Not Related To My Writing - Tumblr Posts
Still on this, didn’t get all of it out. Anyway, I completely understand the appeal of a tortured soul struggling with their inner demons. But Jekyll doesn’t come off as that to me. He’s a dodger. He blames everything but himself. He’s not a bad man, it’s society and temptation. It’s not me! It’s Hyde! I will acknowledge it’s been a minute since I read the book and maybe I need to do that again but this is how I’m remembering the character and the narrative at the moment.
Honestly if anyone wants to get into a literary discussion about Jekyll and Hyde I am here for it.
Correct me if I’m wrong but in the original text doesn’t Jekyll admit to always knowing exactly what Hyde was doing just not wanting to stop it? Also, that when he woke up as Hyde he was completely aware of being Hyde and had the wherewithal to run back to the apartment he had bought to “house Hyde?” And I know that he was into shady shit prior and the main motivation for creating Hyde was so he wouldn’t feel any guilt over that shady shit. So if I’m right on the first point, combine that with the shady guilt stuff, I find it fascinating that in many adaptions of Jekyll and Hyde and in the public eye, Jekyll is seen as good if not misguided and Hyde as a truly separate and evil person. When in reality Hyde never really existed, was just a disguise, and Jekyll should be considered a truly horrendous person. The true monster of the story who eventually took his own life instead of facing the consequences of his own actions. I’m sure there are entire papers on this and better ways of pointing this out but it’s been bothering me so I thought I’d share my thoughts.
I’m fully on the Closeted Bisexual Jonathan Harker bandwagon.
You know, Dorian Gray was kinda weak. Didn’t even get through one lifetime of sin. If you’re gonna dance with the devil, commit and don’t step on his toes. Otherwise what was the whole point of selling your soul, my boy?
Eighteen years of sin is just childhood.