FICTION ANALYSIS

Fiction Analysis: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

1. Robert Louis Stevenson's story revolves around the point of view of Gabriel Utterson, a lawyer. As he tries to discover the problems of his fellow friend Dr. Henry Jekyll, and a murder case involving a suspect named Edward Hyde. As the story continues, we find out slightly more information about the two and how they relate.  At the climax of the story, it is assumed that Mr. Hyde had murdered Dr. Jekyll, and locked himself in Jekyll's home. They find Mr. Hyde had killed himself, and with Dr. Jekyll no where to be find. However it was discovered that Mr. Hyde and Dr. Jekyll were the same person based off letters that Utterson read from Dr. Lanard and Dr. Jekyll.
2. One of the themes that I got from this story is the problems of addiction. The concoction/potion that Jekyll would drink would allow him to morph into Hyde. Even after he told himself that he would quit turning back into Hyde, he still did it. Until at one point he couldn't change back into his regular self.
3. Stevenson's uses both a mysterious and unsettling tone.
1. "The last, I think; for O my poor old Harry Jekyll, if ever I read Satan's signature upon a face, it is on that of your new friend." - Gabriel Utterson
2. "...and then came the horrible part of the thing; for the man trampled calmly over the child's body and left her screaming on the ground." - Richard Enfield
3. "...and in that case, can we venture to declare this suicide? O, we must be careful. i foresee that we may yet involve your master in some dire catastrophe." - Gabriel Utterson
4. Literary Elements/Techniques:
1. Symbolism - Concoction/potion symbolizes a form of addiction.
2. Oxymoron - "...trampled calmly..." - Richard Enfield/Page.6
3. Irony - It is ironic that Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde are the same person because they have two completely different features and characteristics.
4. Point of View - Third person, limited
5. Setting - England in the late 1800s
6. Genre - Thriller, Mystery, Drama
7. Allusion - "'I incline to Cain's heresy,' he used to say quaintly: 'i let my brother go to the devil in his own way.'" Refers to Cain and Abel of the Bible.