Metamorphosis by Frank Kafka and the strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

Introduction

 The strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and the metamorphosis are two great novels that have surprising similarities. In particular, the two novels reveal the elements of transformation. Even though the novels differ in terms of storyline and language, they both reveal similar elements of transformation and internal conflict by the main heroes. In specific, Franz Kafka sheds light on family and society relations. For instance, when Gregory workup and finds himself transformed into a vermin, his family develops resentment toward him. Note that before the transformation, Gregory was a salesman, and thus, he could support his family. However, the transformation leads to isolation and alienation. In the strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Dr. Jekyll is a scientist who transforms himself into a monster. Note that DR Jekyll is well respected.  However, after the transformation, Dr. Jekyll becomes Mr. Hyde and people observes see him as ugly, deformed, and wicked. An important point to understand about the novels is that the characters transform into worse characters. However, they differ in their motive for transformation. For example, Dr. Jekyll's motive is to transform his person's character. He believes that in life, one should have two natures and for this reason, he is interested in removing his lower self. However, the transformed turns him into a wicked creature, or in other words, he is a truly evil. From the deeper analysis, there is an interconnection between the two novels.  Both novels reveal the characters’ struggle in finding their own identity and the role of family and society in destroying the lives.

First, it is important to reflect on the Victorian period and understand that it was a period that was defined by industry and imagination. The history of Victorian society reveals that there were issues in social structures in that the upper class was highly valued and they could make investments whereas the lower class could work in manual labor. There was a class division in that there was a royal family, middle-upper, and lower, upper (Schubert 13). In the 19th century, there was scientific advancement and scientific discoveries and development were on the rise.    Characters such as Dr. Jekyll realized that scientific advancement plays a significant role in a person's life and for this reason, he was interested in moving beyond the boundaries without considering the consequence. Dr. Jekyll had limitless possibilities in conducting an investigation but he had little knowledge concerning the effects of the scientific research and experiment (Schubert 13).  I believe that the results of the scientific experiment caused   a great damage to humanity and social risks. In the Stevenson’s novel, the protagonist had seen new possibilities and he was willing to expose the potential of science but failed to consider the moral and social consequences. A point to note is that Dr. Jekyll has good intentions of changing lives and making it easier. He believes that human beings rely on one personality which restricts them from enjoying life. He says that "man is not truly one, but truly two"… (Stevenson, 55). He convinces himself that oneness brings a heavy burden in life and the solution is creating two separate identities and hence he has a positive identity. However, as one examines his intention closely, one can find that this experiment is risky for humankind. The idea of transforming the human mind does not have moral and social mores (Schubert 13). Note that Victorian society focuses on goodness and it does not accept Mr. Hyde's actions.  He is perceived as a violation and less civilized. I understand that Dr Jekyll has good reputation but his actions are associated with undesirable qualities. Note that Victorian society was characterized by high-class respectable people. Society expected people to adhere to social rules and promote social perfection (Schubert 13). However, the story reveals that people were not connected with their personalities and they were willing to change their human nature. However, Jekyll's desires contributed to more harm than good. His actions are associated with negative consequences such as dishonesty by society. Regarding Victorian society, the character was interested in finding success but what happens is that his actions lead to undesirable feelings. Note that in Victorian society, people could not express their negative feelings and as a result, they could hide and hence could not come out to fulfill their social roles. Since Jekyll is unable to cope up with life, he engages in secretive behaviors and he could only allow society to know his positive behaviors (Stevenson, 55). In other words, he could not reveal his full personality and this indicates that his action caused more harm.

 Similarly, Gregory's transformation contributes to anger and fear simply because his parent and family do not accept his new look. The Metamorphosis can be connected to today's society where when a person is different from others, he experiences physical, mental, and spiritual isolation from family and society. If you are a member of the community and you cannot perform the expected role. Society treats you as an unproductive individual merely because you are not positively contributing to society. Note that after the transformation, Gregory could not craw and this indicates that his condition deteriorated to an extent he could not care for his family as he  used to do (Kafka, 13).The author says that "with a kind of stubbornness, Gregory's father refused to take his uniform off even at home" (Kafka, 13). Thus, I think reveals the social isolation and this act arise due to transformation. In both novels, the characters go through a transformation and as a result of losing their previous status. They no longer belong to the social circle and they face permanent isolation. A point to note in the metamorphosis is that the character experiences an unusual process. For instance, the author says that "as Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams, he found himself transformed" (Kafka, 18). This reveals that Gregory's transformation is shocking and striking and experience's a sudden unreality. The hatred that rises from his family reveals the behaviors of the family and society. On the other hand, Stevenson's story tells us that the character transforms for scientific reasons, or in other words, the charter has a strong desire. However, in both cases, the characters have hidden dissatisfaction and the transformation is not accepted by society. 

 

Conclusion

            The two novels are unrelated but they reveal the struggle that the characters go through after transformation. In both stories, the characters resolve their problems by death or in other words the cure to the challenges their experience both within the family and in society is death.  Both characters feel guilty seeing that they are no longer valuable in society. The novels reveal how individuals struggle with good and evil and how society treats individuals who do not conform to moral and social mores. For example, the paper shows that during the Victorian era, people were expected to maintain social integrity and they were to be perfect. This indicated that people used to conceal their negative behaviors since society would not accept them. Thus, people could live a double life- that reveals they are positive [personality and hide their negative behaviors. The results were destruction due to the fail of the expression of oneself fully.  In general, the managing of the two novels is not about the characters having evil actions but it shed light on the cruel society where a society defines people as worthless if they do not play any role in society. Today, society defines a good man as a person who understands himself inside and outside or in other words, should distinguish between moral and immoral acts. However, it is important to notice the difference in the transformation motive. For example, in the Metamorphosis, the character has a realistic motive while Stevenson's novel reveals that a general human experience. However, there is evidence that the way society treats people determines whether individuals conform to the norms or not. If society would treat all people as perfect beings without considering only their positive personalities, people could not hide their personalities but they could expose them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Work cited

Stevenson L. Robert.  THE STRANGE CASE OF DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE. Gutenberg

EBook, 2018.  https://www.gutenberg.org/files/43/43-h/43-h.htm

 

 Kafka Franz. Metamorphosis.  Gutenberg EBook, 2012  https://www.gutenberg.org/files/5200/5200-h/5200-h.htm

 

Schubert, Julia. Daily Life in Victorian England: the Middle Class and Its Values. 2003,  Internet

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