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Theme Of Duality In Literature

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In Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the theme duality is present in both pieces of literature. Duality is a recurring theme in both works of literature and can be found almost anywhere in any examples. The theme is most strongly shown through the good and evil sides of Dr. Jekyll and Friar Lawrence and in the actions of Dr. Jekyll and Friar Lawrence. In the book, Dr. Jekyll finds a way to split his personality into two sides, a good and an evil side. By doing this, He finds that there is an evil side in every man. Jekyll states, “Man is not truly one, but truly two” ( Stephenson 47). Jekyll can now be a good person, and Hyde can do the evil things without Jekyll feeling guilty. He knows that it is risky and his evil side may take over, but he doesn't care. “… All human beings, as we meet them, are commingled out of good and evil: Edward Hyde… was pure evil” (50). This quote is told by Jekyll as he tells about his findings that there are two sides to every man. Jekyll was able to have a normal life while Hyde committed murder and many other horrendous crimes. Jekyll did many fun things like throwing parties and lived a fairly normal life, but he had secrets too. Hyde, Jekyll’s evil alter ego, does many awful things as he is unleashed. At first he is a small, dwarfish figure, but soon grows to be larger and stronger than Jekyll. In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Friar Lawrence also stated that men can do good or bad things. “Within the infant rind of this small flower/ Poison hath residence and medicine power… In …show more content…

Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, duality, a reoccurring theme, is found throughout both works of literature. It is found through the good and evil sides of Dr. Jekyll, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’s actions, and that duality is present in all things. This theme is found in many examples all throughout the

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