Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: Elements of the Historical Content

A historical element used is of Mr. Hyde's extravagant home. In his home he has expensive carpets and and a closet full of wine. Like in the Victorian age, Hyde's house is furnished with luxury and good taste. Victorians tried to show off their wealth with expensive and luxurious objects. This setting gives the readers thoughts that Mr. Hyde is just trying to get something from Dr. Jekyll. It once again gives Mr. Utterson the sense that Mr. Hyde is up to no good.

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: Elements of Relationship

An important relationship I find in the story is that of Mr. Hyde and Mr. Utterson. Mr. Utterson first heard about Mr. Hyde through a retelling of an incident between the awkward man and a young girl. That is when Mr. Utterson begins having suspicion over who Hyde is and what his intentions are towards Dr. Jekyll. Mr. Utterson's encounters with Mr. Hyde provoke Utterson to observe Hyde and his actions. Utterson makes it his goal to discover who Mr. Hyde is and how he affects Dr. Jekyll's life.

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: Literary Elements (2)

The rising action of the story is of when Mr. Hyde commits a crime unacceptable in the setting he is in.

"The old gentlemen took a step back, with the air of one very much surprised and a trifle hurt: and at that Mr. Hyde broke out of all bounds, and clubbed him to the earth. And next moment, with ape-like fury, he was trampling his victim under foot, and hailing down a storm of blows, under which the bones were audibly shattered and the body  jumped upon the roadway. At the horror of these sights and sounds, the maid fainted." p. 15

Mr. Hyde is seen murdering a man in the middle of the street by a maid. He was easily recognized by the maid and he was already being hunted. Mr. Hyde's previous encounter with a young girl didn't help convince the public he was innocent. It only proved more he was capable of committing such a despicable crime. After such an incident Mr. Hyde caused much suspicion towards his intentions with Dr. Jekyll. Mr. Hyde even disappeared for a certain period and the relationship between Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Utterson, and Dr. Lanyon restored itself. The presence of Mr. Hyde eventually caused a friend's death and the disintegration of a long-term friendship.

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: Literary Elements

A literary element I found in the story was exposition. At the beginning of the book Mr. Utterson is told the story of the door and how Mr. Hyde was first recognized.


"I was coming back home from some place at the end of the world, about three o'clock of a black winter morning, and my way lay through a part of town where there was literally nothing to be seen but lamps.... All at once, I saw two figures: one a little man...and the other a girl.... Well, sir, the two ran into one another...." p. 2


Mr. Enfield is letting Mr. Utterson know of the strange encounter of Mr. Hyde and a small child. The purpose of the exposition is to tell of how Mr. Hyde first encountered anyone in the city. From that moment on he was seen as a rude and awkward person. No one really knows much about him and he isn't seen much. This is also where Mr. Hyde is first met by the reader and the impression he makes on the reader. To me Mr. Hyde seems to be misunderstood but he doesn't really seem to care what people think of him.

Until Death Do Us Part

Ch. 24

This man that has found me has been so kind and non-judgmental. He has seen my pain and has promised to rid this world of the daemon if I am not capable. He seems to really care about my well-being and about my actions toward the creature. I only hope for the end of the creatures life. This ll needs to end but it won't until either the creature or I are dead. The only way I will rest peacefully is if the creature is the one dead. I will know for sure no one else will be hurt.

They're All Gone!!

Ch. 23

My Elizabeth and my father have been taken away from me. No matter what their deaths will always be traced back to the awful creature and my idea of bringing him to life. My only reason to live now is to avenge my family's death. The creature must be killed and his deathly rampage must end. I can't let his crime and the unjustly punishment of others go without a vendetta. I have to do this on my own because it seems like the legal authority won't be able to capture such a creature. I created it, I must put an end to it.

When Will It End?

Ch. 21

I can't believe the next victim was my dear friend Clerval. So young and so full of hopes and dreams, it is unfair he was killed. The wretched monster has kept his promise of destroying my life. I should be put to death because I created the daemon that has brought sorrow to the beings around me. I am thankful to Mr. Kirwin for believing in my innocence but I still feel guilty for bringing such a wretch into the world. I just want to return to secure the safety if my beloved Elizabeth. I'd like to spend the rest of my life with her in peace without any worries. I hope we can have a beautiful and happy wedding without having to expect a monster seeking our deaths.

Victor

Should I? Or shouldn't I?

Ch. 19-20

Seems like traveling would be a good distraction from what I have promised the creature. I can't help but worry about my family. I'm afraid the creature will think I have deceived him and take vengeance on all the people I love.

Can I really create another fiend that will have the ability to destroy and kill? I have no way of knowing if she will be able to control her desires of hurting innocent human beings. I know the creation of the monster will determine the fate of the family's happiness but it seems I have to satisfy the first creature. I don't want to seem weak and I don't want to bring destruction to the world. What do I do?

