A Study Of The Protagonist In The Strange Case Of Dr.Jekyll And Mr.Hyde From The Perspective Of Karen Horney’s Psychoanalysis

The classic figure “Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde” has become a symbol of double personality in The Strange Case of Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde written by the Scottish writers Robert Louis Stevenson.Since its publication,the novella has aroused many scholars’ interest.Their studies on this novella have been focused on its origins,themes,genres and writing skills.Looking at the previous research results,there are few studies which focus on the protagonist as an independent individual in China.Several foreign scholars have explored the protagonist,but their studies emphasize only one personality of the protagonist.Therefore,it is necessary to delve into the protagonist in a more comprehensive way.By using Karen Horney’s psychoanalysis,this thesis considers the protagonist as a neurotic individual.By analyzing the protagonist’s tendency towards neurosis,this thesis explores his inner conflicts and his defensive strategies in interpersonal relationships.This thesis points out that the protagonist’s tragedy is unavoidable because his inner conflicts are caused by the cultural contradictions although the protagonist has made attempted solutions to his inner conflicts.The thesis consists of six parts: an introduction,four chapters and a conclusion.The introduction is a brief depiction of Robert Louis Stevenson’s life experiences and writing career,the creation and the plot of The Strange Case of Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde,Karen Horney’s psychoanalysis and literature review on the novella abroad and at home and a presentation of the central argument,research methods and significance.The thesis considers the protagonist in the novella as a neurotic individual and explores the causes for his tragedy.Chapter One analyzes the protagonist’s tendency towards neurosis which is generated by his two major inner conflicts: the conflict between fame and desires and the conflict between self-affirmation and self-denial.Chapter Two gives an elaboration of the protagonist’s external expressions of neurosis.From Karen Horney’s point of view,the neurotic personality is expressed in their interpersonal relationships.By the analysis of his relationships with Mr.Utterson and Dr.Lanyon,this chapter expresses how the inner conflicts influence the neurotic individual’s defensive strategies in interpersonal relationships.Chapter Three elaborates the protagonist’s attempted solutions to his conflicts including the creation of idealized image,the method of repression and the method of detachment.All attempts are in vain,because the protagonist’s inner conflicts are caused by cultural contradictions in the nineteenth century including the contradiction between competition and humility and the contradiction between needs and failed satisfaction.Chapter Four analyzes the cultural contradictions in the nineteenth century and concludes that the protagonist chooses the wrong way to deal with these contradictions,which causes his tragedy.The conclusion summarizes the whole thesis.