Jekyll and Hyde Essay

From the Victorian era, to the 21

st
century, societal bounds and expectations changed
from being socially and sexually oppressive to more liberal. Victorian values
encouraged the suppression of ones instinctual yearnings in order to uphold repute as
such social suppression was deemed necessary in a civilized society. Similarly, in the
jazz age, the harnessing of inner drives was also promoted, however existed in some
conflict with hedonism. However, in contemporary, third world society social
oppression exists not as a result of societal pressured and bounds, but of Multi-
national Corporation. Furthermore, the sexual oppression in the Victorian era was a
result not only sexism, but the condemning of homosexuality. The Jazz age, despite
the suffragette movement and first wave feminism, was also a period of patriarchal
dominance. Finally, the 21
st
century represents a period of female dominance and
homosexual liberation that fulfills the feminist aims of earlier feminist movements.

An assessment of three different representations of Stevensons novella, composed in
different time periods allows for an understanding of the sexual freedoms that have
developed after the Victorian era. However, whilst the novella and Mamoulians film
offer a portrayal Victorian social oppression, Moffats BBC series shows how in a
largely liberalized third world society, social oppression exists as a result of
multinational corporation. Whilst Stevensons novella depicts a Victorian world,
devoid of sexual freedom and feminism, Mamoulians film depicts the emerging of 1
st

wave feminism, which is ultimately suppressed by male characters. However,
Mamoulians portrayal of burgeoning feminism is fulfilled in Moffats BBC series,
often depicts female supremacy.

Stevensons novella reflects the promotion of instinctual and emotional suppression
Throughout the Victorian era, such suppression was essential in maintaining
propriety, which was seen as intrinsic an a civilized society. Stevensons novel exists
in agreement with social suppression, by illustrating the regression of Jekyll in
relation to reputable characters like Utterson and Lanyon, from whom the novella is
narrated. The regression on Jekyll into Hyde is manifested in Hydes physical
inferiority to Lanyon in that he is wearing clothes enormously too large for him.
Whereas Lanyon propriety is highlighted in his speech in the same scene.

I have not yet had the pleasure of his acquaintance.

This comparison thus illustrates Hyde as an outsider in Victorian society, which is
conveyed in his physicality and mannerisms. The very way, in which Utterson enacts
poetic justice against Hyde, reflects the supremacy of repute and Victorian propriety.
Hence, Stevensons novella confirms the importance of ones reputability, achieved
via emotional suppression in the Victorian era.

Furthermore, Rouben Mamoulians film highlights the similar importance of
instinctual repression in conflict, which was in conflict with the burgeoning
decadence during the Jazz age. Whilst the film is devoid of Uttersons character,
Lanyon represents the importance of conservatism in the Jazz age, as opposed to
Jekylls Hedonism, which achieved through Hyde. Lanyons superiority reflects the
demise of Jekyll as a result the releasing of his inner desires. This becomes evident in
the scene where Jekyll pleads for Lanyons aid. Mamoulians use of lighting and
symbolism in the darkness surrounding Jekyll, as well as his framing being
considerably lower to Lanyons reflects the supremacy of conservative mannerisms
amongst the hedonism in the Jazz age. Therefore, Mamoulians film opposes the
hedonistic lifestyle developing throughout the Jazz age, and therefore reflects the
oppression of societal values and conservatism.

However, whilst Moffats BBC series Jekyll, presents a more liberal society, his
portrayal of the malignancy of Klein and Utterson, symbolizes the oppression and
exploitation by Multi-national Corporation in the 21
st
century. Moffat, unlike
Stevenson and Mamoulian, embraces hedonism, seen in his portrayal of Hydes youth
and more visually pleasing physicality than Jackmans. Moffat explores the
suppression of the individual and loss of identity as a result of the surveillance by
Klein and Utterson. The examination of Jackman becomes evident in the scene of his
first day of work at the company, where he is filmed using multiple tracking shots and
surveillance camera angles that appear on computer screens near Jackman. This
illustrates his inability to evade the surveillance and manipulation by Klein ad
Utterson. The narrative throughout the series follows Jackmans quest to discover his
own identity, and thus Moffat conveys the oppression of the individual by Multi-
national Corporation in the 21
st
century.

However, whist the Novella and the film reflect periods of sexual and female
oppression, Moffats BBC series illustrates the homosexual and female liberation in
the 21
st
century.

Stevensons novella reflects the condemning of homosexuality and the strong
patriarchal foundations of the Victorian era. The way, in which Stevenson rarely
depicts female characters and their insignificance to the narrative, reflects the
unimportance of females during the period. However, when Stevenson describes
female characters, they are often portrayed as weak and vulnerable characters.

The maid fainted.

Not only, does Stevenson shows the perceived fragility of females in the Victorian
era, but also addresses her by her title. This device often functions throughout the
novella to diminish the value and individuality of female characters and is also
utilized in Uttersons illustration of Hydes maid as a vile woman. This highlights
the way in which women were mainly defined not on their own characteristics, but via
their male counterparts. In addition, Stevenson hints at the condemned nature
homosexual practice in his novella, by exposing the duplicity of London in that
aristocrats like Carew, of Cavendish Square are forced to conduct their affairs away
from the public gaze. This is hinted in that Carew was found murdered in the middle
of the street in the SoHo district. Therefore, Stevenson shows in his novella, the
insignificance and frailty of female characters and the condemning of homosexuality
in the Victorian era.
Mamoulians film offers a similar conclusion about women in the Jazz age, however,
unlike Stevensons portrayal of passive females, Mamoulian depicts the emergence of
first wave feminism that is ultimately suppressed. This is largely shown through the
character of Muriel who, despite her attempts to defy her fathers commands is
ultimately under his control. Need examples here!!! Similarly, whilst Ivy Pearson is
portrayed as a sexually active and liberal character, Hyde represses her throughout the
film who instills great fear in her. However, more importantly, Ivy is trapped in the
SoHo district as a result of her promiscuity, and hence illustrating the condemned
nature of such sexual liberation, which renders Ivy and outsider in society. Therefore,
whilst Mamoulians film reflects the emergence of feminism, and sexual freedom, he
ultimately depicts the suppressed nature of such exploits.

On the other hand, Moffats BBC series fulfills the feminism and sexual liberation
that is referenced at in Mamoulians film as a result of the liberation of the 21
st

century. The reversal of male prerogatives in the 21
st
century is seen in the playing of
power roles by women. For example, Utterson, played by a woman, is depicted as the
supreme character who manipulates other characters like Jackman. This becomes
evident in the snap shots of her silhouette behind glass mirrors behind Jackman,
suggesting her surveillance. Furthermore, the way in which Jackmans caretaker is
played by a women, makes Jackman seem more vulnerable as opposed to
Mamoulians film where he is portrayed as a healer. Finally, the lesbian couple,
Miranda and Min is a representation of the liberalization of homosexuality in the 21
st

century. Therefore, the BBC series fulfills the sexual and feminist oppression of the
Victorian era and he Jazz age.

An assessment of three different representations of Stevensons novella, composed in
different time periods allows for an understanding of the sexual freedoms that have
developed after the Victorian era. However, whilst the novella and Mamoulians film
offer a portrayal Victorian social oppression, Moffats BBC series shows how in a
largely liberalized third world society, social oppression exists as a result of
multinational corporation. Whilst Stevensons novella depicts a Victorian world,
devoid of sexual freedom and feminism, Mamoulians film depicts the emerging of 1
st

wave feminism, which is ultimately suppressed by male characters. However,
Mamoulians portrayal of burgeoning feminism is fulfilled in Moffats BBC series,
often depicts female supremacy.