Style Analysis of Jekyll and Hyde
In all of English literature, there has never existed a story which has enthralled and captivated audiences as much as The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Long after the death of its author, the mysterious tale lives on as it poses readers with the questions of immortality and the struggles between good and evil. "Here again we come upon that profound seriousness of soul that underlies all Stevenson's best work; the questioning and philosophic mind groping at the intricate coil of things, the intense imagination of the Celt, fascinated by the grim and subtle mysteries of human nature" (Dawson 318). No doubt, Robert Louis Stevenson's keen perception and analysis of the human psyche aided in the timelessness of the work. But this was not the only tool which Mr. Stevenson used, for his use of diction, imagery, and point of view greatly enhanced the appeal of the novel.
The diction of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde elevates the opposing emotional forces of Dr. Jekyll's nature as he struggles with the morality issues posed by his quest for the knowledge of man's dual nature. Dr. Jekyll stated, "it was the curse of mankind that" (Stevenson 386) [the] "incongruous faggots" (Stevenson 386) [of good and evil] "were thus bound together" (Stevenson 386). "If he could but house each of them in separate identities, each would be freed from the intolerable interference of the other, incongruous twin" (Tymms 322). By using elevated language, Stevenson places the story on a higher plane of intellectualism, stimulating the reader to think at that level. This intensifies the complexity of the philosophic questions raised throughout the novel. As a further comparison of the mysterious forces behind good and evil, Stevenson used figurative language. Mr. Hyde "wasn't like a man;" (Stevenson 337) but more like "some damned juggernaut" (Stevenson 337). Dr. Henry Jekyll, on the other hand, " is a tall fine build of a man" (Stevenson 370). By using a simile to describe the evil side of Dr. Jekyll's nature, Stevenson effectively conveys his attitude towards the character to the readers. "The author...could only have" (Nabokov 322) [Hyde's face] "described by Enfield or Utterson in some oblique, imaginative, suggestive way..."
(Nabokov 322). The author chose connotative words to describe Mr. Edward Hyde and denotative words to describe Dr. Henry Jekyll. The purpose of using implied rather than literal words when describing Hyde was to project the mysteriousness and elusiveness of man's evil side. Stevenson's strong use of diction throughout the novel also aided him as he created the detail of the work.
In using imagery, Mr. Stevenson was able to denotate the duality of Dr. Jekyll's personality in a manner, which hits home with the readers more effectively. As Mr. Enfield describes Edward Hyde he states, "I never saw a man I so disliked, and yet I scarce know why...I can't describe him...and it's not want of memory; for I declare I can see him this moment" (Stevenson 339-40). The vagueness with which Enfield describes his encounter with Mr. Hyde added to the mysteriousness of the character as it caused Mr. Utterson's mind to [toil] "in mere darkness"(Stevenson 342) [as it was] "besieged by questions" (Stevenson 342). This in itself lends to man's perception of evil; for although man does not always understand evil, he is never the less drawn to the alluring appeal of it caused by curiosity. This explains the fascination for Edward Hyde, for he is "pure evil" (Stevenson 388). Dr. Henry Jekyll is a combination of good and evil. When Mr. Utterson called upon Dr. Jekyll's laboratory for a visit, he found the doctor "looking deadly sick" (Stevenson 355) as he greeted his guest with a "cold hand and...changed voice" (Stevenson 355). Because Dr. Jekyll does possess some good, he therefore suffers the pains of conscience caused by Hyde's evil doing. The detailing of the novel also aids in revealing the point of view prevalent in the story.
The third person limited point of view of the novel allows the reader to enter the story at a distance in order to view the main characters on a more objective light. The story is a narrative told by Mr. Utterson, and therefore the reader experiences only what that character apperceives. [Mr. Utterson] "began to slowly mount the Street, pausing" (Stevenson 346) [to place] "his land to his brow like a man in mental perplexity...thus debating...the problem...as he walked" (Stevenson 346). Throughout the novel, Mr. Utterson wonders as to the relation between his friend Dr. Jekyll, and Mr. Edward Hyde. Just as Mr. Utterson wonders, so does the reader as he follows the character in his quest to uncover the truth. The questions, which constantly arise from the mind of Mr. Utterson also add to the mysteriousness of the title characters. Mr. Utterson believed that "if he could but once set eyes on" (Stevenson 343) [Mr. Hyde] "the mystery would lighten...as was the habit of mysterious things when well examined" (Stevenson 343). As the truth unfolds at the end of the gruesome tale, Mr. Utterson is shocked and horrified to find that Henry Jekyll and Edward Hyde are one and the same man. This new information comes as a complete surprise to the lawyer as well as the readers; for no extra information is revealed to the audience, which is not given to Mr. Utterson. This adds to the suspense of the tale as the mystery is finally solved, and the nagging questions receive the much-needed answers.
The psychological intrigues of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde continue to fascinate the minds of thriller fans as well as prominent literary personalities. The reason for the success of the novel is best said in the words of Joseph Egan which state, "The meaning of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and all of the story's artistic design thus continually carry us back to the idea that humanity is, in the end, synonymous with the struggle of good and evil" (328). For this reason and many others, the novel will live on as a classic work of literary fiction.
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