Author's Note - This piece was inspired by a quote from Jekyll and Hyde, "There is something wrong with his appearance; something displeasing, something down-right detestable ... He must be deformed somewhere; he gives a strong feeling of deformity, although I couldn't specify the point." (44) Robert Stevenson does a great job throughout his novel illustrating the idea of something dark and twisted within ourselves, something that is ultimately destructive when let out, however we cannot figure out what it is. I also noticed the way that Stevenson talks about the darkness of the night, something he uses to create an uncomfortable, almost fearful mood throughout his writing.
cracks etched
in the mirror
distorted his face
blood stained
on his hands
reminder of sin
features deformed
in his reflection
darkened his soul
he pondered
in his mind
shadows of darkness
pieces shattered
from the mirror
fell to death
night seized
his soul
dark and twisted.
Inferno - Jekyll and Hyde 2
Author's Note -- This piece was inspired by the multiple references from Dante's Inferno throughout the novel, such as "looking out upon the court by three dusty windows barred with iron ... the fire burned in the grate." (51) The three dusty windows symbolize the three parts of level seven of Dante's Inferno: violence. Three is also a repeating motif in the novel, as well as the number nine, which is the number of levels in hell according to Dante. This poem represents the different levels of hell and their respectable reasons, as well as what they are like.
I never believed,
Author's Note -- This piece was inspired by the multiple references from Dante's Inferno throughout the novel, such as "looking out upon the court by three dusty windows barred with iron ... the fire burned in the grate." (51) The three dusty windows symbolize the three parts of level seven of Dante's Inferno: violence. Three is also a repeating motif in the novel, as well as the number nine, which is the number of levels in hell according to Dante. This poem represents the different levels of hell and their respectable reasons, as well as what they are like.
I never believed,
there was no reason,
no proof, no God.
I was lustful,
violent storms now,
shake me to and fro.
I was selfish,
in icy rain I sit,
starved from indulgence.
I had it all,
everything,
but it was not enough.
I was angry,
with the world,
I'm falling deeper.
I was unorthdox,
defying the odds,
perhaps this is fate.
I always loved three,
such a violent number,
full of such hatred.
I was fake,
I hang by a thread,
it is time to let go.
I am frozen,
held tight by a hand,
clenched tight in a fist,
I am forever entrapped,
inescapable from my sins.
Author's note continued -- For those who do not know the nine levels of hell referred to in Dante's Inferno, they go as followed in order by their sin: Limbo, Lust, Greed, Gluttony, Anger, Heresy , Violence, Fraud, and Treachery. The whole idea of Dante's Inferno is cruel, dark, and twisted, something that I recommend you look up if you've never heard of it or know little about. It is truly interesting and I certainly think once you learn about it, it'll change your view on a lot of things throughout literature, especially this novel.
I hang by a thread,
it is time to let go.
I am frozen,
held tight by a hand,
clenched tight in a fist,
I am forever entrapped,
inescapable from my sins.
Author's note continued -- For those who do not know the nine levels of hell referred to in Dante's Inferno, they go as followed in order by their sin: Limbo, Lust, Greed, Gluttony, Anger, Heresy , Violence, Fraud, and Treachery. The whole idea of Dante's Inferno is cruel, dark, and twisted, something that I recommend you look up if you've never heard of it or know little about. It is truly interesting and I certainly think once you learn about it, it'll change your view on a lot of things throughout literature, especially this novel.
Night - Jekyll and Hyde 3
Author’s Note – I am very intrigued by Stevenson’s sentence structure and syntax. He uses long, flowing phrases in order to create imagery, as well as get his point across; something every writer should be able to do. For this post, I decided to use mimic lines from the novel, which are listed below. Also note, this piece does not correlate with the novel, only the sentence structures – it is simply a way to grow as a writer and develop new techniques.
