Reflective Essay

Personal experiences are what give everyone their own individuality. Although I am only fourteen, I have been through much that I have grown from. One specific experience stands out must...

It all began in the summer of 2003 when my sister and I went on a vacation to our great-aunts house in Maryland. I was seven at the time, and my sister was 13. We were having a blast being away from home and school! Our aunts loved to spoil us so we got whatever we wanted.

Early one afternoon my mother called us with some disturbing news. She told us that someone had broken into our home. It was only a year prior that we had bought our first house. It was a big, beautiful, brick home with a backyard and a basement. Everything had seemed to be going great for my family.

When news got back to my sister and I, we didn't know what to expect. I was too young to even know what was going on. At that time, neither one of us knew things like that could happen to such nice people like us. Up until the time of this incident I thought the world was filled with all pleasant people. Being so young, this personal experience had a great affect on me. It is something everyone eventually has to learn though.

According to the online dictionary, a personal experience is the moment-to-moment experience and sensory awareness of internal and external events. To me, a personal experience is something you overcome and grow from. Big or small, our personal experiences affect us all.

Persuasive Argument

In the following blog assignment I will be prosecuting against Mr. Hyde:

A few nights ago the late Sir Danvers Carew was brutally murdered by Mr. Edward Hyde. The entire nightmare was witnessed by a maid in her bedroom window. She sees a small, evil-looking man, whom she recognizes as Mr. Hyde, encounter a polite, aged gentleman; when the gentleman offers Hyde a greeting, Hyde suddenly turns on him with a stick, beating him to death. Carew was heading on the walkway to the post office when Hyde attacked him with his cane. Only half of the cane remained at the crime scene, but the other half was found in Mr. Hyde's home. Last year Mr. Hyde was found guilty off assault to a young girl in an alley. In the summary of the incident it says 'Mr. Hyde trampled over the young girl', the same way he did to Carew, thinking nothing of his actions. Hyde was described the same way in both scenarios.

The Strange Mr. Hyde ...

The character I am mostly drawn to is Mr. Hyde; a strange, indescribable, evil-looking man. When examining Mr. Hyde you must also look at Dr. Henry Jekyll, a well-known doctor in his community. Mr. Hyde is Dr. Jekyll’s dark side. Hyde was released into the world when Jekyll started testing the bounds of science. Hyde holds all of Dr. Jekyll's negative traits. He is violent, cruel, and very inhuman. Whenever someone is in Hyde's presence they can't quite describe his features... They only say that is ugly, deformed, and that there is something immoral about the way he looks. No one really knows the true story behind Mr. Hyde and his actions, but I am sure everything will soon be revealed.

As far as theme goes, I believe Stevenson is trying to evaluate the meaning of Good and Evil. For example, everyone has a good side and a dark side. Maybe not as evil as Mr. Hyde, but no one is an angel nor are the perfect. My dark side would have to be my selfish ways. Although I do put others before myself, sometimes I tend to do the opposite. I believe Stevenson shows the good and bad on both parts.

"Story of the Door" Reaction

The book, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, contains several moments that stand out to the reader. An example of one of those moments would be in the first chapter, "Story Of A Door". In this chapter, Mr. Enfield explains a bizarre experience to Mr. Utterson. What was most odd about Mr. Enfield's  story was his inability to describe the man Hyde, the antagonist of the situation.  

"He is not easy to describe. There is something wrong with his appearance; something displeasing, something down-right detestable. I never saw a man I so disliked, and yet I scarce know why. He must be deformed somewhere; he gives a strong feeling of deformity, although I couldn't specify the point. He's an extraordinary looking man, and yet I really can name nothing out of the way. No, sir; I can make no hand of it; I can't describe him. And it's not want of memory; for I declare I can see him this moment."

Mr. Enfield's description was very strange to me. Being that he remembers the moment very clearly, you would think he would have no problem recalling the antagonist. The way Mr. Enfield describes Hyde, you  feel as if Hyde does not really exist. Or that he is more of a figure, than an actual human being.

I read the article on Dissociative Identity Disorder, a fairly common effect of severe trauma during early childhood. So, maybe Hyde was not really 'himself' when he was being so discorteous to the little girl. The questions about Hyde still remain unanswered ...

Dissociative Identity Disorder

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), also known as Multiple Personality Disorder, is a very serious mental frenzy. This disorder is characterized by the presence of two or more distant and complex identities or personality states. Many people with Dissociate Identity Disorder suffer from sexual abuse, physical abuse, or emotional abuse. The whole reason for the disorder is to protect the self from suffering, and to feel protected by inner personalities. Before reading about the disorder, I did not know much about the topic, or even that it really existed. I did a little more research and I realized that this topic is very scary! A person who suffers from DID can alter from personality to personality within days, minutes, or hours. Each personality can have their own sex, race, and age. DID produces a lack of connection in a person's thoughts, feelings, and sense of identity. There are many symptoms that go along with this disorder such as mood swings, suicidal tendencies, and even alcohol and drug abuse. So, as you can see, the life of someone with this disorder is not very easy. I'm very curious to see how Dissociative Identity Disorder is going to fit into the story of Jekyll and Hyde...