Robot Says…

The concept of Freud's "Id, Ego, and Super-Ego" is essential for understanding the duality of human nature depicted in Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. The novel explores the internal struggle between primal desires and moral conscience, aligning closely with Freud's model of the psyche.
Dr Jekyll represents the "Ego," which struggles to maintain balance between societal expectations and hidden desires. His statement, "I stood already committed to a profound duplicity of life," reveals his awareness of this internal conflict.
The "Id" is embodied by Mr Hyde, who is the physical manifestation of Jekyll's repressed, primal instincts. Hyde's actions, such as the "trampling" of a young girl and the murder of Sir Danvers Carew, demonstrate unchecked desires and aggression, free from moral constraints.
The "Super-Ego" can be interpreted as the societal and moral pressures that weigh on Dr Jekyll. His guilt and eventual remorse for unleashing Mr Hyde reflect the influence of this part of his psyche. Jekyll admits, "I bring the life of that unhappy Henry Jekyll to an end," suggesting the overwhelming power of his conscience.
The transformation between Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde illustrates the tension between these elements of the psyche. Jekyll's experiments can be seen as an attempt to separate his "Id" from his "Ego" and "Super-Ego," but the results reveal the impossibility of such a division.
Freud's theory contextualises the novel's themes of repression and the duality of man. Victorian society, much like Jekyll, demanded a façade of respectability while suppressing darker impulses, mirroring the conflict between the "Super-Ego" and the "Id."
The novel invites readers to question whether the "Id" can ever be fully controlled or eradicated. Hyde's increasing dominance over Jekyll shows the dangers of ignoring or underestimating the power of primal instincts.
By applying Freud's model, readers gain a deeper understanding of the novel's exploration of identity, morality, and the complexity of human nature. </aside>

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