Stevenson anticipates Freud by demonstrating two sides to human nature. The good, Dr. Jekyll, and the evil, Mr. Hyde. As Dr. Jekyll describes, "I now had two characters as well as two appearance, one wholly evil, and the other was still the old Henry Jekyll...(pg111)" Freud defined three parts to human nature, id, ego, and superego. In the case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde; the first would represent ego and superego the side of humans that is concerned with morality, experiences guilt, and reason, while Mr. Hyde would represent id, the impulsive, self gratifying, and amoral. Dr. Jekyll experiences guilt for Mr. Hyde's actions, knowing that they are also his actions. When he stays in the form of Jekyll for the last two months he tries to help others. Mr. Hyde is only concerned about himself, his desires, and self preservation. He only allows Jekyll to take over the last two months to keep from being arrested.
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13 years ago
Kelsey,
ReplyDeleteI think you are completely right about the other side of Mr. Jekyll. His other "subconscious" self, Mr. Hyde, is selfish and evil and truly represents the id, or the immoral side of human nature. I also agree with you that Dr. Jekyll knows and understands that Mr. Hydes actions are his own, and feels responsible for what he has done. Which leads me to wonder how he experiences remorse for his horrible and immoral actions that he performs when he keeps persisting to repeat them?? He commits numerous crimes, but then always ends up feeling sorry for himself and his actions. Yet, he can't stop his want to transform into the evil Mr. Hyde..Maybe he got what he truly wanted in the end, to live out his subconcious and stay evil forever by being stuck in Mr. Hyde's body..?