Jekyll And Hyde Dualism Essay - 1315 Words

R. L. Stevenson has written many memorable novellas and novels. One of the most important from the Victorian Gothic Era would be â€Å"The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.† This novella deals with many themes that intertwine together to form a complex idea of dualism. It has aspects from personality division and the ultimate question of how good and evil can tie into Victorian society’s view of public and private life. Stevenson the personalities of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, with evil and good aspects as well as the public and private life to demonstrate a clear understanding of dualism. In the novella Stevenson draws attention to the idea of a good and bad personality. Dualism is a common theme throughout the novella illustrating the†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"...Edward Hyde, alone in the ranks of mankind, was pure evil.† (Page 79) As Hyde becomes stronger the change becomes uncontrollable for Jekyll. The change to Hyde is more frequent and Jekyll gives into the change as he no longer has the impurities from the first batch of salts to help him maintain that change. Jekyll is able to separate Hyde from himself as he speaks about Hyde in the third person, â€Å"He, I say-cannot say, I. That child of hell had nothing human; nothing lived in him but fear and hatred.†, (Page 87) this quote justifies the division of self. Finally, without the impurities Jekyll leaves the decision up to Hyde to either turn himself in for the murder or commit suicide as a result of the loss of Henry. This is the result of evil taking over the personality. Another theme within â€Å"The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.†, is the separation of public and private life in the Victorian Era. During this Era it was normal for people to have a public and private life. Singh and Chakrabarti in their study of this novel suggests â€Å"The novel needs to be looked at in the context of its setting of Victorian London. Stevensons makes not only about dualism...but also†¦ the aristocracy that superficially was genteel and refined, had dark secrets to hide.† (Page 222, Paragraph 3) Irving S. Saposnik explains that â€Å"respectability provides the facade behind which their essential selves are allowedShow MoreRelatedThe Duality of Man in Literary Works and Critical Essays1580 Words   |  7 Pagesinterpreted from Literary Works and Critical Essays The lifelong struggle for control and recognition of the human mind has been a popular and evolving science since the late-nineteenth-century. Many notable authors, scientists, and laymen have been fascinated with the study since then. Robert Louis Stevenson is one of the more notable authors to write about dual personalities with his short story, â€Å"Markheim,† and the novella, †The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.† The latter of these two stories has