Defending Edward Hyde

My client, Edward Hyde, pleads to the court not guilty under the circumstances of insanity. Right or wrong, guilty or not guilty; it’s all a matter of perspective. And in my eyes, Edward Hyde should not be sentenced to death or lives in prisonment due to an uncontrolable act done out of illness and confusion. Mr. Hyde was literally not in his right mind at the time of the murder, and while there is no doubt his act was a crime, he should not face torture because of an illness.
Everyday we live we fight temptation, lust, greed, wrath, envy, and pride; four of the seven deadly sins seemed to have tempted Mr. Hyde into his crime. Find it in your heart to carry out the Lords wishes, and forgive the sinners; pray for those who need it the most. The Lords Prayer states "as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." Forgive the trespassers, they too are only human, they too need forgiveness, love, and compassion. Temptation! Temptation to do wrong, to do the unjust! By forgiving we stay away from evil, let your brother go to the devil in his own way.
An eye for an eye only leaves the world blind, we cannot sentence Edward Hyde to death, for he himself is a victim.

character/theme

      It may come as a surprise that I am drawn mostly to Mr. Utterson. You have Mr. Hyde, the man commonly hated who remains mysterious in his actions and lifestyle. And then you have Dr. Jekyll, a well respected man who seems to be hiding a dark secret. But it it is Mr. Utterson who in my eyes, conveys a more hidden message.
      When cain's heresy was mentioned in the begining of the book, I did not think too much of it. However, Once I re-read that section It made me think of how well it described him and his beliefs. Mr. Utterson still looks for the good in people, which is why in his mind he wants to continue to think that his friend Jekyll is still a good man, and has not changed. By representing people who may be guilty as a lawyer, he is still helping them because he believes that there is hope. It could be because he can't let go, but he still has faith in Mr. Jekyll.
    Another reason why I am so drawn to him is because I believe he represents a theme of faith. Friday in class one of the words that caught my eye was religion. I believe Dr. Jekyll represents Abel, the good brother who is killed. Which would make Mr. Hyde Cain, and that makes him a negative influence. Going again by religion, as the story of Cain and Able continues Cain is punished for killing Abel, and the same would happen in this story. Not to compare a fictional character such as Utterson to God, But he is described as a respected man with high statrue. And he looks for the best in people and has faith that they will do the right thing.

"Story of the Door" Reaction

While reading chapter one of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, there are several important moments that make the reader think about the behavior of human beings. A moment that stayed in my mind was when Utterson and Enfield were taking a walk, and the two came across an old and some what abandoned building. What I noticed after re-reading this section, was that the building was very out of place in the neighborhood, and you can expect people did not may much attention to it. Just like Mr. Hyde. He is a misfit of society, and regardless of looks and behavior, it is a life he had no choice of. This can also relate to mental illnesses, because of the time period they were also ignored in society.
      Because I have only read a small amount of the story so far, it is difficult to predict a theme at this point. However, so far, I believe the theme is overall the mystery of human behavior and the mind it’s self. Who is to say what "normal" is in society? Who can know the exact cause of multiple personality disorder? Who can tell you what that is like?  So far, I believe the author wanted the reader to answer that for themselves, because what is "normal" is a matter of perspective.     

Mental Illness in the 19th Century

  
 

Having read Carrie Hughes article Mental Illness in the 19th Century, I was surprised to learn how mentally ill patients were treated in the time period. In today’s society doctors are fully aware that Epilepsy is seizure disorder, which is a physical handicap. However, if a patient began to convulse in the 19th Century, demonic possession would have been blamed, thus providing a legitimate reason to imprison them. A women by the name of Dorothea Dix was outraged at the treatment of the mentally ill, she then volunteered to teach women who were imprisoned. In 1847 she pleaded for the necessary care for the mentally ill, and she played a large role in getting the treatment that the patients deserved.

      I felt very sympathetic for the patients who deserved proper care for their illness, but did not get it. The very idea of sending a patient with perhaps a brain disease to live alone or without treatment is simply unfair. What’s worse is the fact that the people had no say in getting the illness; they received it at birth or in an accident at some point of their life. Thankfully, the understanding of medicine and illnesses has advanced, and the needed treatment is available for all.
      The central idea of the article was to inform the reader of the little treatment that was given to the mentally ill, and the strides people had to take to change that. Overall, Hughes's point was that during the 19th century many people that were mentally handicapped were not treated with the right care. As well as the advancements in care throughout the time period.