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The Strange Case Of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Essay

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The Strange Case Of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Discussion as an example of Gothic Fiction and as a critique of Victorian society. This book was written at a time of change in the world of fiction as a new form of gothic literature emerged. Fin de Siecle was a new type of New Gothic that had elements that differed from previous gothic stories. Stevenson's story is based around various shards of the gothic and is mainly focused on exposing the "duality of man" and his struggle to hide it from the outside world. The symbolism of Jekyll and Hyde is truly extended to all with differing parts in all of us. It was not a new idea as it had been seen in the classic example of a good and bad guardian, a devil on one shoulder and an angel on …show more content…

Tales of Burke and Hare simply fed his imagination and also affected his dreams. These stories of perfectly normal people having a secret life locked in a cupboard evidently had a huge impact on Stevenson as the image of concealment and a double life is a huge part of the story, Jekyll's struggle to hide his creation from the world, "Jekyll was now my city of refuge; let but Hyde peep out an instant, and the hands of all men would be raised to take and slay him". As Stevenson added a new dimension to Gothic literature he reinforced his story with another genre, the detective novel. From the outset of the book we are introduced to several classic elements of the genre. The solitary narrator that is Utterson who takes the role of the detective, and then this mysterious house with its peculiar entry, "Did you ever remark that door?", which is followed by the entry of the classic gothic figure, a sinister "Juggernaut" who immediately invokes a disgust in all whom he meets, "I saw that Sawbones turn sick and white with the desire to kill him". This helps the reader identify who the villain of the story is, but may also be attack on society's preconception of judging people simply on their appearances as already he is described with anger within the first instance of his description and this continues throughout the book, "an imprint

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