Jekyll and Hyde Duality

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Duality of Man in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Duality, a major theme of this novel, is the state of having two opposing personalities. Dr. Jekyll, a man with dual personality, hid his evil side from society. He is seen as a morally good man, engaging in charity and often known as the famous scientist. However, his Hyde side is what embodies his evilness. Dr. Jekyll struggles to keep his positive appearance as a well liked man, but as we meet Mr. Hyde, we see the foolishly selfish behaviors. In Stevenson’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Henry Jekyll states “that man is not truly one, but truly two,” meaning that in every man, is in fact, two different people. Jekyll and Hyde’s contrasting personalities, their thoughts after the Carew murder case and Jekyll’s confession show that Mr. Hyde was unleashed by Dr. Jekyll; they are indeed the same person. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, the two main characters of the novel are physically two different people, but mentally one person. Dr. Jekyll was known as a well respected man who was morally good. Edward Hyde, the evil side of Henry Jekyll is known to have a displeasing, deformed appearance- “There is something wrong with his appearance; something displeasing, something downright detestable. I never saw a man I so disliked, and yet I scarce know why” (7). Although Dr. Jekyll was honest and morally good, Mr. Hyde’s evil suppressed within in him, which caused Mr. Hyde’s ugliness and deformed appearance. Hyde was just a part of Jekyll. As others felt displeased about Hyde, Jekyll felt that it was normal- “It seemed natural and human. In my eyes it bore a livelier image of the spirit…call mine” (68). Jekyll knew that Hyde was part of him which allowed him to accept Hyde’s ugly appearance. Although he knew that he was the better half, he still takes on the Hyde side through intaking the potion. Jekyll felt that all human beings have both
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