We see the duality of man all around us. From the antics of Wile E. Coyote and The Road Runner to the puzzling figures in literature like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, the separation between outward projection and inner turmoil is a constant theme. Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel, Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, is about a lawyer who unravels the mystery of a suspicious man and his relationship with his dear friend, Dr. Jekyll, who struggles with his own internal conflict. As we navigate through the observations of characters like Lanyon and Utterson, we are compelled to confront the unsettling reality that lurks beneath the surface of seemingly ordinary individuals, challenging our understanding of self and society. While people may project a unified persona, hidden aspects of …show more content…
Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, the contrasting personas of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, as revealed through the observations of Lanyon and Utterson, portray the duality of man. When Lanyon is describing Jekyll, regarding their broken friendship, he states, “He began to go wrong, wrong in mind.” Lanyon’s words indicate that Jekyll had changed, different from his well-known outgoing self. This is the first time that he mentions Jekyll’s madness and opens up the idea that Jekyll may have a different side. Mr. Utterson’s first impression of Mr. Hyde’s appearance was unpleasant. Utterson says that Hyde’s appearance has “an impression of deformity without any nameable malformation.” Utterson’s use of bad language reflects his dislike for the unsettling Hyde, who has a creepy aura. When compared to Jekyll, who has a very inviting persona, Hyde is the complete opposite. Utterson brainstorms theories as to why Hyde used Jekyll’s money, in hopes of saving his friend. He came up with the conclusion that “Hyde suspects the existence of the will, he may grow impatient to inherit.” Utterson jumps to assume Hyde intends to hurt Jekyll, further highlighting the violent nature of
Jekyll confesses to Mr. Utterson that he and Mr. Hyde hate each other. For instance, Dr. Jekyll starts to hate Mr. Hyde when he says “goodbye for ever Mr. Hyde” (64). Dr. Jekyll says goodbye to his evil side. He loathes his evil side because Hyde has shown Jekyll and Hyde’s capability to murder. Furthermore, Mr. Hyde detests Dr. Jekyll because he’s a prisoner inside Dr. Jekyll’s body. In addition, the narrator states that, “Hyde and Jekyll now hate each other with equal passion” (69). Mr. Hyde’s imprisonment within Dr. Jekyll’s body makes Mr. Hyde dislike him, so he tears Dr. Jekyll’s books (69). Mr. Hyde’s disgust of Dr. Jekyll causes Mr. Hyde to ruin Dr. Jekyll’s most important personal belongings. Clearly, after the murder of Sir Danvers Carew, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde hate each other
Hyde primarily shows only feelings of rage, disgust, and self-preservation. Although Jekyll also shows signs of wanting to protect himself – he tries his best to discourage Utterson from pursuing Hyde – this could also be viewed as him looking out for his friends, wanting to keep them safe. When Utterson brings up Hyde in casual conversation, Jekyll says “this is a matter I thought we had agreed to drop”. This
Utterson wanted to express his contradictory opinion about Mr. Hyde to Jekyll, but Jekyll doesn't want to hear anything and says "This is a matter I thought we had agreed to drop." Dr Jekyll not being kind indicates that he is against changing his mind and his will, showing that he is a man who is very committed. "I am painfully situated, Utterson; my position is a very strange—a very strange one. Jekyll is firm about not needing help but appreciates Utterson's help and says ‘‘It is one of those affairs that cannot be mended by talking." showing that he doesn't tell Utterson anything because he doesn't want this to affect his reputation.
Every person is born with bright and dark personas that people moderate due to the standards of society. In The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Jekyll and Hyde battle for the power to stay alive in the story. As Jekyll continues to try and take over his evil persona, Hyde tries to stay alive and cause evil in the world. In our society, many people will struggle with self control and Dr. Jekyll has trouble controlling his alter ego by performing his evil pleasures. In The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Stevenson explores the theme that the dual natures, good and evil, of an individual person’s humanity are constantly struggling for control through the development of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde 's personas.
Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," Jekyll becomes sociable for two months and reconnects with Lanyon. However, he refuses to see Utterson, causing concern. Utterson visits Lanyon and notices his physical transformation and distress. The evidence for this is shown in the text when Utterson says, "I have been wanting to speak to you, Jekyll, for a week past... I am sorry to see you not looking so well as usual.
When Utterson notices Lanyon's sickly appearance, Lanyon answers dramatically, calling himself “a doomed man.” With his outside demeanor of a man of size, Lanyon hides a deep sense of hopelessness and inevitable fate, and this contrast draws attention to his internal struggle. When Utterson confronts Jekyll about his strange behavior, Jekyll reveals the truth about his alter ego, Mr. Hyde. The narrator describes Utterson's reaction, stating, "The lawyer listened gloomily; he did not like his friend's feverish manner" (Stevenson, 1886, Chapter 6).
"'Man Is Not Truly One, but Truly Two': Duality in Robert Louis Stevenson's Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde." The British Library. The British Library, 13 Feb. 2014. Web. 06 Nov. 2016.