Mimic lines
- A great chocolate-coloured pall lowered over heaven, but the wind was continually charging and routing these embattled vapours; so that is as the cab crawled from street to street, Mr. Utterson beheld a marvelous number of degrees and hues of twilight; for here it would be dark like the light of some strange conflagration; and here, for a moment, the fog would be quite broken up, and a haggard shaft of daylight would glance between the swirling wreaths. (48)
- [B]ut I was still cursed with my duality of purpose; and as the first edge of my penitence wore off, the lower side of me, so long indulged, so recently chained down, began to growl for license. (92)
- With every day, and from both sides of my intelligence, the moral side and the intellectual, I thus drew steadily nearer to that truth, by whose partial discovery I have been doomed to such a dreadful shipwreck. (104)
- It was on my moral side, and in my own person, that I learned to recognize the thorough and primitive duality of man; I saw that, of the two natures that contended in the fields of my consciousness, even if I could right be said to be either, it was only because I was radically both; and from an early date even before the course of my scientific discoveries had begun to suggest the most naked possibility of such a miracle, I had learned to dwell with pleasure, as a beloved daydream, on the thought of the separation of these daydreams, on the thought of separation of these elements. (105)
The moon rose above the skyline, illuminating the night sky that bounded us to the ground. A smooth vanilla blanket hid the heavens, but the stars were continually glowing and radiating through the heavy bewildered milky-way; so that is as we walked from street to street, you adored the mysterious number of shades and hues of dusk; for here it would be like the twilight of some strange conflagration; and here, for a moment, the clouds would break apart, and a small cavity of moonlight would pour down upon our dazed faces. (1) The night had taken ahold of our souls, intertwining them as we continued walking, hand in hand.
With each hour, and from all parts of my mind, the rational and the illogical, I thus strived gradually nearer to the truth, by whose partial discovery I had been doomed to such a dreadful pain. (3) There was something about it that killed me inside, perhaps that I knew the ending, but right there, right then and there, perhaps the ending was insignificant; maybe for this one night we could escape the inevitable, even if it was only for a few hours. It was on my foolish side, and in my own thoughts, that I taught myself to forget the detailed and flawed parts of you; I saw that, of the two creatures that dwelled within the shadows of your conscious being, even if it could have said to be right, was only because you were inseparably both; and from the beginning even before the course of my rational thoughts had begun to question the most delicate possibility of such a tragedy, I had yielded to believe the truth, as you were my perfect nightmare, on the thought of the losing of these nightmares, on the thought of losing of you. (4)
However, as the night stretched on my thoughts dwindled from the inevitable; there was something about you, a manifestation of sorts that was almost seducing, yet as beautiful as it was I was terrified to know what would be unleashed. As the blacks and blues began to fade from the sky, the stars dwindled away from our view, casting hues of dawn upon our faces as we lied interlaced in each other’s arms. But I was still cursed with inevitable of our love; and as the romanticized night of my ignorance faded, the foolish part of me, so long indulged, so quickly released from anguish, began seek for the truth. (2)
Final Thoughts – Jekyll and Hyde 4
Author’s Note – The last of my posts, though creative, have been very structured. For this final post, I thought I would share my thoughts of the book in an unstructured, almost coffee-shop-talk manner. Hopefully you enjoy the free-flowing feel (alliteration right there) to this post.
Overall, I was actually surprised at how much I enjoyed the novel – I had this feeling before we started reading that it would be such a drag, just being a classic in all, however that was short lived. Stevenson’s voice was really intriguing to me; his syntax flowed so smoothly, yet gave the impression of mystery and incompleteness. I fell in love with the way he crafts his sentences, down to each word, so concise and precise; as well as sophisticated enough that the reader doesn’t become bored.
I was also fascinated by the main theme that Stevenson brought out through Jekyll and Hyde, thus being the duality of the human nature. He sees the body as home to both good and evil, yet only one can prevail and on the journey to unleashing which is the better half he creates two characters, thus being Jekyll and Hyde. However, the duality of the human nature does not just apply to the characters of Stevenson’s novel, but every single human being – making it an easy novel to connect with. Each human being has the ability to become evil, like Hyde, yet most of us are able to hide that away. Note the intentional pun, also brought on by Stevenson… purposefully – I think. Now though everyone has the capability of become evil, it is in the choices we make that make up who we are inside, as well as the person that those who surround us also see.
The idea of what those around us see was also a concept from the novel I’d like to address. It really ties in with the choices that humans make each day that decide which half of ourselves is stronger. Think about it. If no one knew who you were would you act differently? Would you do things that you would probably never do? This is what Stevenson wanted the reader to think about; Hyde is the alternative ego to Jekyll. No one knows who he is and he has nothing to lose. When you have nothing to lose, what’s going to stop you? Nothing. Which is exactly what Stevenson wanted to express through Jekyll and Hyde – though Jekyll is a wealthy, successful man in the norm, when he begins to play and dabble in the “dark-side” he is able to escape standards that are set for him and do things that he wouldn’t normally do. Thus presenting the idea of escapism as well. Jekyll uses Hyde as an escape from the real world and his problems; a way to take out frustration and anger without losing something sacred like his life or career.
However, in the end of the novel when all is revealed and Jekyll and Hyde are truly identified in being entwined as one being, Stevenson shows us that through our choices, evil can overcome good and though it is inevitable in our world, it can be escapable if you choose correctly.
