Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde Research Paper

In every person, there are two wolves battling within, one of light and one of darkness. The one that wins is the one that you feed. This proverb uncovers the Scottish author, Robert Louis Stevenson’s famous novella, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. His novel can be seen as a cautionary tale about the dangers of tampering with the boundaries of human nature as scientists during the time were interested in the topic of duality. The contrast between the characters, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, is used by Stevenson to convey the duality that is present in human nature.

The contrast in physical appearance between Dr Jekyll, the well-known and established scientist, and Mr Hyde, the unsettling and disfigured alter ego, serves as a symbol of

Dr Jekyll’s behaviour heavily influenced his reputation as he was well known throughout London. Mr Enfield, the cousin of Mr Utterson, describes Dr Jekyll without directly referring to him as the “pink of the proprieties”. This quote and Victorian idiom, explain how Dr. Jekyll is someone who is absolutely beyond reproach, with a spotless reputation and is the least susceptible person. He also said in his letter that “I am safe in all men’s respect”. This shows us that he wanted to maintain his strong reputation while releasing his alter ego, presumably so people would not suspect him. Mr Hyde was also known throughout London, for all the wrong reasons. He seemed to not care about his reputation as he seemed to love complete freedom and no restraints. When he trampled over the child, Mr Enfield, along with others, told him that they would “make his name stink from one end of London to the other”. At this, Mr Hyde stood in the middle of the crowd with a black-sneering coolness as if he did not care. This indicates how important it was for Dr Jekyll to keep his good reputation, to never arouse any suspicion that he became Mr Hyde in the darkness. His struggle to maintain his good reputation highlights the struggle to balance the expectations of society with one’s inner desires. The contrast in reputation between Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde highlights the complex relationship between morality and temptation, the duality within human nature, and the struggle between opposing