The Nature of Good and Evil and the Dual Nature of Mans...

Discuss Stevensons portrayal of the nature of good and evil and the dual nature of mans personality. Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is a novel about a man named Henry Jekyll who has a split personality. Dr Jekyll takes a potion to turn himself into his double, Mr Hyde. Dr Jekyll is a caring person. Mr Hyde is evil. It is when Jekylls lawyer, Mr Utterson, looks at Dr Jekylls will that his suspicions arise. He becomes suspicious because in Dr Jekylls will everything Dr Jekyll owns is left to Mr Hyde when Dr Jekyll disappears. Utterson wants to know what the relationship between Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is, and becomes determined to see Mr Hyde. When a murder takes place, Utterson has a suspicion that it might have something to do†¦show more content†¦Henry Jekyll forge for a murderer! Mr Utterson is shocked at what kind of a person Dr Jekyll has become, because Mr Utterson thinks Dr Jekyll has forged a letter to protect a murderer. When people meet or see Mr Hyde they are shocked by his appearance. His appearance is said to be evil: He is not easy to describe. There is something wrong with his appearance, something downright detestable, I never saw a man I so disliked, and yet I scarce know why. He must be deformed somewhere; he gives a strong feeling of deformity, although I couldnt specify the point. Hes an extraordinary - looking man, and yet I really can name nothing of the way. The quote conveys that one cant understand why Hyde is described until he is seen. Dr Jekyll goes pale at the thought of Mr Hyde: The large handsome face of Dr Jekyll grew pale to the very lips, and there came a blackness about his eyes, I do not care to hear more. This shows that Dr Jekyll doesnt like to hear about evil Mr Hyde, which suggests the two are opposites. A blackness about his eyes is mentioned, the word blackness seems to imply evil. Mr Hyde is described like an animal: And the next moment, with ape - like fury, he was trampling his victim under foot, and hailing down a storm of blows, under which the bones were audibly shattered and the body jumped on the roadway. This contrasts to Dr Jekylls composure. Hyde isShow MoreRelatedHuman Nature: The Double Character of Dr. Jekyll Essay1696 Words   |  7 Pages Naturally, it is human nature to yearn for some sort of evil. Sinning is common on a daily basis. Kids lean towards destruction. Countless people have the urge to gamble at casinos. Human beings are lustful creatures and have sexual notions constantly in their minds. Evil is not something that can be avoided. For those who appear perfect, their evil is well hidden. Thus, ...humanity is...synonymous with the struggle of good and evil (Abbey, et al. 328). Robert Louis Stevensons TheRead MoreDr Jekyll And Mr Hyde Analysis781 Words   |  4 Pagesstates man’s personality grows from experiences, but there are many examples that show mankind is created to exemplify goodness, although many easily stray from the path. The novella Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson focuses on the duality of man’s inner nature, demonstrating the development of a doctor’s evil as it slowly consumes him. Throughout the work, Stevenson merges his philosophy of human nature with the good-natured Dr. Jekyll and the mysterious evil, Mr. HydeRead MoreStevenson and Conrad: The Duality of Human Nature 778 Words   |  3 Pageswithin their own preconditions in order to survive. This may be why the controversial issue of the duality of human nature has been found at the heart of many Victorian works. The theme of the duality of man can be found in the works of two famous English authors, Robert Louis Stevenson and Joseph Conrad. Stevenson and Conrad both incorporate the theme of the duality of human nature within their own novellas. Stevenson employs this theme throughout his novella The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and MrRead MoreA Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde1043 Words   |  5 PagesJekyll and Mr. Hyde,† is centered around portrayal of deep duality in man and man’s str uggle to contain his inner primal instincts. Stevenson uses many methods throughout his novel to depict this concept. Throughout the novel, Jekyll is driven by his motive to discover his darker side. Because this story takes place in the Victorian era where there are only two types of people: good and bad, Jekyll struggles to repress his evil side in fear of judgement. However, he’s determined to find a way to indulgeRead MoreJekyll And Hyde Dualism Essay1315 Words   |  6 Pagestogether 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 illustratingRead MoreDuality in the Victorian Era582 Words   |  2 Pagesnot knowing the true nature of an individual, as well as the idea of duality, to develop his theme that an evil side lies within every man and that balancing both sides is vital to preservation of ones sanity. The dual character combination of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is one of the most well-known in literature and is arguably the most blatant example of duality Stevenson uses to try and get the theme of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde across. The dual personalities Dr. Jekyll possessesRead MoreThe Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde1837 Words   |  8 PagesRobert Louis Stevenson’s masterpiece, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde centers around duality of humanity in nature, right vs. wrong, joy vs. despair, good vs. evil. This novella invites the reader in through techniques like flash-backs, foreshadowing and suspense. Within every person there is nature of two equal parts, whether it be obvious or not, it varies from person to person. Dualism derives from the Latin word duo, meaning two. Simply put, dualism can be understood as the existenceRead MoreWhat Is The Theme Of Supernaturalism In Dr. Jekyll And Mr Hyde1855 Words   |  8 Pagessuppresses the le ngth of the novel to help the reader to focus more on all the themes that are in the book and to help the readers focus on how the themes play into the downfall of the characters. Stevenson uses the themes of supernaturalism, identity, good and evil, change and transformation, and freedom to shape his novel. Supernaturalism is used to focus on the readers concern of needing to understand the unknown and unnameable. On a walk with Mr. Enfield the subject of the weird behavior of Dr. JekyllRead MoreConfrontation Of Henry Jekyll s Evil Side1089 Words   |  5 Pages Confrontation of Henry Jekyll’s Evil Side Henry Jekyll’s effort to split the self was a tragedy. The experiment failed, and he felt very guilty about having a darker side; therefore, he risked his life for this solution. Jekyll reports that, after much research, he eventually found a chemical solution that might serve his purposes. Buying a large quantity of salt as his last ingredient was crucial for his chemicalRead MoreAnalysis Of Nathaniel Hawthorne s The Scarlet Letter Essay1234 Words   |  5 PagesDigital Scarlet Letter† show that one who lives two lives with two dual personalities, purposefully or accidentally, can live the lie for only so long before he makes a mistake, becomes confused, and betrays his identity. The two lives that one leads most often have one persona used to conceal the other personality that society typically shuns, and he chooses to have these two personalities. He chooses to have these two personalities because society rejects those with malicious intent, so to perform