Addiction as Central Theme in Jekyll and Hyde: Beyond the Good versus Evil Interpretation
Overview
This essay analyses Robert Louis Stevenson's Jekyll and Hyde through Patricia Comitini's scholarly interpretation, arguing that addiction rather than the traditional good versus evil dichotomy serves as the story's central theme. The paper examines how the three main characters—Jekyll, Hyde, and Utterson—represent interconnected themes of law, medicine, and morality within Victorian society, with their relationships fundamentally rooted in addiction and social transgression.
What this essay covers
- Introduction to Comitini's unconventional interpretation of Jekyll and Hyde centered on addiction
- Critique of popular good versus evil interpretation and presentation of alternative thematic analysis
- Character analysis of Utterson, Jekyll, and Hyde as representations of law, morality, and hidden desires within Victorian social context
- Examination of Jekyll and Utterson's relationship as opposing sides of society and discussion of Hyde's inheritance controversy
Preview
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Addiction
The most compelling interpretation of the story is one given by Patricia Comitini in her journal. The idea she presents debunks the common interpretation to the story that seeks to find a direct relationship between Jekyll and Hyde. The introduction of the third character seemed to lurk in the shadow, but now he is given a prominent role to play and prove the point of addiction to the audience (Patricia 113). The popular interpretation is that Hyde presents the evil and irrational side of humans. In contrast, Jekyll presents the sane side, and he is linked to good deeds. The uncommon idea of Comitini is what makes the book compelling, and she uses historical events to support her explanations. The works of other authors are also used to show the connection between the Victorian society that the characters lived in, the regulations and laws that existed, and morality's concepts as interacted by society. This analysis supports the claims that Jekyll and Hyde were a story revolving around the theme of addiction and not the popular view of the war between good and evil.
Patricia Comitini acknowledges that the analysis of the story revolving around the theme of good and evil is informative and she wants to prove that there is more elaborate theme of drug addiction.