'Man is not truly one, but truly two': a positive reading of Robert Louis Stevenson's double
This thesis will explore the literary double – doppelgänger or other – in the works of Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson (1850 – 1894). Through a consideration of the literary double found within three key texts, the short story ‘Markheim’, the novella a Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, a...
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| Format: | Thesis (University of Nottingham only) |
| Language: | English |
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2018
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| Online Access: | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/48664/ |
| _version_ | 1848797818672644096 |
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| author | Garland, Kate E. |
| author_facet | Garland, Kate E. |
| author_sort | Garland, Kate E. |
| building | Nottingham Research Data Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | This thesis will explore the literary double – doppelgänger or other – in the works of Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson (1850 – 1894). Through a consideration of the literary double found within three key texts, the short story ‘Markheim’, the novella a Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, and the novel The Master of Ballantrae: A Winter’s Tale, I shall undertake a reading which accounts for the influence Calvinism and Scottish Presbyterianism had upon Stevenson’s double. I shall demonstrate this by focusing on the relationship between the first and second self – the two selves which together constitute the double - evidencing my theory with Stevenson’s writings, in addition to those by John Calvin, and Scottish Presbyterian thought. Ultimately, I will suggest when viewed through a theological lens, Stevenson’s literary double can accommodate a positive reading of duality.
Specifically, in Chapter One I will consider ‘Markheim’, suggesting it is Stevenson’s most positive treatment of the double, which results in a redemptive Effectual Calling. In Chapter Two I will venture that whilst the double collapses within the Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, this need not necessarily be the nihilistic ending for Jekyll that is appears. I will turn to Stevenson’s most sustained exploration of the double in Chapter Three found within The Master of Ballantrae: A Winter’s Tale, suggesting that within this seemingly destructive and negative appraisal of the double there are instances of positivity and a lesson to be gleaned. Lastly, I shall reflect upon my endeavours suggesting that a feature length study of Stevenson’s religious thought, rendered into a Calvinist anthropology of his writings, would greatly benefit Stevenson studies. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T20:09:55Z |
| format | Thesis (University of Nottingham only) |
| id | nottingham-48664 |
| institution | University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T20:09:55Z |
| publishDate | 2018 |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | nottingham-486642025-02-28T12:01:01Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/48664/ 'Man is not truly one, but truly two': a positive reading of Robert Louis Stevenson's double Garland, Kate E. This thesis will explore the literary double – doppelgänger or other – in the works of Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson (1850 – 1894). Through a consideration of the literary double found within three key texts, the short story ‘Markheim’, the novella a Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, and the novel The Master of Ballantrae: A Winter’s Tale, I shall undertake a reading which accounts for the influence Calvinism and Scottish Presbyterianism had upon Stevenson’s double. I shall demonstrate this by focusing on the relationship between the first and second self – the two selves which together constitute the double - evidencing my theory with Stevenson’s writings, in addition to those by John Calvin, and Scottish Presbyterian thought. Ultimately, I will suggest when viewed through a theological lens, Stevenson’s literary double can accommodate a positive reading of duality. Specifically, in Chapter One I will consider ‘Markheim’, suggesting it is Stevenson’s most positive treatment of the double, which results in a redemptive Effectual Calling. In Chapter Two I will venture that whilst the double collapses within the Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, this need not necessarily be the nihilistic ending for Jekyll that is appears. I will turn to Stevenson’s most sustained exploration of the double in Chapter Three found within The Master of Ballantrae: A Winter’s Tale, suggesting that within this seemingly destructive and negative appraisal of the double there are instances of positivity and a lesson to be gleaned. Lastly, I shall reflect upon my endeavours suggesting that a feature length study of Stevenson’s religious thought, rendered into a Calvinist anthropology of his writings, would greatly benefit Stevenson studies. 2018-07-16 Thesis (University of Nottingham only) NonPeerReviewed application/pdf en arr https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/48664/1/MRes%20Examined%20Thesis%20Kate%20Garland%20%28ID%204241213%29.pdf Garland, Kate E. (2018) 'Man is not truly one, but truly two': a positive reading of Robert Louis Stevenson's double. MRes thesis, University of Nottingham. robert louis stevenson double duality dualism calvinism doubles presbyterianism literature |
| spellingShingle | robert louis stevenson double duality dualism calvinism doubles presbyterianism literature Garland, Kate E. 'Man is not truly one, but truly two': a positive reading of Robert Louis Stevenson's double |
| title | 'Man is not truly one, but truly two': a positive reading of Robert Louis Stevenson's double |
| title_full | 'Man is not truly one, but truly two': a positive reading of Robert Louis Stevenson's double |
| title_fullStr | 'Man is not truly one, but truly two': a positive reading of Robert Louis Stevenson's double |
| title_full_unstemmed | 'Man is not truly one, but truly two': a positive reading of Robert Louis Stevenson's double |
| title_short | 'Man is not truly one, but truly two': a positive reading of Robert Louis Stevenson's double |
| title_sort | 'man is not truly one, but truly two': a positive reading of robert louis stevenson's double |
| topic | robert louis stevenson double duality dualism calvinism doubles presbyterianism literature |
| url | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/48664/ |