Duality In Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde

What happens when one is able to live in any way they wish? No longer restrained by the expectation of society or the moral code of the line of justification transforms into gray. The freedom that comes from this sinful outlook brings out the worse in one. While on the surface is a clean countenance brimming underneath is a disturbing persona of contradictions. Victorian society itself while seemingly pleasant and pleasing to the eye was brimming with an underworld of carnality. In Robert Louis Stevenson’s story, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, a matter of duality is brought up. As well as a noticeable pun used in the title in regards Jekyll’s alter ego is pronounced the same as the word hide meaning to cloak or suppress. The intentional quality is clear. Hyde and his name are the darker sides of Victorian society personified when the truth comes out of hiding it …show more content…
Utterson rather than trying to accuse fellow members attempted to keep up appearance in the faced with ugly situations. Even when Utterson attempted to solve the case of the Mr. Hyde he did so with the expectation of the man being below his rank. When confronted with hints that Jekyll may not be the morally upstanding gentleman he tries to find ways to refute the claim. Whereas “Utterson's membership in Jekyll's circle means that he will protect Jekyll from a public world of outsiders...” (Frank. 221) When evidence starts pointing to Jekyll actually being Hyde the lawyer maintains his ignorance in order to save Jekyll’s reputation. He does not read the letter from Jekyll until after his seeming death thereby protecting Henry Jekyll’s dignity till