Analysis of the Double in Stevenson's 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'

Fiction & Literature, Literary Theory & Criticism, British
Cover of the book Analysis of the Double in Stevenson's 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' by Corinna Roth, GRIN Publishing
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Corinna Roth ISBN: 9783638869652
Publisher: GRIN Publishing Publication: December 2, 2007
Imprint: GRIN Publishing Language: English
Author: Corinna Roth
ISBN: 9783638869652
Publisher: GRIN Publishing
Publication: December 2, 2007
Imprint: GRIN Publishing
Language: English

Seminar paper from the year 2006 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 1,7, Technical University of Chemnitz, course: Hauptseminar: 19th-Century Horror: Frankenstein, Dracula, Jekyll & Hyde, 18 entries in the bibliography, language: English, abstract: Robert Louis Stevenson's The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1886) is regarded as one of the most famous of all stories relating to doubles. The term Doppelgänger, coined by Jean-Paul Richter in 1796, was hallowed by the Romantic Movement and became particularly popular in the 19th century caused by social upheavals and the consequences of the industrial revolution (cf. Fernandez Bravo 1992:343, 366). Beside the Doppelgänger motif, Stevenson's writing reflects to a great degree the circumstances of the Victorian age. On the one hand, the 1880s were the time of the development of sciences and psychology. On the other hand, the life was influenced by the established religion raising morality to the highest norm and demanding repression of desires and sexuality. Resulting from this, 'a split within the self' was realized not only by authors but by the whole society (op. cit.:365). Consequently, the 'Freudian concept of the split personality appeared in literature before the actual theory itself was proposed' (ibid.). Doppelgänger as well as split personalities became a common motif and were 'used to explore issues of identity, sexuality and morality' (Bell 1992:176). According to Stevenson's wife, one of the most important influences was 'another strange case of 'multiple personality'' by which Stevenson was 'deeply impressed' (Showalter 2000:190). While he was writing Jekyll and Hyde, the author read in the Archives de Neurologie, a French journal on sub-consciousness, the case of Louis V., who was a male hysteric that 'underwent a startling metamorphosis' beginning in his adolescence (ibid., cf. ibid.). All these facts in addition to Stevenson's 'passionate aim 'to find a body, a vehicle for that strong sense of man's double being' which he had felt as a student in Edinburgh when he dreamed of leading 'a double life - one of the day, one of the night'' may have been his inspirations which culminated in the writing of the novel (Stevenson quoted in op. cit.:191).

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Seminar paper from the year 2006 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 1,7, Technical University of Chemnitz, course: Hauptseminar: 19th-Century Horror: Frankenstein, Dracula, Jekyll & Hyde, 18 entries in the bibliography, language: English, abstract: Robert Louis Stevenson's The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1886) is regarded as one of the most famous of all stories relating to doubles. The term Doppelgänger, coined by Jean-Paul Richter in 1796, was hallowed by the Romantic Movement and became particularly popular in the 19th century caused by social upheavals and the consequences of the industrial revolution (cf. Fernandez Bravo 1992:343, 366). Beside the Doppelgänger motif, Stevenson's writing reflects to a great degree the circumstances of the Victorian age. On the one hand, the 1880s were the time of the development of sciences and psychology. On the other hand, the life was influenced by the established religion raising morality to the highest norm and demanding repression of desires and sexuality. Resulting from this, 'a split within the self' was realized not only by authors but by the whole society (op. cit.:365). Consequently, the 'Freudian concept of the split personality appeared in literature before the actual theory itself was proposed' (ibid.). Doppelgänger as well as split personalities became a common motif and were 'used to explore issues of identity, sexuality and morality' (Bell 1992:176). According to Stevenson's wife, one of the most important influences was 'another strange case of 'multiple personality'' by which Stevenson was 'deeply impressed' (Showalter 2000:190). While he was writing Jekyll and Hyde, the author read in the Archives de Neurologie, a French journal on sub-consciousness, the case of Louis V., who was a male hysteric that 'underwent a startling metamorphosis' beginning in his adolescence (ibid., cf. ibid.). All these facts in addition to Stevenson's 'passionate aim 'to find a body, a vehicle for that strong sense of man's double being' which he had felt as a student in Edinburgh when he dreamed of leading 'a double life - one of the day, one of the night'' may have been his inspirations which culminated in the writing of the novel (Stevenson quoted in op. cit.:191).

More books from GRIN Publishing

Cover of the book AFTA's impact on Vietnam by Corinna Roth
Cover of the book Dracula and Victorianism: A conservative or subversive novel? by Corinna Roth
Cover of the book Problemática gnoseológica y filosofía by Corinna Roth
Cover of the book The Korean movie 'Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter ... and Spring'. Interactions between Geographical Location, Natural Surrounding and Storyline by Corinna Roth
Cover of the book Corporate Analysis 'Nebelhornbahn AG CS' by Corinna Roth
Cover of the book Potential Benefits And Limitation Of Adopting The IFRS For Germany by Corinna Roth
Cover of the book Superquantic Culture Consciousness by Corinna Roth
Cover of the book The ethical dilemma of non-forcible Humanitarian Interventions by Corinna Roth
Cover of the book Iago´s Iniquitous Cajolery of the Suspicious Othello by Corinna Roth
Cover of the book Tourism marketing by Corinna Roth
Cover of the book Geoffrey Chaucer's 'The Tale of Sir Thopas': Elements of Parody and Satire by Corinna Roth
Cover of the book Distribution of Intestinal Parasitic Infections among the Residence of Porto Novo Municipality of Cape Verde by Corinna Roth
Cover of the book Treatments for BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder). An Annotated Bibliography by Corinna Roth
Cover of the book The concept of Time and Duration in Virginia Woolfs novels - A stream of consciousness by Corinna Roth
Cover of the book Immunmodulation inflammatorischer Autoimmunerkrankungen mit Hilfe Mesenchymaler Stroma-/Stammzellen by Corinna Roth
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy