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Evilness and happiness are shown in both A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. In all beings both natures exist. In Dickens novel the good nature wins over the evil while Stevenson creates a character who allows the evil force to overcome the goodness. The symbols of the potion and the dream powerfully unleash the dark side of Jekyll and the bright side of scrooge.
In their novels both authors present the conflicts that exist in man between good and evil. Scrooge represents a man who struggles with the good and evil traits that affect his happiness. Although Scrooge himself is grim, most of the community is happy. The people that surround him are especially joyful during Christmas, reflecting the religious beliefs of the Victorian Era. Portrayed as a lonely and isolated man despite his wealth, Scrooge is miserable. Dickens uses a flashback in the form of a dream to remind Scrooge of his child-like happy self.
The dream called Christmas Past symbolizes youth and innocence relating to Tiny Tim. Scrooge and Tiny Tim are parallel characters representing goodness. Through the power of the dreams, Scrooge can recognize the consequences of selfishness and generosity. Assure me that I yet may change these shadows you have shown me, by an altered life. (page 63). When Scrooge foresees his possible future as a wretched old man dying without love, he reforms. Scrooge overcomes evil by displaying kindness, generosity and compassion.
Dr. Jekyll experiments with the balance of good and evil forces that lie within himself. Through the potion and experimentation, he crates a flesh and bones character who indulges in evil pleasures and doings. The potion created by Dr.
Jekyll symbolizes evil. Dr. Jekyll must have some small amount of evil in him to cause a desire to create the potion. The potion, which sparks this seed of evil, creates the hideous Mr. Hyde. Every man, has a spot of evil in him, which is not always revealed.
The evil character, which Dr. Jekyll creates, is pure in hatred. Yes, I had gone to bed Henry Jekyll, I had awakened Edward Hyde. (page 47). This character soon becomes too strong when Dr. Jekyll can no longer control him. The transition represents the weakness of man.
Despite the evil in man, there is also good. Scrooge, although an evil man, had some good qualities about himself. Those qualities only rose up when he saw the consequences of evil. In Scrooges youth, he was innocent, being a child.
All people are born innocent, and corruption causes the welcoming of evil. This shows parallel characters between Scrooge and Tiny Tim. At his own youth, Tiny Tim is innocent, even though the boy is cripple. The crutch symbolizes evil. During the whole of this time, Scrooge had acted like a man out of his wits. His heart and soul were in the scene, and with his former self.
He corroborated everything, remembered everything, enjoyed everything, and underwent the strangest agitation. (page 26). Tiny Tim and Dr. Jekyll both seem innocent. Dr. Jekyll had some evil lurking him, as may Tiny Tim in his future. Dr.
Jekyll, a very calm, well mannered man. Dr. Jekyll is a man filled with good nature. Even though he does have his hidden evilness (Mr. Hyde) it is not shown. It is not shown because of his will, and reputation of a good man.
This doesnt hold out that long, for the evil inside him takes over. Dr. Jekyll just acts as a shield for Mr. Hyde. He covers up all the misdoings of Mr. Hyde.
Therefore, Dr. Jekyll might symbolize protection, almost like a mother or father of Mr. Hyde. After all, Dr. Jekyll did create him. This is not how Dr.
Jekyll wanted it to be. He is a kind man. To cast in my lot with Jekyll as o die to those appetites which I had long secretly indulged and had of late begun to pamper. To cast in with Hyde was to die to a thousand interests and aspirations, and to become, at a blow and for ever, despised and friendless. (page 48).
The concept of good and evil can relate to present day evil. The Taliban terrorist for example, they were not born evil. Their society slowly corrupts them into having hatred for Americans and others. Time can corrupt many, sometimes not as severe as others. As for now, during teenage years, corruption is starting.
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Research essay sample on Good And Evil Good Nature
