Duality was a common theme in Victorian literature. Through the use of Duality the author gained the ability to criticize society, this is seen in The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Stevenson and The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. Both novels follow the lives of men who by the end of their lives have evolved into soulless individuals overrun by their guilty pleasures. While Jekyll splits his character into two by transforming into Mr. Hyde, Gray transfers his evilness to his portrait. As each man revealed his dual self, they attempted to find a peaceful coexistence between the two natures but failed miserably. As they desperately tried to conceal their evil side from society, they both slowly fell to the grasp of corruption.
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Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Throughout the novel the two characters seem to be two separate individuals. This is because they have totally different natures. Instead of two separate individuals they are two personalities within one body. Jekyll is handsome and “good” in the eyes of society whereas Hyde is ugly and “evil” when viewed through society’s glasses. Because Jekyll and Hyde are embodied in the same individual Jekyll is perceived as being both good and evil. Jekyll was “honorable and a distinguished figure” (42) from the respected upper class born into “a large fortune, endowed besides with excellent parts, inclined by nature of industry” (42) whereas Hyde was seen as belonging to the lower class. In many instances there was a link found between both Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, as Jekyll tried so hard to keep his reputation pure, Hyde had other plans. After having been held back for almost two months, Hyde broke out and released all the pent up evil on Sir Carew. Immediately after the murder, Jekyll was questioned pertaining to the actions of Mr. Hyde. As Hyde’s name grew more popular Dr. Jekyll’s reputation started to become more and more corrupt in the eyes of
Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Throughout the novel the two characters seem to be two separate individuals. This is because they have totally different natures. Instead of two separate individuals they are two personalities within one body. Jekyll is handsome and “good” in the eyes of society whereas Hyde is ugly and “evil” when viewed through society’s glasses. Because Jekyll and Hyde are embodied in the same individual Jekyll is perceived as being both good and evil. Jekyll was “honorable and a distinguished figure” (42) from the respected upper class born into “a large fortune, endowed besides with excellent parts, inclined by nature of industry” (42) whereas Hyde was seen as belonging to the lower class. In many instances there was a link found between both Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, as Jekyll tried so hard to keep his reputation pure, Hyde had other plans. After having been held back for almost two months, Hyde broke out and released all the pent up evil on Sir Carew. Immediately after the murder, Jekyll was questioned pertaining to the actions of Mr. Hyde. As Hyde’s name grew more popular Dr. Jekyll’s reputation started to become more and more corrupt in the eyes of