This term paper deals with the analysis of the narration in the novel “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” written by Robert Louise Stevenson in 1886. First, I will analyze the narrative situation by elaborating on the narrative structure of the story and its effect on the reader. Then I want to examine the reliability of the different narrators in the book. In the end I will summarize my results by drawing a short conclusion.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Narrative Situation
2.1 Narrative Structure
2.2 Effect on the Reader
3. Reliability
4. Conclusion
5. Bibliographie
Objectives and Core Themes
This paper investigates the complex narrative structure of Robert Louis Stevenson’s "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," specifically analyzing the interplay of different perspectives and their impact on reader experience and narrative reliability.
- Multiperspectival narrative construction (Enfield, Utterson, Lanyon, Jekyll).
- The function of embedded documents and first-person narratives.
- The role of the narrator in creating and maintaining suspense.
- Assessment of narrative reliability and truth claims in a fragmented text.
- The impact of shifting narrative points of view on the reader's perception.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1 Narrative Structure
The beginning of the novel is told by an authorial narrator who “offers a godlike panoramic view from an Olympic position outside and above the story” (Meyer 66). Also the characters are introduced by this omniscient voice, for example Mr. Utterson who is described in a very detailed way. Furthermore, on the first page, the thoughts of people (here Mr. Utterson’s and Mr.Enfield’s) are presented which is also a hint for an omniscient perspective. During one of their “Sunday walks” (1), Mr. Enfield tells “a very odd story” (1) to his friend Utterson in first-person narration. Because Utterson is the one who is addressed we already see the story from his point of view. The fact that he, and also the reader, is not satisfied by Enfield’s explanation sets the story going (Niederhoff 32). From chapter 2 onwards, the story is told by an undefined narrator but the reader goes along with Utterson’s perspective. He functions as a reflector, due to this, we see the scenes through his eyes (Meyer 67).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the research focus on the narrative techniques and reliability of narrators in Stevenson's novel.
2. Narrative Situation: Examines the multiperspectival approach and the structural role of various documents and characters within the story.
2.1 Narrative Structure: Details the transition from an authorial narrator to various first-person accounts and the use of documents to piece together the plot.
2.2 Effect on the Reader: Analyzes how the shifting perspectives and lack of total information serve to create suspense and allow for reader speculation.
3. Reliability: Investigates the credibility of the various narrators, noting the consistency of the story despite the absence of chronological order.
4. Conclusion: Summarizes the finding that the novel's power lies in its complex, fragmented narrative structure and its consistent internal logic.
5. Bibliographie: Lists the primary and secondary sources used for the literary analysis.
Keywords
Robert Louis Stevenson, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Narration, Narrative Structure, Multiperspectival, Utterson, Reliability, Suspense, First-person narrative, Omniscient voice, Literary analysis, Dr. Lanyon, Henry Jekyll, Fragmented self, Narrative technique.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper focuses on the narrative analysis of Robert Louis Stevenson's novel "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," specifically investigating how the story is told through different perspectives.
What are the central themes discussed?
The central themes include narrative structure, the effect of multiple perspectives on the reader, the reliability of narrators, and the use of embedded documents.
What is the core research goal?
The goal is to demonstrate how the multi-layered narrative technique creates suspense and to evaluate whether the accounts provided by the characters can be considered reliable.
Which scientific methods are applied?
The author uses a qualitative literary analysis, utilizing narratological concepts such as "authorial narrator," "reflector," "heterodiegetic narrator," and "first-person narrative" to examine the text.
What does the main body of the paper cover?
The main body breaks down the narrative situation into structure and effect, discusses the reliability of the narrators, and analyzes how specific documents contribute to the mystery.
Which keywords best describe this work?
The most relevant keywords include Narration, Narrative Structure, Multiperspectival, Reliability, Suspense, and Jekyll and Hyde.
How does the narrator transition affect the reader's understanding?
The shift from an authorial perspective to first-person accounts (like the letters of Lanyon and Jekyll) forces the reader to re-evaluate information and eventually piece together the truth about Jekyll's dual identity.
Why does the author consider Jekyll potentially unreliable?
Jekyll is deemed potentially unreliable because he is the "experiencing-I" directly involved in the events, and he explicitly mentions his own mental instability and loss of identity.
- Quote paper
- Anna Theresa Wendel (Author), 2012, Narration in Robert Louis Stevenson's "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/208470
