Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1886): Victorian Surfaces, Constraints of Fame

 

Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1886): 

Victorian Surfaces, Constraints of Fame

    In The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Robert Louise Stevenson lets the readers explore the Victorian constraints of Fame through the plot and the characters. The most outstanding aspect of this novella is the effect of the social restrictions that shape people's behavior to conform to the social norms, which lead to the repression of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Utterson's deep desires.

          In the aspect of repression, Dr. Jekyll is a great example. The confession of creating the evil side of himself, Mr. Hyde, can tell us many things about how the social restrictions suffocate him. Dr. Jekyll was born into a high-class family and grew up as an honorable man who gained much respect from others, so he must conform to what people expect him to do or be virtuous. Moreover, he had his face to save as he was in a position where his image and reputation among the public must be perfect. Dr. Jekyll then had a hard time reconciling with his deep desire and came up with the idea of living a double life: Dr. Jekyll as a good man, and Mr. Hyde as an evil man. When the first transformation happened, he felt livelier and fresher. It was not just because Hyde was younger, but because he could embrace a different identity, acting without the constraints of morality. He expressed all his feelings and desires through the actions of Hyde. He committed horrendous crimes: murdering Sir Danvers Carew and child abuse without feelings of guilt or sorry. Another character is Mr. Utterson. At the beginning of the novel, it states, "He was austere with himself; drank gin when he was alone, to mortify a taste for vintage; and though he enjoyed the theatre, had not crossed the doors of one for twenty years" (p.39). His profession as a lawyer prevented him from seeking small pleasures such as going to the theatre. It showed the state of society quite well, as the social restriction might have the ideal quality of 'a decent lawyer'  on how to behave. These examples flawlessly link to the Victorian constraints of Fame, where Dr. Jekyll, who lived under high-class society's conventions, and Mr. Utterson, who lived under the fixture of the appropriateness of being a lawyer, had to suppress their desires to fit in with the social norms.

         However, there are significant differences between how Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Utterson suppress their deep desires, which are conscience and consciousness. Dr. Jekyll created Mr. Hyde because he wanted to do what Dr. Jekyll could not do: perform dreadful actions without getting caught and feeling guilty. At first, he enjoyed living as Mr. Hyde due to the freedom and the ability to be self-indulgent without being trapped in the frame of social conventions. However, as time passed, the evil side of him slowly swallowed the virtue, and eventually, he could not triumph. It can be interpreted that he let the devil's side live in him for far too long, and it takes over all the good sides of him. While Mr. Utterson also had his desires, he chose to deny them. Although his desire is not based on the evil side like Dr. Jekyll, it is still interesting to compare these two characters because it can lead to the concealment and the secrecy of Dr. Jekyll. Unlike Mr. Utterson, who had nothing to hide due to his virtue, Dr. Jekyll had deep and dark secrets beneath the mask of 'an impeccable man'. He had to conceal the truth that he was Mr. Hyde because once the public knew his true identity, Dr. Jekyll's image would be destroyed. It can also connect to the Victorian constraints of Fame, that people in high positions and social classes have to maintain their reputations.

          In summary, it is important to recognize that social class should not serve as a determining factor for assessing an individual's virtue. A higher social status does not necessarily imply a superior level of morality or ethical awareness. The character of Dr. Jekyll allows me to see through the twisted and hideousness of human minds. If he truly believed himself to be a good man, then why would he choose to conjure Mr. Hyde, a representation of his evil impulses, to act out dissolute deeds? The fact that he never felt guilty about the crimes he committed is indescribably obnoxious. Apart from that, this novella pinpoints how social conventions shape people's actions, particularly for those in positions of power. Although social expectations have an impact on one's life, it is one's responsibility to master their mind, not to give in to the malicious mind. At the end of the day, we are the masters of our own souls.