR
Is it society who makes us who we are?
Are people basically good or basically
bad?
Can “good” people do “bad” things?
Is everyone capable of doing horrible
things such as the committing hideous
crimes?
The Victorian Era
1830s to the beginning of 1900s
Britain’s Queen Victoria ruled 1837-1901 for
sixty-four years
Britain was leading economic and military
power and controlled a vast empire
changes include: railroads, postal system;
improved medical and sanitary advances;
government supported schools; growing
industry and cities
Victorian period (continued)
Poverty increases
Empire’s power compromised by
foreign wars
Workers demand more power
Women enter workforce
Anxieties about changes inspire parts of
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde