Explore how the theme of duality is explored in ‘Jekyll and Hyde’
Duality is key to Stevenson’s message about the divide in human nature. He explores this through highlighting hypocrisy in Victorian society, using terror imagery to reflect the true divide in human nature. Stevenson also explores the idea that the evil in human nature can never be separated and so it will forever be attached to the good in us.
Stevenson exposes hypocrisy in the Victorian society to strengthen his message about duality in human nature. He does this through the actions of the characters of Jekyll and Hyde. First of all is the way that Jekyll acts in public “every mark of capacity and kindness- you could see by his looks that he cherished for Mr Utterson a …show more content…
This is the complete opposite to how Mr Hyde acts in public “broke out in a great flame of anger, stamping with his foot, brandishing the cane” This represents the evil desires that fill the hearts of the people in that Victorian society. It demonstrates that the Victorain society was one in which people tried to act as one above another but in reality they all had the same desires. Another quote which demonstrates the hypocrisy in Victorian society is "I was once more Edward Hyde. A moment before I had been safe in all of men's respect, wealthy, beloved... and now I was a common quarry of mankind, hunted, houseless, a known murderer , thrall to the gallows" This demonstrates how that in Victorian society, social being was at the forefront of being regarded as a good person, as reputation rather than looks is how the difference between …show more content…
This is mainly seen at the end of the novel with the death of Dr Jekyll when he can no longer control either side of his human nature. "The spiritual side a little drowsed, promising subsequent penitence, but not moved to begin" This demonstrates the separation and corruption within Jekyll as there is a constant struggle within him; the good part of him is always trying to make up for the misdeeds of the evil one. The use of "spiritual" is to show the dark, supernatural corruption within Jekyll. Another quote which demonstrates the separation within Jekyll is "balance of my nature might permanently be overthrown" The use of battle imagery, to further the idea of corruption, helps us further our understanding of the theme of duality in the novel. The "balance" of his human nature is at risk from the character of Hyde as his good and evil parts of his nature have been separated causing them to be more powerful than the other at certain times and so creating this unbalance in Jekyll. Jekyll also says "in my second character, my faculties seemed sharpened to a point and my spirits more tensely elastic" This demonstrates how Jekyll understood that certain traits of the human nature belong together, including good and evil. The use of "spirit" yet again shows the supernatural territory that you wonder upon of you separate the good and the evil in humans. Overall the themes of se pertain an
Duality is key to Stevenson’s message about the divide in human nature. He explores this through highlighting hypocrisy in Victorian society, using terror imagery to reflect the true divide in human nature. Stevenson also explores the idea that the evil in human nature can never be separated and so it will forever be attached to the good in us.
Stevenson exposes hypocrisy in the Victorian society to strengthen his message about duality in human nature. He does this through the actions of the characters of Jekyll and Hyde. First of all is the way that Jekyll acts in public “every mark of capacity and kindness- you could see by his looks that he cherished for Mr Utterson a …show more content…
This is the complete opposite to how Mr Hyde acts in public “broke out in a great flame of anger, stamping with his foot, brandishing the cane” This represents the evil desires that fill the hearts of the people in that Victorian society. It demonstrates that the Victorain society was one in which people tried to act as one above another but in reality they all had the same desires. Another quote which demonstrates the hypocrisy in Victorian society is "I was once more Edward Hyde. A moment before I had been safe in all of men's respect, wealthy, beloved... and now I was a common quarry of mankind, hunted, houseless, a known murderer , thrall to the gallows" This demonstrates how that in Victorian society, social being was at the forefront of being regarded as a good person, as reputation rather than looks is how the difference between …show more content…
This is mainly seen at the end of the novel with the death of Dr Jekyll when he can no longer control either side of his human nature. "The spiritual side a little drowsed, promising subsequent penitence, but not moved to begin" This demonstrates the separation and corruption within Jekyll as there is a constant struggle within him; the good part of him is always trying to make up for the misdeeds of the evil one. The use of "spiritual" is to show the dark, supernatural corruption within Jekyll. Another quote which demonstrates the separation within Jekyll is "balance of my nature might permanently be overthrown" The use of battle imagery, to further the idea of corruption, helps us further our understanding of the theme of duality in the novel. The "balance" of his human nature is at risk from the character of Hyde as his good and evil parts of his nature have been separated causing them to be more powerful than the other at certain times and so creating this unbalance in Jekyll. Jekyll also says "in my second character, my faculties seemed sharpened to a point and my spirits more tensely elastic" This demonstrates how Jekyll understood that certain traits of the human nature belong together, including good and evil. The use of "spirit" yet again shows the supernatural territory that you wonder upon of you separate the good and the evil in humans. Overall the themes of se pertain an