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Copy of Jekyll and Hyde - Duality

The document analyzes the theme of duality in Robert Louis Stevenson's 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', illustrating the coexistence of good and evil within a person through the characters of Jekyll and Hyde. It highlights how Jekyll represents the good side while Hyde embodies evil, and discusses the symbolism of their living spaces reflecting their contrasting natures. Ultimately, the document concludes that individuals possess both good and evil traits, which are essential for a balanced human experience.

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Lafite Bandito
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17 views

Copy of Jekyll and Hyde - Duality

The document analyzes the theme of duality in Robert Louis Stevenson's 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', illustrating the coexistence of good and evil within a person through the characters of Jekyll and Hyde. It highlights how Jekyll represents the good side while Hyde embodies evil, and discusses the symbolism of their living spaces reflecting their contrasting natures. Ultimately, the document concludes that individuals possess both good and evil traits, which are essential for a balanced human experience.

Uploaded by

Lafite Bandito
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The book The Strange Case of Dr.Jekyll and Mr.

Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson,


overviews the theme of duality in human nature. Duality refers to having two parts/sides. For
example, in this book, Stevenson uses the duality of good and evil, or angel and devil to
describe Jekyll and Hyde. Jekyll is “good” or the “angel”, while Hyde is “evil” or the
“devil”. I don’t think a human can be specifically good or evil, they are both similar to each
other and they both exist in a person.
In chapter 1, a story is told about Hyde, he “trampled calmly over the child’s body
and left her screaming.” (11) This shows the evil in Hyde and how he has no remorse for the
act he just committed. In the last chapter, Jekyll describes his experience when he was Hyde.
He says “left that body an imprint of deformity and decay. And yet when I looked upon that
ugly idiot in the glass, I was conscious of no repugnance, rather a leap of welcome.” (62)
Jekyll feels guilty about Hyde’s actions and tries to right his wrongs but he does not take
credit for them. This shows that although Jekyll is the “good” character, he lets Hyde inflict
his evil on the world.
Another example of duality is the symbolism of the building where Jekyll/Hyde lives.
One side is described as “a sinister block of building” and “marks of prolonged and sordid
negligence.” (10) This side represents Hyde and his traits of how he is ugly and evil. Later on
page 49, Jekyll’s living area is described as “the easy-chair was drawn cozily up, and the tea
things stood ready to the sitter’s elbow, the very sugar in the cup. There were several books
on a shelf; one lay beside the tea things open, and Utterson, as amazed to find it a copy of a
pious work, for which Jekyll had several times, expressed a great esteem, annotated, in his on
hand, with startling blasphemies.” This shows the cleanliness and organization of Jekyll’s
house. It also shows the pride he has in his work and discoveries, until he starts his obsession
with Hyde and the duality in humans.
My last piece of evidence to support my claim is when Jekyll writes in his letter how
he and Hyde were very similar in that way. In the text it says “Henry Jekyll stood at times
aghast before the acts of Edward Hyde; but the situation was apart from ordinary laws, and
insidiously relaxed the grasp of conscience. It was Hyde, after all, and Hyde alone, that was
guilty. Jekyll was no worse; he woke again to his good qualities seemingly unimpaired; he
would even make haste, where it was possible, to undo the evil done by Hyde. And thus his
conscience slumbered.” (64) This shows how even though Jekyll had gone insane, he could
see the danger Hyde posed to society. It also shows how Jekyll and Hyde are similar in the
way that they both have evil traits to them, even though Jekyll is “good”.
Jekyll and Hyde represent two traits that everybody needs to make up a typical
person. Good and evil are two separate individuals fighting for control. In the book, the evil
one (Hyde), starts as the smaller one, while Jekyll is bigger and stronger. Towards the end of
the book, Hyde is bigger than Jekyll, showing how evil has grown over time and how evil
has taken over the good. In conclusion, people are not specifically good or evil. They need to
have both sides to be a functional person in society.

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