PSYCHOANALYSIS OF THE STRANGE CASE OF DR.

JEKYLL AND
MR. HYDE NOVEL BY ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON

Deta Russita
13020117140108
detarussita12@gmail.com

ABSTRACT
In this current study, an analysis of a novel written by Robert Louis Stevenson in
1866 entitled Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde will be provided. The study limits the analysis
to only analyzing psychological aspect presented in the chosen novel. This writer
aims to discover and describe the psychological aspect of the novel portrayed by
one of the characters in the novel, Dr. Jekyll. To meet the aim of this study,
qualitative method and psychoanalysis theory by Sigmund Freud were used. For the
result, the writer finds that Jekyll’s personality considered as dual personality caused
by confliction between the aspect of id, ego, and superego in his psychic. To
summarize, it can be concluded that the dual personality of Dr. Jekyll represents the
domination of the ego aspect in one’s psychology.
Keywords: psychoanalysis, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Robert Louis Stevenson
1. Introduction
Robert Balfour Louis Stevenson was a novelist, short story writer, and
poet who came from a country of the United Kingdom named Scotland. He
was born in the year of 1850. Beside earned living from his writing, he also
worked as a qualified advocate. His writing is including the famous dark and
sinister genre presented in Markheim, Thrawn Janet, Treasure Island, and
Kidnapped. He died young enough in 1894. One of his works specifically
novels, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, drew great attention of
a lot of people until today. Stevenson himself claimed that the storyline of the
novel came in one of his dreams.
The story of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde novel
centered on a respected, successful, brilliant physician named Dr. Henry
Jekyll. Unfortunately, he was too aware of the trickery of life he had. He
wanted to provide what the evil side of him wants but too afraid of what the
society might think of him. Until he succeeded in producing a potion that
allows him to separate the good and evil side of him physically and
psychologically. Eventually, his evil side, an identity he named Mr. Edward
Hyde, gradually became more vigorous than his good side. At the end of the
story, Jekyll finalized his catastrophe life in Hyde’s hand.
In this study, an analysis of Dr. Jekyll’s personality mentioned above
will be presented. The analysis will be focused on psychological aspects he
had based on the theory of psychoanalysis possessed first by a neurologist
named Sigmund Schlomo Freud.

2. Methods
The data related to the matter of this study were collected online. There
are two types of data needed, namely primary and secondary data. The
primary data include the e-book version of the selected novel. While the
secondary data consist of journals that was obtained online to support the
analysis.
The data were also collected majorly using close reading methodology.
By close reading in collecting the data, the writer intended to read the text
intensively and thoroughly. Basically, reading is always an act of paying
 attention to hidden meanings in texts. The word close in close reading could
mean in an attentive manner or as an expression of to pay close attention.
The meaning of close could also implied as near in relationship as in close
relative of the closeness of reader and the text.
The data later were analyzed using qualitative method. In this type of
methodology, the writer focuses on understanding meaning. Other than that,
this methodology will pay an interest of how people see, interpret, and
experience different events of their world. Three of key points to describe this
methodology is stated by Hignett (2001) and Robson (2011) that are related
to this study include:
1) There is only little or no use of numerical data or statistical analysis
in representing the world.
2) Sampling strategy driven by an inductive logic develops during the
analysis through the ideas and theoretical concepts.
3) Influence of the researcher is important during the study and
objectivity is not valued as much.

3. Theoretical Framework
3.1 Intrinsic Theories Used
3.1.1 Theme
The term theme in literature can be identified as the core of
the story or universal idea consisting of lesson or message
presented throughout the literary work. One important note of the
definition of theme is that theme is ideas that not only applied to
specific characters and events but also portray broader truths about
the real world of human experiences and ideas that can be applied
to anyone.
Some of more notes on what is theme about that all literary
works have theme. One literary work can have multiple themes and
different works may have similar theme to one another. The term
theme is sometimes divided into two criteria: thematic concepts and
thematic statements. Thematic concepts are related to broader idea
a literary works touches upon such as nature, love, happiness, etc
while thematic statements are related to what the work says about
 that topic of the theme in the text. For example, a statement like
“love is in the air” identified the thematic concept presented in the
text that is love. Lastly, theme is mostly never explicitly shown. Most
of the time it can be discovered by symbols, motifs, or repeating
phrases of a literary text. Those elements might be signaling a
concept or idea.
3.1.2 Character and Characterization
Character is an element of a story that indicates a person
that has a role in the story while characterization is traits, motives,
and psychology represented in a character. Characterization may
be discovered through direct quotation, another character, or by the
character him or herself. Other than that, it may also discovered
indirectly by his or her action, thought, or dialogue.
In the 15th century, characterization became more
significant part of narrative as philosopher Aristotle saw that plot is
taking a more important role that character and later in the 19th
century characterization became particularly significant. The rise of
realist novel at that time showed that characterization portray
personality of one’s individual accurately.
In developing characters and their characterization, authors
might done it either directly or indirectly or even in both ways. The
two methods are not mutually exclusive as most authors can use
both in developing their characters. When developing characters
through direct characterization, the author directly describes a
character’s personality. It may come from a narrator, another
character, or through self-description by the character him or herself
in a form of direct description in a text. In indirect characterization,
the author does not explicitly describe the character’s personality
but rather by how the character moves through the world. Thus, it is
allowing the reader to conclude the character’s personality from his
or her behavior. It may come from thought, action, diction,
appearance, manner, interaction with others of the character in
question.
 A character that plays a significant role in the story classified
as main character. The main character is the one who most related
to the story and can consist of just one or more than one person.
There is also a character called supporting character. This
character is the one who supports the main character in building the
story, either protagonist or antagonist.
3.2 Extrinsic Theories Used
3.2.1 Psychoanalysis by Freud
The theory of psychoanalysis by Sigmund Freud has basic
principle that lies in the structural concept of the id, the ego, and the
superego in human psychology. According to Freud, personality of
a human being is composed of three main structures, namely id,
ego, and superego. The presented human behavior in one’s
individual is the result of the interaction between the three systems.
Although each element has different function, nature, component,
principle, dynamism, and mechanism, the three of them can interact
with each other.
In general, it can be seen that id is the biological component
of personality, ego is the psychological component of personality
and superego is the sociological component of personality. More
detail explanation of the three components described as follows.
3.2.1.1 Id
The work of component Id in line with the principles
of pleasure, which can be understood as desires that need
to be achieved. For example, is when a baby is crying
uncontrollably when they are hungry. In this case, the baby
is not aware of what they want in the adult’s sense. The
baby only knows that they wanted it and it had to be fulfilled
at that exact moment too. From a Freudian viewpoint, the
baby classified as pure id, almost pure id. In short, id is
actually nothing but a psychological representation of
biological needs.
Id is a structure of human personality that has
existed since birth. The id is a part of human being that
 functions as a reservoir of libido; the main source of all
psychic energy. Id provides all the power to run the two
other systems: ego and superego. Id working on the
pleasure principle and demanding fulfillment immediately
for instinctive need without considering logic, morals,
values of other people. Id needs a bridge system between
the world inside and the world outside that is the ego.
3.2.1.2 Ego
One of personality components, ego, works on the
reality principle. The principle of this reality aims to prevent
stress until an object is found suitable for meeting the
needs found. As for the principle of enjoyment fulfilled, then
the principle of reality temporarily suspends the principle of
enjoyment until the required object is found. All ego power
comes from the od, and it exists to advance the goals of
the id and not to disappoint it. The ego functions as an
executive personality because it controls the action, choose
the aspects of environment to be responded and decide the
instincts that will be satisfied and how to satisfy them. To
carry out that function, the ego must integrate id and
superego demands that are often conflicting to the real
world.
When the ego tries to keep the id happy, on the
other hand, it is too experience obstacles that exist in the
real world. Often it found objects that prevented him from
reaching destination. The ego will keep a record of things
which obstruct and at the same time remembers the things
that decide the path achieving goals. Note about all the
real-world objects that block and support it which then
becomes a superego.
3.2.1.3 Superego
The third structure of human personality is the
superego. It is the internal manifestation of traditional
values and ideals of society. Through the process of
 prioritization, the commands and prohibitions given by
parents to children and implemented by giving gifts or the
punishment are processed in such ways. Superego has
two sides: the first is conscience, which is internalization
from punishment and warning. While the second is called
the ideal ego. The ideal ego comes from praise and
positive examples are given so it radiates from within.
Superego is controlled by moral principles so that it reflects
everything that is ideal and not real and seeking perfection
and not pleasure. Superego stresses on something
considered right or wrong according to moral norms that
are recognized by society.
3.2.2 Persona
The term persona represented public image of what the
others see of us. Derived from the word person and personality that
means mask, persona also means the same thing. Persona is a
mask that is used by us when we show the world who we wanted to
be seen. Although persona was originally an archetype, it gradually
realized by ourselves that it is a part of the farthest collective
unconscious of our psyche. In a good environment, persona refers
to good image that the society wanted us to contribute. In reversion,
persona can also refers to bad image that will manipulate other’s
opinions about us. The worst case is that if we fooled by the
persona that we present that some of the times we believe this
certain image we imagine of ourselves that is wrong.

4. Analysis on Psychological Aspects

4.1 The Id
Jekyll seeking to separate his good side from his dark impulses by
taking special potion to transform himself periodically into a deformed
monster free of conscience that is Mr. Hyde. By becoming Mr. Hyde, Dr.
Jekyll tramples a young girl and brutally beat to death an old man named
Sir Danvers Carew in the name of Mr. Hyde. As if Dr. Jekyll representing
the upper middle class with abundant wealth and intelligence he has, it
makes him highly respected in society. In order to maintain it, he must be
able to protect himself from misconduct by showing only the good side of
him in Jekyll’s personality.

“I had Learned to dwell with pleasure, as a beloved day-dream.

on the thought of the separation of these elements. lf each, I told
myself, could but be housed in separate identities, Iife would be
relieved of all that was unbearable; the unjust might go his way,
delivered from the aspirations and remorse of his more upright
twin; and the must could walk steadfastly ond securely on his
upward path, doingg the good things in which be found his
pleasure, ond no longer exposed to disgrace and penitence by
the hands of this extraneous evil. lt was the curse of mankind
that these incongruous faggots were thus bound togetherthat in
the agonised womb of consciousness these polar twins should
be continuously struggling. How, then, were they dissociated?”
(Stevenson, 1993: 48-49)

On the other hand, as what persona theory stated above, Mr. Hyde
is a mask used by Dr. Jekyll to satisfy lust of his evil side without being
known by the public as the highly respected Dr. Jekyll.

“I even called and made myself a familiar object on my second

character. I next drew up that will to which you so much
objected; so that if anything befell me in the person of Dr. Jekyll,
I could enter on that of Edward Hyde without pecuniary loss.
And thus fortified, as I supposed, on every side. I began to profit
by the strange immunities of my position. Men have before hired
bravos to transact their crimes, while their own person and
reputation sat under shelter. I was the first that ever did so for
his pleasures. I was the first that, could thus plod in the public
eye with a load of genial respectability, and in a moment, Iike a
schoolboy, strip off these lendings and spring headlong into the
sea of liberty. But for me, in my impenetrable mantle, the sofety
was complete” (Stevenson, 1993: 52)
4.2 The Ego
The ego of Dr. Jekyll tried to actualize what the id wants by creating
such potion that possibly can make that happen. Jekyll trying to make the
special potion so that he can transform himself into Mr. Hyde, the monster
that he can freely manifest his dark impulses.

“Here I proceeded to examine its contents. The powders were

neatly enough made up, but not with the nicety of the dispensing
chemist; so that it was plain they were of Jekyll's private
manufacture; and when I opened one of the wroppers, I found
what seemed to me ft simple crystalline salt of a white colour.
Die phial, to which I next turned my attention, might have been
about half full of a blood-red liquor, which was highly pungent to
the sense of smell, and seemed to me to contain phosphorus
ond some volatile ether. At the other ingredients I could make no
guess. The book was an ordinary version book, and contained
little but a series of dates. These covered a period of many
years; but I observed that the entries ceased nearly a year ago,
and quite abruptly. Here and there a brief remark was appended
to a date, usually no more than a single word: " double"
occurring perhaps six times in a total of several hundred entries;
and once very early in the Iist, and followed by several marks of
exclamation, "total failurel!!" AII this, though it whetted my
curiosity, told me little that was definite. Here were a phial of
some tincture, a paper of some salt, and the record of a series
of experiments that had led (like too many of Jekyll's
investigations) to no end of practical usefulness.” (Stevenson,
1993: 44)

