Assignment 3: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Throughout "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde", it is evident that Stevenson uses gothic description to help the reader experience and understand the mystery of Dr. Jekyll's split personality. Gothic description especially becomes a major part of the novella when Mr. Hyde's character begins to develop and brings turmoil to the story through all of his evil antics. The Victorian background of London is used to portray and reflect human nature and the duality of man. Stevenson is contrasting through Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, his childhood and life experiences. He grew up in two different parts of Edinbergh; the old town, which was medevial and full of poverty and then later moved to the new town which the reader can easily see represent the two different characters. For example, one street in London is described as a "fire in a forest, with its freshly painted shutters, well-polished brasses, and general cleanliness and gaiety of note, which instantly caught and pleased the eye of the passenger." This describes Dr.
Jekyll's character, who maintained his friendships and was an attractive and upright man before Mr. Hyde developed. The other street nearby is then described as a break in the line and "as a sinister block of building." Stevenson further describes the building as "showing no windows, prolonged and sordid negligence and that the door was neither equipped with a bell or knocker and was blistered and distained." This gothic description of the home and door foreshadow Dr. Jekyll's destruction and Mr. Hyde's character and the future evil behavior he will commit. Through these descriptions the reader feels terror and somewhat awestruck over the suspense of what is going to happen to Dr. Jekyll and if he will be able to escape his other self, Mr. Hyde.