Dissociative Identity Disorder, or DID, is one of the most intriguing yet misunderstood mental disorders of today. DID occurs when a person experiences multiple personalities within one mind. These identities battle for control within one host body, each taking control at different times. DID is incredibly misrepresented and misunderstood in our modern society, even though cases of it are known to have existed for hundreds of years, if not longer. One example of DID represented in media is Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic novel The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The titular characters are two distinct personalities that coexist within one body, representing opposing moralities. While Jekyll conforms to every unspoken rule, acting every moment in an orderly and well-respected manner, Hyde exists as an escape from societal expectations, fulfilling their deepest impulses and desires. These characters represent not only the internal conflict between societal expectations and personal desires but also the literal dissociations and switching between identities that occur in those with DID. When diagnosing Jekyll with a disorder, it is clear that DID is the best fit. In The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Dr. Jekyll’s changes in physical and physiological form, substance abuse, and childhood trauma correspond with the symptoms and causes of Dissociative Identity Disorder, resulting in a destructive duality in his life.
One of the most prominent symptoms of DID present in Jekyll’s character is his recurring physical and physiological changes. DID is characterized by the existence of different identities, or alters, within one person. These alters have their own individual traits, including age, sex, race, postures, gestures, mannerisms, beliefs, histories, and memories (Dissociative Identity Disorder [2012] 1; DiStefano). Jekyll and Hyde each present as different ages, with significantly different mannerisms. While Jekyll is known to be a friendly, outgoing, well-mannered man, Hyde has a completely different appearance and reputation. Upon Utterson’s first time meeting him, he remarks that “Mr. Hyde was pale and dwarfish, he gave an impression of deformity without any nameable malformation, he had a displeasing smile, he had borne himself to the lawyer with a sort of murderous mixture of timidity and boldness, and he spoke with a husky, whispering and somewhat broken voice” (Stevenson 61). Hyde’s characteristics, both physical and behavioral, are drastically different from those of Jekyll. While the fantastical element of this novel allows them to look different despite inhabiting the same body, this duality represents how different alters in one body believe they look differently than their host’s body.
When one alter takes control from another, directing the individual’s thoughts and behaviors, it is called switching (Dissociative Identity Disorder [2012] 1). Jekyll demonstrates switching between alters on multiple occasions throughout the book. One of the most significant examples is when Utterson and Enfield are talking to Jekyll outside his window when suddenly “the smile was struck out of his face and succeeded by an expression of such abject terror and despair, as froze the very blood of the gentlemen below” (Stevenson 86). Jekyll’s switching is shown to be rather violent, often taking him by surprise with no signs before it occurs. This is very similar to those with DID in real life as “the vast majority of individuals with DID cannot signal the beginning of their personality switch” (DiStefano). This shows a strong similarity in symptoms between Jekyll and real-life cases of DID.
One distinct aspect of DID that is demonstrated in Jekyll is that when one identity is in control of the body, they act autonomously and independently of the other alters. This is especially clear in the case of Hyde as his existence is defined by removing Jekyll’s morality and acting in a way that does not consider the beliefs of the other. For example, when Jekyll discovers that Hyde has brutally murdered Sir Danvers Carew, he is utterly shocked and appalled, demonstrating that Jekyll has no awareness or control of Hyde’s actions as they are happening. After this incident, he resolves to rid himself of Hyde, unaware that he has less control over his situation than he believes.
Another factor that supports Jekyll’s diagnosis of DID is his substance abuse, especially as a form of self-medication. It is quite common for those with undiagnosed DID to abuse substances such as drugs or alcohol as either a form of self-medication or self-sabotage (Steinberg 2; “Dissociative Identity Disorder” [2012]). Throughout the novel, Jekyll’s drug addiction becomes increasingly clear to the reader. When Hyde goes to Lanyon’s house to collect the drugs Jekyll sent him after, his actions are very similar to those going through withdrawal symptoms. After the incident, Lanyon recalls that “he was wrestling against the approaches of the hysteria… He sprang to it, and then paused, and laid his hand upon his heart: I could hear his teeth grate with the convulsive action of his jaws; and his face was so ghastly to see that I grew alarmed both for his life and reason… At sight of the contents, he uttered one loud sob of such immense relief that I sat petrified” (Stevenson 111). Hyde’s actions demonstrate his desperation for the drugs, which are shown often throughout the story.
During the Victorian era, awareness and acknowledgment of mental disorders, including DID, was extremely minimal. Scholars note that although “reports in psychiatric literature of dual personalities date back to 1816, the Victorians were in fact firm believers in the ‘unity of the self’” (Blame Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde). Members of Victorian society were dismissive of mental disorders, especially those like DID where societal standards of self-identity would be challenged. Even today, many with DID find it difficult to find support or help for their disorder as “[its] shocking nature can lead individuals to believe it is merely a result of someone exaggerating or even faking their symptoms” (DiStefano). Common dismissal of those with DID can be disheartening and push those suffering to not reach out in fear of being turned away or even ridiculed. A person living in the Victorian era would find it incredibly difficult, if not impossible to get help for their struggles. So, Jekyll turns to drugs. As a scientist, Jekyll believes he can “fix” himself using various substances. He wants to feel in control of his disorder and desperately searches for a way to maintain that control. When he started running out of drugs, he wrote in a message, “In the year 18–, Dr. J. purchased a somewhat large quantity from Messrs. M. He now begs them to search with most sedulous care, and should any of the same quality be left, forward it to him at once. Expense is no consideration. The importance of this to Dr. J. can hardly be exaggerated. So far the letter had run composedly enough, but here with a sudden splutter of the pen, the writer’s emotion had broken loose. For God’s sake, he added, find me some of the old’” (Stevenson 91-92). This incident further demonstrates Jekyll’s distress when he goes without the drugs he wants, and the lengths he is willing to take to get them again.