There are two potions that Dr. Jekyll produced with different
benefits. The first potion has the ability to change his from a tall, big,
handsome, and polite Dr. Jekyll into a small, ugly, cruel Mr. Hyde. Instead,
the second potion is able to turn the figure of Mr. Hyde into Dr. Jekyll.
 “I was driven to reflect deeply and inveterately on that hard law
of life which lies at the root of religion, and is one of the most
plentiful springs of distress. Though so profound a double-
dealer, I was in no sense a hypocrite; both sides of me were in
dead earnest; I was no more myself when I laid aside restraint
and plunged in shame, than when I laboured, in the eye of day,
at the furtheronce of knowledge or the relief of sorrow ond
suffering. And it chanced that the direction of my scientific
studies, which led wholly towards the mystic and the
transcendental, reacted and shed a strong light on this
consciousness of the perennial war among my members. With
every day, and from both sides of my intelligence, the moral and
the intellectual, I thus drew steadily nearer to that truth by whose
partial discovery I hoae been doomed to such a dreadful
shipwreck: that man is not” (Stevenson, 1993:48)

4.3 The superego

The good and evil sides of people’s personalities always appear.
Especially the evil side, its appearance does not want to be known
directly. For this certain reason, humans use various masks to cover
themselves of the evil side of them, as what Dr. Jekyll does. He uses Mr.
Hyde as the mask.
The superego of Dr. Jekyll later realized that after failed the goal of
the id which in this case Dr. Jekyll slowly becoming Mr. Hyde
unintentionally, he later realized that he could not separate the good and
the devil of human psyche. Jekyll realized that both are the aspect that
complete the elements of human psychic. We’re humans are a
combination of both good and evil.

“And hence, as I think, it came about that Edward Hyde was so

much smaller, slighter, and younger than Henry Jekyll. Even as
good shone upon the countenance of the one, evil was written
broadly and plainly on die face of the other. EviI besides (which I
 must still believe to be the lethal side of man) had left on that
body an imprint of deformity and decay. And yet when I looked
upon that ugly idol in the lass, l was conscious of no
repugnance, rather of a leap of welcome. This, too, was myself .
lt seemed natural and human. ln my eyes it bore a livelier image
of the spirit, it seemed more express and single, than the
imperfect and divided countenance I had been hitherto
accustomed to call mine. And in so far I was doubtless right, I
have observed that when I wore the semblance of Edward
Hyde, none could come near to me at first without a visible
misgiving of the flesh. This, as I take it, was because all human
beings, as we meet them, are commingled out of good and evil:
and Edward Hyde, Alone, in the ranks of mankind, was pure
evil” (Stevenson, 1993: 51)

5. Conclusion
Character and characterization in literary works play an important role
in building the entire elements of literature. Through character and
characterization as a medium, the author may deliver certain messages or
issues to anyone who read their works. In the novel Strange Case of Dr.
Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, the dual personality of Dr. Jekyll depicted the domination
of ego in one’s personality. It can be captured in most parts of the novel that
Jekyll tries to manifest his id that is to separate his good and evil side. While
later, his superego realized that it is a part of human nature that can be
separated.

References
Hignett, S., & McDermott, H. (2015). Qualitative methodology. Evaluation of
human work. 4th edn. Taylor & Francis Group, Boca Raton, 119-138.
Jumino, Jumino. (2012). KEPRIBADIAN GANDA TOKOH DR HENRY
JEKYLL DALAM NOVEL Dr JEKYLL AND Mr HYDE KARYA R.L. STEVENSON.
34.
Kovar, H. (2010). Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: the two faces of the
FUS/EWS/TAF15 protein family. Sarcoma, 2011.
 Singh, S. M., & Chakrabarti, S. (2008). A study in dualism: The strange case
of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Indian journal of psychiatry, 50(3), 221.
Stevenson, R. L. (2006). Strange case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and other
tales. OUP Oxford.
Van Looy, J., & Baetens, J. (Eds.). (2003). Close reading new media:
Analyzing electronic literature (Vol. 16). Leuven University Press.
Van Peer, W. (2002). Where do literary themes come from?. Thematics:
Interdisciplinary Studies, 3, 253.

Deta Russita
NIM 13020117140108
+6282316478329