Examples Of Duality In Jekyll And Hyde

Jekyll & Hyde: The Duality of Scientific Philosophies The novella “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” has many elements of science compiled inside the story. The main scientific occurrence of the story is the duality between Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, which is what creates the basic concept of the story. The whole story plays around with this idea of duality and also on different scientists in the novella’s perspective on science. By “different scientists”, the novel refers to Dr. Jekyll and Dr. Lanyon. While Dr. Lanyon is a firm believer in rationalism, heterodoxy and reluctance, Dr. Jekyll embraces the insane, mystic side of science due to this, Dr. Lanyon acts as a foil to Dr. Jekyll throughout the story, while the reader is left to choose which

Jekyll, Dr. Lanyon has a more organized and principled perspective on science. Dr. Lanyon’s scientific point of view can be compared to a stereotypical outlook of how scientists are like in real life. However, Dr. Lanyon’s philosophy can be seen as dull, uncreative and safe, in contrast to Dr. Jekyll’s philosophy. During the novella, Dr. Jekyll expresses his distastefulness for Dr. Lanyon’s idea when he says, “Oh, I know he’s a good fellow-you needn’t frown-an excellent fellow, and I always mean to see more of him; but a hide-bound pedant for all that; an ignorant, blatant pedant. I was never more disappointed in any man than Lanyon” (Stevenson 24) Dr. Jekyll does have a sense of respect for Dr. Lanyon but he believes that Dr. Lanyon could be so much more with his scientific talent, if he wasn’t such a mundane spirit. Although Dr. Lanyon does have a very straightforward and humdrum scientific mindset, it must be noted that his experiments never caused any harm to anybody-- compared to Dr. Jekyll’s lab endeavors. This statement helps one dive deeper into the mythos of which scientific philosophy would be the most suited for the quotidian life

Although the answer is relative, the author evidently seems to have an idea of which scientific metaphysics he deems is superior. Even though Dr. Lanyon was a supposed anthesis to Dr. Jekyll, the two scientists were still friends, but at the same time their ideas clashed forging some sort of rivalry between them. We have an example of their relationship when the author says, “For these were two old friends, old mates both at school and college, both thorough respecters of themselves and each other, and, what does not always follow, men who thoroughly enjoyed each other’s company” (Stevenson 16) emphasism on Dr. Lanyon’s relationship with Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Utterson is advertised as well as the fact that amidst their differences, they all still care for each other profoundly as good friends. The friendship sadly came to an end once Dr. Lanyon witnessed Mr. Hyde’s transformation into Dr. Jekyll, which discursively also put an end to Dr. Lanyon’ life. By killing off Dr. Lanyon, Robert Louis Stevenson illustrates the general victory of Dr. Jekyll’s philosophical view in his perspective, which was also hinted at previously in the book when it was Mr. Utterson came to the conclusion that, “it was unlikely that the doctor should fear death; and it is what I was tempted to suspect.” (Stevenson 36) which proves that Mr.