This incident greatly shocked the other gentlemen however, they understood not to mention anything. Ultimately, human nature naturally exhibits the duality of man as very frequently the desire to have a reputation of dignity. furthermore generally, its what is socially acceptable, nevertheless there is a part of human nature that many people tend to hide our true temptations which could lead to the inter struggles steer to a person’s deception portray to the world. The coexistence of right and wrong in a person's identity can lead to internal conflict and duality of human nature. As Dr. Jekyll battles the fallout from his experiments, Stevenson makes an important statement about the inner struggles of humanity.
In The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Stevenson emphasizes that although man has one body, the good and evil qualities will always clash. In chapter 2, Mr. Utterson has his first ever interaction with Mr. Hyde in front of Mr. Hyde’s home where he makes many comments on Mr. Hyde behavior, his incompleteness, and his friendship with Dr. Jekyll. As Utterson witnesses Hyde’s presence, Utterson shares his feelings about their common friend, Dr. Jekyll, yet Hyde reacts oddly and unusually, ‘The other snarled into a savage laugh: and the next moment, with extraordinary quickness, he had unlocked the door and disappeared into the house’. This highlights how odd and disturbing Mr. Hyde is. Hyde’s sudden disappearance suggests how instantaneous
Many people struggle to uphold their morals in various situations. In the novel “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” the main character Jekyll challenges his morals when he decides to conduct an experiment about the duality of man in the name of science. Ultimately, Jekyll’s social life, mental health, and physical health decline throughout the story as his evil side becomes stronger. Stevenson’s novel illustrates that people have two sides because the duality of man is human nature. In chapter 2, when Utterson and Hyde meet, their interaction highlights the duality of man within Jekyll and Hyde's relationship by portraying their contrasting traits.
The description of Mr. Hyde/Jekyll’s resistance to accepting help, his desire to keep his reputation untarnished, and his troubled mind shed light on the importance of not taking everything at face value because conflicts occurring inside of a person, such as an internal battle between two sides, can often go unnoticed. In The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Stevenson conveys man's duality, such as when a person experiences an internal conflict between good and evil. When Utterson starts asking Dr. Jekyll questions regarding Hyde in the third chapter, Jekyll appears hesitant and closed off and is reluctant to say anything regarding the suspicious situation, “I do not care to hear more,” said he. “This is a matter I thought we had agreed to drop.” revealing that Dr. Jekyll has
In the novel, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson provides insight into the inner workings of the duality that exists within humans. Dr. Jekyll is a well-respected doctor in his community while his differing personality Mr. Hyde is hideous and considered by the public as evil based on appearance. As the novel progresses Dr. Lanyon begins to investigate Mr. Hyde, he begins to realize similarities between both Mr. Hyde and Dr. Jekyll such as their handwriting which results in the discovery that they are the same person. Dr. Jekyll is able to transform himself into Mr. Hyde by drinking a serum he has created which was intended to purify his good. Stevenson stresses the duality of good and evil that exists
Based on the fact that Hyde never left notes for Utterson, and that the reader only inspects Jekyll’s side operating more-than Hyde’s side. Instead of the traditional theme, Hyde acts as the “good guy” made out to be the “bad guy”, butchered by Jekyll in his last letter. Furthermore, subsist that the murders made were caused by Hyde and not just Jekyll in disguise? Based off of the fact that Jekyll endured trying to separate his superior side from his
Utterson saw Jekyll since they were good friends he saw that this person in front of him was not his good friend. Dr.jekyll the good the kind and Hyde is turning him into a dark, and evil person. All these things that are happening to Jekyll is making his body sick, deadly looking. “This master Hyde, if he were studied though he , must have secrets of his own:black secrets, by the look of him; secrets compared to which poor Jekylls worst would be like sunshine.” (18 Stevenson) This quote shows that Dr.jekyll is good,compared to Hyde he is good. Even Dr.Jekyll’s Darkest deepest secrets compared to Hyde’s secrets Jekyll’s look like sunshine, and cant even compare to Hyde’s secrets. “Now that that evil influence had been withdrawn, a new life began for Dr.Jekyll.”(31 Stevenson)This Quote shows that Mr. Hyde is evil. Hyde’s evil influence on Dr.jekyll who was a good man and Mr.Hyde was turning him into something evil. With his evil influence gone Dr.Jekyll can be himself; a good man.”It turns me to think of this creature stealing like a thief to harry’s bedside; poor harry what a wakening!” (18 Stevenson)This quote shows that everyone had a bad feeling about Mr.Hyde, Utterson knew that Hyde was bad, and evil. Utterson hated to see his oldest friend Dr.jekyll get his life ruined by a a thief and and
The outside perspective of Utterson, Jekyll’s hesitant decline, and the attempt at protecting his reputation all portray Jekyll’s internal struggle between his good and evil