Duality of Human Nature

Duality of Human Nature

1. Jekyll confesses to Utterson that he is fascinated by the duality of his own nature and believes that it is a condition that affects all men. He has an obsession with his own darker side which not only gives the novel its plot but gives psychological implications.

2. Before the climax of the novel (where it is revealed that Hyde and Jekyll are the same person) the duality and contrast between their characters creates tension between good and evil, the suggestion is made that everyone's bad side will overcome their good side.

3. Hyde is portrayed as evil looking and dwarfed with a violent temper whereas Jekyll is a respected man of science and is good natured and is the leader of a circle of friends. Not only are these two men halves of one person's character but they are polar opposites. Hyde's takeover of Jekyll seems to present a fuzzy representation of duality. It isn't quite clear whether Stevenson intends to suggest that Jekyll believes that you are half good and half evil or whether you are good with evil urges. He could be trying to suggest that if you let the dark urges get the better of you then they will be uncontrollable and will ultimately take over your god side.

4. Jekyll's disorder also has an impact on the other characters. For example, Utterson is introduced as a loyal, kind man who seldom seems to stray away from that description which suggests as his character is so set in place that he too may be suffering from darker urges.