Jekyll and Hyde: Drug Addiction

Jekyll and Hyde Drug AddictionThe first stage of Dr. henry Jekylls dependance is In Robert Louis Stevensons nineteenth century novel Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, addiction is a rattling important undertone. Stevenson writes It was on this side that my new power tempted me until I cast in sla very(prenominal). I had but to drink the cup, to doff at erst the luggage compartment of the noned professor, and to assume, like a thick cloak, that of Edward Hyde (Stevenson 109). In otherwise words, Dr. Henry Jekyll concocts a very strong potion in his laboratory and drinks it. As a result of his drinking the potion, he transforms into the villainy Mr. Hyde. In Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Dr. Jekyll all the way shows all the classic signs of being a do drugs addict experimentation, denial, onslaught to quit and ab utilise. Ultimately, his egotism-destructive behavior becomes so severe that it leads him to commit take and eventually, to take his have got life.Experimentation. In Dr. Je kyll and Mr. Hyde, Stevenson notes late one accursed night, I compounded the elements, watched them boil and smoke together in the glass, and when the ebullition had subsided, with a strange glow of courage, drank the potion (Stevenson 106). This description refers to the doctor willingly concocting his strong potion. His sign direct for cooking up and testing the drug is very well- meaning. Jekyll merely wants to rid his evil self from his inviolable self. Despite the concomitant that his intentions argon good, his experimentation begins his path towards addiction and isolation. Dr. Jekylls experimentation with psychoactive chemicals is similar to how coeval addicts drink or call drugs to deal with problems in their lives.Denial is the scrap stage of Dr. Jekylls addiction. This defense mechanism is commonly practice sessiond by addicts to rid of facing the uncomfortable reality of their problem. Jekylls denial first comes up at his dinner party when Utterson comments tha t he is go increasingly informed closely Hyde. Jekyll says, it is not as bad as that and just to identify your good heart at rest, I will tell you one affaire the moment I choose, I can be rid of Hyde (Stevenson 58). This summon from Jekyll is the speech of a somebody with a drug problem. His response is very similar to how todays addicts claim that they can stop using when they want to. This is not to say that it isnt possible, but it is very difficult for an addict to quit on their own. Further more than, Jekyll besides insists that Utterson be at ease about Hyde. Jekyll asserts this is a clandestine matter and I beg of you to let it sleep (Stevenson 58). Jekyll convinces others that he and Hyde argon two separate entities when in fact they are one. This denial of Jekyll is a sign that he is becoming an addict.Similar to other addicts, Jekyll has an unsuccessful go about at stopping his drug use. For several months, Jekyll is back to his friendly ways. He begins to become sociable over again and appears to be back to his old self a new life began for Dr. Jekyll. He came out of his seclusion, renewed dealings with his friends, became once more their familiar guest and entertainer (Stevenson 71). This summons refers to Jekylls noticeable metamorphose in attitude when his drug use is ceased. Things seem to be as if they were in the old days for the doctor. However, as is often the case with addiction, his unsociable behavior refunds just as quickly as it had left. His drug use begins again as he refuses visitors and becomes extremely secluded On the 12th, and again on the 14th, the door was shut against the lawyer. The doctor was again confined to the valet de chambresion, Poole said, and saw no one (Stevenson 72). This quote is from Jekylls butler and refers to his noticing the changes in behavior of his master. These changes by Jekyll drive the butler to join forces with Utterson to find out what is passing play on with Jekyll. Jekylls attem pt at quitting is another sign that he is becoming an addict.Abuse is the next stage of Jekylls addiction. Drug abuse refers to a maladaptive pattern of use of a substance that is not considered dependent. Due to the fact that he enjoys the effects of the drug, Jekyll begins to abuse itI felt younger, lighter, happier in body wither I was conscious of a heady recklessness, a new of disordered sensual images running like a millrace in my fancy, a solution of the bonds of obligation, an unknown but not an innocent exemption of the soul. I knew myself, at the first breath of this new life, to be more wicked, tenfold more wicked, sold a slave to my original evil and the thought, in that moment, braced and delighted me like wine. (Stevenson107)This description refers to the sensations that Jekyll is feeling when he drinks his potion. It vividly details how the chemical makes him feel.Consider heroin, for example. Heroin is an illegal, highly habit-forming and very dangerous drug. Those who have never used the substance savings bank begin to understand why a person would risk their own life for such a drug. However, people addict to heroin use any means possible to get the drug and their primary purpose in life becomes seeking heroin. My point is this the reason that people use heroin or any drug is because the drug makes a person feel extremely good. Similarly, Jekyll also enjoys the pleasure that his potion gives him. Jekyll notes that it begins taking longer for Hyde to stand off as he spends more time recovering from the drugs effects. Because he enjoys becoming a different person, Jekylls abuse worsens.Jekylls continued abuse of his chemical causes serious changes in his personality. He begins behaving in unusually cruel and fell ways. For example, Enfield witnesses Hyde in motion and hence came the horrible part of the thing for the human trampled calmly over the childs body and left her screaming on the object (40). This quote describes Mr. Hyde bruta lly trampling a young girl and then disappearing into a door on the street. What is more important, it demonstrates that Jekyll is not a man who is right in mind or spirit. Jekyll begins requiring more of his drug than he has previously since then I had been obliged on more than one occasion to double, and once, with infinite risk of death, to treble the amount (Stevenson 113). To put it another way, this quote by Jekyll refers to his increasing the amount of his drug because he has built up a tolerance to the drug. Just as important, Jekyll the quote shows Jekyll admitting that his drug abuse could cost him his life. It becomes apparent that Jekyll is not only addicted to the drug, but is also addicted to transforming into the secretive Hyde. Eventually, his addiction leads him to murder a young man. Finally, when he realizes that he can no longer return back to Jekyll, and will forever be Mr. Hyde, he takes his own life.Henry Jekylls maladaptive behavior throughout the novel indic ates that he is a man suffering from an addiction. His self- destruction points to the fact that he is powerless over his potion. As a result, Jekylls experimentation, denial and abuse eventually lead to addiction. As a result, Hyde gradually takes over the doctor to the point where he can no longer return back to Jekyll. Because of this, Jekyll commits suicide. Utterson and Poole find the body of Hyde wearing Jekylls clothes. They also find a letter that Jekyll has written to Utterson explaining the whole mystery. My conclusion, then, is that Dr. Jekyll is a drug addict.