THE MAIN CHARACTER’S DISSOCIATIVE IDENTITY DISORDER (DID) IN ROBERT L. STEVENSON’S THE STRANGE CASE OF DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE

Abstract

This study is an analysis of the main character’s dissociative identity disorder (DID) as reflected in the novel entitled The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The purposes of this study are (1) to describe and explain the two distinct identities of the main character and the symptoms of dissociative identity disorder (DID) reflected in the novel (2) to describe the effects of dissociative identity disorder (DID) on the main character and others. The writer used a close technique reading which requires reading the whole novel intensively. DID is a mental illness which its sufferers have at least two distinct identities. From this study the writer found that the main character has DID because he has two distinct identities. The main character’s first identity is called personality trait meanwhile his second identity is called personality state. Each identity of the main character is quite different to another. The personality trait is the good one and personality state is the bad one. The writer found the several symptoms of DID which happen to the main character. The writer also found the effects of DID on others and the main character himself.
Keywords: dissociative, distinct identities, personality trait, personality state.