Duality Stevenson writes about the duality of human
Duality • Stevenson writes about the duality of human nature – the idea that every single human being has good and evil within them. Stevenson describes how there is a good an evil side to everyone's personality, but what is important is how you behave and the decisions you make. The choices people make determine whether a person is good or not. • In Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Dr Jekyll is a well-respected, intelligent scientist who secretly has a dark, immoral side to his personality. This side of his personality is not active, however, he decides to activate it through his experiments. This side becomes active through the persona of Mr Hyde a criminal man who commits cruel acts of violence against others. Through this change in Jekyll's character, Stevenson shows the duality in human nature - the idea that everyone is capable of good and evil deeds.
Why has Stevenson presented theme of man's duality in Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde? What is he trying to suggest? • There isn't the binary opposite of good and evil things are not that simple. • Everyone is capable of good and evil acts. • Going against the Victorian mindset that some people are born good or bad.
AO 3 – Duality Context Darwin London • Some 15 years before Jekyll and • In 1889, Charles Booth created Hyde, Charles Darwin had published colour coded poverty maps which The Descent of Man (1871), a book showed how the rich and poor in which he concluded that (respectable and disreputable) lived humankind had ‘descended from a in close proximity. hairy, tailed quadrupled’ which was • Stevenson hints at the underworld itself ‘probably derived from an of London throughout the novella ancient marsupial animal. ’ when we don’t know where • Going back even further, Darwin characters have been or where they hypothesised that these stages of acquired goods. evolution had been preceded, in a direct line, by some ‘amphibian-like creature, and this again from some Criminals fish-like animal. ’ Deacon Brodie was a Scottish cabinet maker • Such a nightmarish biological (Stevenson’s family owned one of the cabinets) lineage that denied the specialness and an Edinburg city councillor. However, he of humans feeds into many late. Victorian Gothic novels. Dracula’s led a separate life and used his skills to copy ability to transform into the shape keys of his clients and by night he was a burglar – his first attempt gaining £ 800 from a bank. He of a wolf or bat in one example. used the money to fund his gambling habit, four mistresses and two children.
AO 3 Context - Duality Homosexuality • Not tolerated during the Victorian era, homosexuality was deemed both criminal and sinful. Stevenson’s wife burned his original manuscript supposedly because of the hints towards homosexuality and because she feared for his reputation as a children’s writer. • In 1885, Section 11 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act included an undefined term called ‘gross indecency’ which became used to prosecute homosexuals as committing criminal activity with very little evidence. • It was dubbed the blackmailer’s charter because it was seen as an easy way to get someone imprisoned. Plus almost all of the characters are bachelors. Anatomical Discovery • The depiction of Dr Jekyll’s house was possibly based on the residence of famous surgeon John Hunter (1728 -1793), whose respectable and renowned house in Leicester Square in the 18 th century also had a secret. • In order to teach and gain knowledge about human anatomy, Hunter required human corpses, many of them supplied by grave robbers getting executed prisoners and unidentified paupers. • These were brought, usually at night, to the back entrance of the house which had a drawbridge, leading to the preparation rooms and lecture theatre so that trainee doctors could be provided with bodies to practice dissecting.
AO 1 – Duality Quotes • “ape like fury” • “a dingy street, a gin palace. ” • “one of your fellows who do what they call good. ” • “hence it came about that I concealed my pleasures. ” • “hiss” • “savage laugh. ” • “Troglodytic” • “like a thief to Harry’s bedside. ” • “indifferently known as the laboratory or dissecting rooms. The doctor has bought the house from the heirs of a celebrated surgeon. ” • “hardly human. ” • “cloak” • “Mask” • “much smaller. ” • “veil” • “moved like a monkey. ” • “the street shone out in contrast to its dingy neighbourhood”
Darwin Facts Quotes London Criminals Homosexuality Anatomical discovery
Jekyll and Hyde Write out the quote and answer each question: How does this link to the context? How does this foreshadow the end? What technique does this use? What does this mean? “Fog slept above the drowned city” How does this link to duality? What point is Stevenson making here?
Today we are going to: • Revise and analyse some Jekyll and Hyde quotes • Revise theme of duality within novel • Plan the answer to an essay question which you’ll finish at home
Jekyll and Hyde Write out the quote and answer each question: How does this link to the context? How does this foreshadow the end? What technique does this use? What does this mean? “I am the chief of sinners and the chief of sufferers also” How does this link to duality? What point is Stevenson making here?
Jekyll and Hyde Write out the quote and answer each question: How does this link to the context? How does this foreshadow the end? What technique does this use? What does this mean? “Man is not truly one, but truly two” How does this link to duality? What point is Stevenson making here?
Jekyll and Hyde Write out the quote and answer each question: How does this link to the context? How does this foreshadow the end? What technique does this use? What does this mean? “A pale moon lying on her back as though the wind had tilted her” How does this link to duality? What point is Stevenson making here?
Jekyll and Hyde Write out the quote and answer each question: How does this link to the context? How does this foreshadow the end? What technique does this use? What does this mean? “An expression of such abject terror and despair” How does this link to duality? What point is Stevenson making here?
Today we are going to: • Revise and analyse some Jekyll and Hyde quotes • Revise theme of duality within novel • Plan the answer to an essay question which you’ll finish at home
Duality reminder. The theme of duality exists throughout the novel. Here’s a quick reminder about how. Whist I’m reading you through these, add anything you can to the quotes we analysed yesterday.
Duality in Victorian society In public people were very polite Very concerned with reputation Very concerned about their appearance In private some people visited drinking dens and brothels Treated people less fortunate than themselves badly Looked down on people who were not as wealthy as themselves
Duality in their religious beliefs and superstitions Heaven People thought if they behaved they would go to heaven God had given them their good fortune God had given people the ability to walk away from sin – the human race would be punished if people sinned Hell People behaving like animals - animalistic People misusing the human advantage they had been given People rejecting Gods way and the rules of society
Duality in science Vs religion Religion Science God chooses when people live and die People playing God by manipulating Science and in effect defying God has made people better than animals People behaving in an animalistic way will upset God
Duality in London Rich people live in one of the most comfortable and wealthy cities on the planet Poor people live in tiny, dirty rooms – some don’t even have this and sleep on the streets.
Duality in Jekyll and Hyde Jekyll A gentleman. Well educated, well connected – everything Victorian people would aspire to be. Hyde Savage, animalistic, rude, violent – everything Victorian society would look down on.
Today we are going to: • Revise and analyse some Jekyll and Hyde quotes • Revise theme of duality within novel • Plan the answer to an essay question which you’ll finish at home
1 2 Step 5 1– –whatdo Step 4 – 6 re-read Step 3 Step – are difficulties Step 2 – what can you need to and underline there any “redin you in out cananswer yousee work the anythingyou youdo herrings” here? understanding already? Is question? know don’t know Any common the anything text? there mistakes you can discount could make? or disregard? 3 4 5 6 7 – now plan your answer
Complete four paragraphs in answer to this as your revision. Two on the excerpt, two on the whole of the novel using the quotes we looked at earlier. Hand it in and I’ll mark it.
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