The Revealing of Dr. Jekyll and Ainsley Tewce

The portrayal of characters is important in any novel. Characters draw the readers into the story through their antics and speech, which slowly unveils the type of characters that they are being portrayed as. Stevenson and Atwood both prove this point through their novels The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and The Edible Woman. As both of these novels progress, the characters within them emerge and grow. Stevenson allows Dr. Jekyll to grow mainly through dialogue, which also consists of some letters that were written by him. Atwood unveils Ainsley Tewce through her actions, which for the most part are cruel and domineering. Dr. Jekyll and Ainsley are characters that are revealed by Stevenson and Atwood in opposing manners, although both effective, due to the fact that the readers are able to see what type of characters they are meant to represent and how it is that they are represented.

Stevenson progressively exposes Dr. Jekyll as the novel wears on by providing small pieces of information for the readers to digest about his character. Dr. Jekyll starts off as a respected and well-liked man, but slowly through Dr. Jekyll's dialogue the readers are able to see that Stevenson is uncovering a selfish and somewhat evil man. He has a dark side that is secret to everyone but him. As the novel progresses the readers are able to see that Dr. Jekyll isn't quite as unselfish as he was originally thought to be. The man that is slowly uncovered is a selfish man, which comes as a surprise to some of the other characters in the novel, "'No,' said the other. 'I cannot say that I care what becomes of Hyde; I am quite done with him. I was thinking of my own character, which this hateful business has rather exposed'" (Stevenson 51). The selfish side of Dr. Jekyll is the part that also helped to bring Mr. Hyde to life. Stevenson allows the real Dr. Jekyll to show through bit-by-bit as the novel progresses and Dr. Jekyll as a character grows in front of the readers' eyes. In addition, it is through small parts of dialogue that Stevenson slowly uncovers the type of character that Dr. Jekyll is. Thus, he emerges as a character with a dark and evil side. His other half is Mr. Hyde, the antagonist of the novel, otherwise known as his evil side.

Stevenson reveals the type of character that Dr. Jekyll is through his dialogue within the novel. He speaks to the other characters, and even surprises Utterson with his selfishness, "Utterson ruminated awhile; he was surprised at his friend's selfishness and yet relieved by it" (51). Selfishness is uncharacteristic of the Dr. Jekyll that Utterson thought he knew, which is why it is such a surprise to him. However, most importantly is the fact that Dr. Jekyll is strongly revealed through the letters that he writes within the novel. The letter that he addresses to Lanyon indicates that there is something dreadfully wrong, but it doesn't state what it is that is wrong. It foreshadows the fact that there is something wrong about Dr. Jekyll because it states that unless Lanyon does what he requests than something terrible will befall him:

Think of me at this hour, in a strange place, labouring under a blackness of distress that no fancy can exaggerate, and yet well aware that, if you will but punctually serve me, my troubles will roll away like a story that is told. Serve me, my dear Lanyon and save. (70)

Dr. Jekyll's letter therefore indicates the fact that there is definitely something strange about this man. His letter is filled with specific directions for Lanyon, but leaves out any specific information regarding the contents of the drawer he is to retrieve for Dr. Jekyll. It is after Lanyon obeys Dr. Jekyll's request he, as well as the readers, learn the true identity of Dr. Jekyll. It was Mr. Hyde who entered Lanyon's house and after dissolving the powder into a mixture and drinking it in front of Lanyon he changes appearances, "for there before my eyes-pale and shaken, and half fainting, and groping before him with his hands, like a man restored from death-there stood Henry Jekyll" (75). It is here that the readers truly realize that Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde are two sides of the same person, and therefore the readers are able to realize that Dr. Jekyll has a distinctive evil side that materializes as Mr. Hyde.

The last section of the book titled "Henry Jekyll's Full Statement of the Case" is written in a similar letter-like confession style. It is within this section that the readers are truly given all the information pertaining to Dr Jekyll, and the type of character that he is within the novel. All the little bits of evidence that are scattered throughout the novel regarding Dr Jekyll's character are put together and explained. Furthermore, Dr Jekyll explains everything that he has done and thought. He reveals that he really was the one who was responsible for Mr Hyde's existence, and although it is easy for the readers to understand that Mr. Hyde is a part of Dr Jekyll, he doesn't understand this himself. Therefore, Stevenson reveals Dr Jekyll as a character extremely slowly. It isn't until the end of the novel that the readers are given the opportunity to realize the type of character that Dr Jekyll represents within the novel, which is that of two sides of the same man.

