Robert Louis Stevenson’s Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde describes the nuances of science and the duplicity of the human behavior (Stevenson). Dr Jekyll is a kind, admired and insightful scientist who hampers with dark side of the science in order to make his ‘second’ existence known. Whereas Mr Hyde has spitefully changing ego, who does not take obligation or repent for his wicked crimes and ways. Jekyll is trying to manipulate Hyde, his alter ego, and Jekyll has the influence on him. The two persons do not seem the same till the conclusion of the book; Dr Jekyll is a well-respected doctor and Hyde is the outrageous, depraved personality, and are almost opposite. This paper explains the altering ego of Dr Jekyll, his personality shifts, behaviors, violent attitude, how he tried to suppress his evil urges, and his struggle to control them altogether.
Stevenson uses this pronounced distinction to point out: a human being incorporates opposing powers within itself, an alter ego hidden under his friendly façade. Their friendship is also complicated, Dr. Jekyll seems morally and decently involved in charity, and enjoying a reputation as a courteous and inspiring man. He never incarnates goodness in the manner that Hyde embodies evil. Although Jekyll experiments to purify his good side from evil, he alone breaks away from bad and leaves his former self, Jekyll, as mixed as before. Jekyll manages to liberate his evil side, to free it from the chains of consciousness, but never liberates himself from this darkness as Jekyll.
Hyde is characterized as resembling a “troglodyte” or wild creature; maybe Hyde is just an original and true man nature, oppressed but not lost by the weight of culture, consciousness and social standards that have been accrued. Maybe man has no two natures but a single, primitive, amoral one, only lightly restricted by society. Moreover, the book indicates that if the ties are destroyed, they cannot be restored; the genius can’t be packed back into the bottle, and Hyde will gradually replace Jekyll, when he actually does. Stevenson indicates that man’s dark and instinctual side remains powerful enough to devour anybody, like Jekyll, who is stupid enough to release it.
Works Cited
Stevenson, R. L., & Hurt, J. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. . Didier, 1947.