I can hopefully get a clear answer if I try to see what will happen if I don't make the female creature. You could say I'm testing the daemon but I really need to know if I'm doing the right thing.

Confused

Ch. 17

I feel some compassion for the creature because he is MY creature. I still don't know if what am doing is right. I'm creating him a companion but the outcome will also benefit me. He will leave far away from here, from the people I love forever. They might just terrorize the world out of spite. His claims sound too good to be true.

He really seems to want somebody that will accept him and love him as mush as he would leave them. I know other humans won't be able to accept him because of his appearance. At least a creature with the same features won't be able to discriminate against him. He also seems to want to teach the female creature the right way to live. He will be there to protect her and teach her everything he learned on his own. He will be able to do what I was not able to do.

So it was him...

Ch. 16

I am now certain the William's killer is the creature. Although I was once enraged by at the creature for the murder I have some sympathy for the creature. He roamed the world with no knowledge about right from wrong. He had to learn from secret observations about deceit and love. When he tried to seek that love he was pushed away and hurt. From my abandonment his anger and feeling of vengeance grew. He was even shot at for saving a helpless girl. For showing kindness and care he has been almost killed (if that's possible).

The only person I can blame for the feelings of vengeance and hate towards the human race he has is me. I left him unprotected. What if God had left mankind alone and unprotected? We probably would have grown to be an even worse species. It does anger me to know that the creature murdered William but it angers me even more that all the pain could have been avoided if I had had some sense.

Victor

The Evil of Mankind

Ch. 14-15

The creature has now learned about the deceit humankind can accomplish. The De Lacey's  were tricked by a man only wanting to be free. He used his daughter's love for a man as a pawn to wriggle his way out of punishment. The creature has learned about the unlawful way innocent people are treated by government. The same treatment Elizabeth hates because the lives of two very close people she loved were taken. At least he also knows that some loyalty can always be found. Safie has been able to show the creature love is often the strongest bond between people.

I am in complete shock to learn that this creature has learned the importance of books. He has been able to experience great stories through Plutarch's Lives, Sorrows of Werter, and Paradise Lost.

Learning ABC's

Ch. 8

I never once thought the creature would learn to speak. It never occurred to me it could grasp knowledge like any other human being alive. It is also astonishing that those poor people never even suspected such a creature to be living with them and watching their every move. If I had giving this amazing creature the smallest amount of hope great things could have come from his creation.

His knowledge is so great. It would have taken a normal human being most of their life to learn what this pieced-together creation took only a couple of years. Still he would be disowned in this world. In a world where without money, property, or riches a man is considered worthless. This poor creature would never live peacefully. Even I, his creator, cannot accept him.

Frankenstein

Ch. 11-12

I did not realize the creature would be like a small child. He had no way of knowing what his senses were and how the world worked. He had to learn what one learns through attention and affection from a caregiver on his own without any kind of direction. He has also suffered in the hands of humans that know nothing of the creature. His appearance startled them all and they resulted in violence. I was completely wrong about his behavior. He seems to be the most innocent creature I know. He even learned to help and care for others without even being taught.He learned about the love and care people have for each other. Through this time the creature forgot about is painful and lonely past and looked to the future for happiness. I no longer know who is William's killer and the one who wanders freely. I feel even more guilty for letting him roam the world alone.

Ch. 9-10

I have the worst feeling a person could ever have in their life. I wander around the nature sites of my hometown trying to find some kind of peace of mind. I'm trying to reminisce my boyhood and have some kind of joy from the past.  My family has enough trouble and I'm just adding stress to their minds. Because of me Elizabeth has lost hope in all mankind. She feels that she can't trust the rest of the world but the one she can't trust is me.

I thought all the anger I had was towards the creature I made. I have left him in a world that will alienate him or even kill him. If not even his creator will accept him, who will? I now have a completely different weight on my shoulders. He says I choose whether he lives peacefully or brings me to my ruins. It brings me to question whether he really killed William or not. I should really listen to his story to discover his whereabouts and if they relate to William's death at all.

Victor Frankenstein

Ch. 8

Justine was easily put into the position of murdering William. She had no solid alibi to keep her from being a suspect. If I did not know the truth I would have also believed she was the murderer. I feel that I am the true murderer because I created that creature. I gave it the life it needed to to commit such a crime. I couldn't stand hearing Justine tell about her innocent whereabouts while everyone else thought they were lies. Justine is too innocent of a person to have done such an awful thing.

They declared her guilty. She even confessed she was guilty because she knew no one would ever believe her. Justine confessed to Elizabeth and me that she was innocent. I of course know who the true murderer is. I feel like such a disgrace. Why can't I just let the truth be known? Am I that much of a coward? Justine will ever be known as a murderer even though the family of the victim pleaded for her freedom. I just hope Justine will forgive me for my cowardly actions.