Atwood reveals Ainsley Tewce in The Edible Woman using an opposite style than Stevenson does with Dr Jekyll, which she does by exposing Ainsley through her actions. It is her actions that give her away as a destructive and immoral character. She doesn't ever consider the consequences of her actions, or the fact that she may not be helping herself or the other people who she is involving. Ainsley is first introduced into the novel as a regular young woman who's been out partying the night before and is forcing herself to work the next morning. She is also portrayed as sweet and innocent looking within the first chapter of the novel, "she has a pink-and-white baby's face, a bump for a nose, and large blue eyes she can makes as round as ping-pong balls"(Atwood 9). Ironically though, as guiltless as Ainsley looks, she is guilty of many terrible and cruel actions.

Ainsley uses people to her own advantage without thinking about the other person's feelings, which is proof of her uncaring nature. An example of this is Ainsley's determination to become pregnant and to use Len as a means to achieve this goal, "'But I need a father for my child!' Her tone implied I was trying to snatch bread from the mouths of all the world's widows and orphans, incarnate for the moment in her" (102). Ainsley doesn't even consider Len's feelings on becoming an unknowing father. She views him as a good candidate and that's it, and therefore begins planning and scheming. Obviously though, it an unthinkably cruel act to become pregnant without informing the man of such intentions. It is Ainsley's conspiracy in becoming pregnant that can be viewed as her first action in revealing what type of character she is meant to represent, which is that of a heartless and merciless character.

Atwood wants to commit Ainsley to the role of an uncaring and remorseless character, and she does so by engaging Ainsley in unthinkable acts that are considered inappropriate and immoral. It is through this method that Ainsley's role in the novel is determined. She is the heartless character who cares about no one but herself. She does what she wants without considering any of the consequences. Furthermore, Atwood reveals Ainsley's role in the novel quite early on. She wants the readers to know early on what kind of character Ainsley is meant to be, and how she is to be viewed. It is for this reason that Ainsley performs such a horrendous act so close to the beginning of the story.

Ainsley's actions are all directed by theories that she reads within Anthropology and Psychology books. She is obsessed with both of these subjects and lives her life by them. She never thinks about the consequences of living her life in such a way, but just does it. This a major reason as to why she is so immoral regarding all of her actions. She doesn't think about things herself but just does them because she read them in a book. An example of this is the fact that she believes her baby will be happier and healthier without a father. However, she then learns in one of her motherhood lectures that it is actually quite the opposite, and so her mission changes:

Ainsley's large blue eyes filled with tears. Marian extended the Kleenex, but

Ainsley waved it away. She sat up and pushed back her hair.

'There's got to be a way,' she said; her chin lifted, courageously. (232)

Ainsley decides she must find a father for her baby. It doesn't matter who the man is as long as he will be a suitable candidate as a father for her baby. She cares nothing about loving him or him loving her so long as he will be a father figure in her baby's life. Therefore, it is all of these actions that commit Ainsley to the role of an immoral and destructive character. She is portrayed as a character with no compassion and no sense of right and wrong, which Atwood skillfully represents through the actions of Ainsley.

Stevenson and Atwood are both skilled authors in revealing their characters through dialogue and actions. They both reveal the characters subtly, which allows the readers to decide what kind of character it is. It keeps the interest level high for the readers because they aren't just told what kind of character it is that is being described. Stevenson efficiently reveals Dr. Jekyll through his dialogue and letters, and this allows the readers to understand his character themselves without being told outright. Atwood reveals Ainsley by the actions that she has her performing within the novel. She engages in horrendous act after horrendous act, which commits her to an immoral and heartless character. Therefore, Dr. Jekyll and Ainsley are both revealed in opposing ways by Stevenson and Atwood, and yet as differently as they are exposed they both inhabit some of the same qualities of immorality.

Works Cited

Atwood, Margaret. The Edible Woman. Canada: Random House of Canada Limited,

1969.

Stevenson, Robert Louis. The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Ontario, Canada:

Broadview Press Ltd., 2001.