Theme Of Deceit In Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde

“We’ve all got both light and dark inside us. What matters is the part we choose to act on. That’s who we really are.” This quote by J.K Rowling captures the idea that one man is truly two, through the light and dark of it, but who they truly are depends on which side of the spectrum they act upon. Dr. Jekyll in The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, by Robert Stevenson, cannot decide which concept to be, so he constantly goes between the two, displaying lies and deceit throughout the story by being the two beings at once. Lies and deceit is the main theme of the novel, because it consistently displays how everyone is affected by the lies that one displays. On one side of the debate, many people think the main theme of the novel is good

Many people might claim the book as a good vs. evil theme, but through the multiple misleadings of the book that convince others of everything but the truth, proves that deceit is a major portion of the novel. Misleadings are included in the definition of deceit, because they’re not telling the complete truth - trying to convince others of something that’s incorrect. Good vs evil explains the two sides of the spectrum, whereas the misleadings, the basis of the story, tell the exact truth of a person, no matter if they’re good or evil. One of the first and many misleadings is the will that Mr. Utterson becomes very curious about, for Hyde was the heir for all of Dr. Jekyll’s property if he disappeared for a certain amount of time. “It provided not only that, in case of the decease of Henry Jekyll, all his possessions were to pass into the hands of his ‘friend and benefactor Edward Hyde,’ but that in case of Dr. Jekyll’s ‘disappearance or unexplained absence for any period exceeding three calendar months,’ the said Edward Hyde should step into the said Henry Jekyll’s shoes without further delay and free from any burthen or obligation.” (25,26). Dr. Jekyll’s will was the first piece of evidence that caused Utterson to be involved in the case, causing him to think of the

Although critics claim that the main theme of the novel is good vs evil, the main theme can be proved lies and deceit through the consequences that occur. The theme of good vs evil doesn’t have much of an after effect, but with the theme of lies and deceit many of the people are affected by the enormous lie played on them. To begin with is when Dr. Lanyon is introduced to Dr. Jekyll through the transformation from Mr. Hyde, and because he is in so much shock of the incident, he becomes ill and dies. “He had his death warrant written legibly upon his face. The rosy man had grown pale; his flesh had fallen away; he was visibly balder and older; and yet it was not so much, these tokens of a swift physical decay that arrested the lawyer’s notice” (96). The lies that have been added to overtime, have impacted many people, including Dr. Lanyon, ruining everything with a bond between the two old friends. When Jekyll awakes as Mr. Hyde, he knows his lies are going to get out of control to keep his identity secretive. “At the sight that met my eyes, my blood was changed into something exquisitely thin and icy. Yes, I had gone to bed Henry Jekyll, I had awakened Edward Hyde” (208). The secrets that he has concealed for quite a time has finally come back, not