While Jekyll does suffer from substance abuse issues, it is important to not diagnose him with only addiction, subsequently ignoring the rest of his symptoms. People, especially those with DID, can suffer from multiple mental health problems or disorders and use drugs or other substances to cope with that. Jekyll’s substance abuse and DID are not mutually exclusive, and his mental suffering should not be simplified to a diagnosis of addiction and nothing else.
Finally, Jekyll’s implied childhood trauma and repression were likely a cause for his development of multiple personalities. Although DID is still very misunderstood to this day, many experts agree that abuse or negligence during childhood can “prevent the development of a single coherent personal identity” (Dissociative Identity Disorder [2016]). In the novel, Jekyll’s childhood is not deeply explored. However, multiple details point to some form of difficulty during Jekyll’s youth. Firstly, Jekyll came from a rich family during a time when public reputation was crucial. As a child, Jekyll was expected to uphold that public image, not allowed to falter or misstep. Jekyll recalls having an “impatient gaiety of disposition, such as has made the happiness of many but such as [he] found it hard to reconcile with [his] imperious desire to carry [his] head high, and wear a more than commonly grave countenance before the public,” forced to “conceal [his] pleasures,” resulting in a “profound duplicity of life” as he grew older (Stevenson 110). In his youth, Jekyll was not allowed to be himself or express himself freely and was instead forced to shove all the imperfect aspects of his personality deep within him. Jekyll’s creation of multiple identities during his childhood could have very likely been a coping mechanism to escape his unwelcoming environment. The parts of himself that could not be expressed normally would divide into different entities. Studies show that children first develop a separate aspect of their personality to differentiate from their typical situation and express the desires that the host is forced to repress; over time that facet develops into a fully formed identity that reveals itself later in life (Blame Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde). While the different aspects of Jekyll’s personality may have started to separate at a young age, his continued repression of them until the events of the book begin would have strengthened their individuality and allowed the development of autonomous individuals within the host.
Additionally, Jekyll’s retelling of his childhood seems very impersonal; he speaks less of personal memories or experiences, but more of facts and expectations that were put upon him. Childhood amnesia is frequently seen in cases of DID as childhood disturbances “led first to memory disturbances and blackouts… Then the repression leads to splitting and dissociation” (Blame Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde). This could point to more repression of childhood experiences that Jekyll is not able to recall, or that may be stored safely away in another alter’s memory.
Oftentimes, Jekyll is thought to have bipolar disorder, but this diagnosis would ignore significant symptoms of his that demonstrate his DID. Bipolar is a common misdiagnosis for those with DID as they present similarly on the surface, both experiencing “depression, mood swings, anxiety, inattention, [and] transient psychotic-like states” (Steinberg 4). Bipolar is a more recognized diagnosis, and many are less comfortable attributing these symptoms to something as unique and misunderstood as DID (DiStefano). However, it is extremely important to understand why many of Jekyll’s actions and behaviors point to DID and not bipolar. Firstly, some view Jekyll’s switching to Hyde and back as manic and depressive episodes. Because Jekyll represents societal standards of being presentable and cheery while Hyde represents the more mischievous aspects of personality that indulge in reckless behaviors, they view them as different sides of one identity. However, this undermines the fact that Jekyll and Hyde act independently of each other, not as one being which is solely an aspect of DID. Even if a person with DID experienced mood swings similar to those in a person with bipolar, that would not be a sufficient reason to ignore symptoms for which DID is likely the underlying cause (Steinberg 1). Therefore, although many of his symptoms seem similar to those of bipolar disorder, Jekyll’s symptoms strongly support the conclusion of his having DID.
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a significant piece of literature that contributes to the exploration of different mental disorders, including DID. Utilizing a fantastical world to portray a torn, haunted man who is trapped living a dual life, Stevenson tactfully questions self-identity and its consequences in society. Real-life connections of DID set in a fictionalized Victorian England act as a mirror to modern-day society and should be used to continue spreading deeper awareness of such disorders and mental health issues.
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“Significant others: Blame Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, but in this country the idea of multiple personalities has for years been considered too crazy to be true. However, slowly the psychiatric evidence is building up. And recent case studies suggest a link with childhood trauma and sexual abuse.” Guardian [London, England], 15 June 1996, p. 32. Gale In Context: High School, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A76345573/SUIC?u=brid10025&sid=bookmark-SUIC&xid=6fe13b9b. Accessed 11 Jan. 2024.
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