Duality In Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde

Robert Louis Stevenson was an interesting figure, navigating the duality of sickness and success throughout his life. The tension of duality between opposing forces can have a deep impact on an individual, leading to inner conflicts or even the acceptance of difference. Ultimately, Stevenson's own experiences with duality, paired with the Victorian era's interests, provided a rich source of inspiration for The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

Stevenson's fascination with the concept of duality can be traced back to his youth in Edinburgh, Scotland (Kannan). The city's strict religious and moral codes were juxtaposed with its notorious reputation for crime and violence, and this contrast left a strong lasting impression on Stevenson's

Brodie, known for leading a double life, captivated Stevenson with his intriguing story (“Meet William Brode”). Initially recognized as a respected cabinet maker and locksmith, Brodie rose to power and fame as the Deacon of Incorporation of Wrights, earning him a high social status and a high seat in the city (“Meet William Brode”). Because of Brodie’s status, the wealthy trusted him with their keys. Brodie would secretly make wax impressions of these keys to return at night to steal. However, Brodie's hidden persona involved secretly creating wax impressions of keys entrusted to him by the wealthy, which he would use to stealthily steal from them under the shadows of night (“Meet William Brode”). Stevenson drew inspiration from Brodie's dual nature, his habit of indulging in the dark desires such as greed and gambling (“Meet William Brode”), and used it as the structure for the complex characters in his novella. Through Brodie's story, Stevenson created something that dives into the duality of human nature and the consequences of giving in to one's darker impulses. Overall, Brodie's life and crimes provided a strong foundation for Stevenson's literary

According to the text, “God Bless me, this man hardly seems human! Something troglodytic, shall we say” (Stevenson 10), highlights the difference between Jekyll's normal appearance and Hyde's primitive features. This juxtaposition serves to emphasize the two opposite aspects of Jekyll's personality, just as Stevenson observed the contrasting qualities of London's streets during his college days and the dual personalities of Brodie. Furthermore, the idea of duality is further emphasized through the representation of Hyde as both a symbol of evolution and degradation. On the one hand, he is seen as a manifestation of humanity's primitive instincts, representing the darker aspects of human nature. On the other hand, he also represents the evolution of humans into a new, more evolved species, that is marked by cruelty and aggression. Another piece of textual evidence, “I learned to recognise the thorough and primitive duality of man; I saw that, of the two natures that contended in the field of my consciousness, even if I could rightly be said to be either, it was only because I was radically both” (Stevenson 43). Jekyll acknowledges that he has two distinct sides to his personality, which are in constant conflict with each other. He cannot be good or evil, because he is both. This duality is embodied in the characters of Jekyll