Vol 15 No 2 (2024): June
Cultural Studies and Community Development

The Rebellion of the Double in Stephenson's Dr. Jekyll and Mr.Hyde and Shelly's Frankenstein
Pemberontakan Ganda dalam Dr. Jekyll dan Mr. Hyde karya Stephenson dan Frankenstein karya Shelly


Marwan Abdulmunem Tawfeeq
Tikrit University, College of Arts, Department of English Language, Iraq *

(*) Corresponding Author
Picture in here are illustration from public domain image or provided by the author, as part of their works
Published May 24, 2025
Keywords
  • Freudian psychoanalysis,
  • duality,
  • repression,
  • doppelganger,
  • Victorian literature
How to Cite
Tawfeeq , M. A. (2025). The Rebellion of the Double in Stephenson’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr.Hyde and Shelly’s Frankenstein . Indonesian Journal of Cultural and Community Development, 15(2), 10.21070/ijccd.v15i2.1054. https://doi.org/10.21070/ijccd.v15i2.1054

Abstract

General Background: The duality of human nature, particularly the conflict between socially acceptable and repressed desires, has been a central theme in both psychology and literature. Freudian psychoanalytic theory, which explores the conscious and unconscious mind, provides a robust framework for understanding this duality. Specific Background: The novels Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson, both set in the Victorian era, epitomize the struggle between repressed desires and societal norms. These works have been studied extensively, yet there remains a need for a deeper exploration of how these repressions manifest as doppelgangers and the psychological consequences therein. Knowledge Gap: Although previous studies have addressed the concept of duality in these novels, the specific role of Freudian constructs—such as the id, ego, and super-ego—in shaping the characters' fates remains underexplored. Aims: This study aims to analyze the portrayal of repressed desires through the lens of Freud's psychoanalytic theory, focusing on how these desires lead to the creation of doppelgangers in Frankenstein and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Results: The analysis reveals that the protagonists' repressed desires manifest in their doubles, who ultimately overpower their creators, leading to their downfall. The study shows that the failure of the ego to mediate between the id and the super-ego results in catastrophic consequences. Novelty: This research offers a novel comparative analysis that integrates Freudian theory with literary interpretation, demonstrating how repressed unconscious desires drive the narrative and character development in these works. Implications: The findings suggest broader implications for understanding the psychological effects of repression in both literature and real-world contexts, particularly within the framework of societal expectations and individual desires.

Highlights:

 

  1. Freudian Constructs: Id, ego, and super-ego drive character actions and outcomes.
  2. Doppelganger Analysis: Repressed desires surface through literary doubles, leading to downfall.
  3. Victorian Idealism: Conflict between societal norms and hidden ambitions creates tension.

 

Keywords: Freudian psychoanalysis, duality, repression, doppelganger, Victorian literature

References

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