Duality

• Duality


  The state of having two different or contradictory parts or aspects
• Jekyll


  • His inner sinister desires and his outward respectable persona are in conflict with each other
  • This leads to his creation of Hyde
• Hyde appears in the narrative before Jekyll

  This reinforces the reader's perception that he is a separate entity rather than merely the alter-ego of Jekyll
• Jekyll: 'Without Hyde, Jekyll lives a life of "profound duplicity"'
• Jekyll


  • Presented as a respectable gentleman
  • Stevenson hints at his cunning, secretive and deceitful nature
• Jekyll is not simply portrayed as a purely good character
• This reinforces Stevenson's idea that human nature itself is both complex and multifaceted
• Jekyll finds himself living a double life and he is unable to reconcile the two sides of his character
• Jekyll wishes to be a respected doctor adhering to the highest moral standards


  He also yearns to engage in malevolent acts
• London


  • Stevenson presents the city with contrasting descriptions where affluent streets exist next to areas of degradation and poverty
• Jekyll's house


  • The door at the front has a "great air of wealth and comfort" leading to the respectable Jekyll
  • The door at the back has an impression of "sordid negligence" leading to the repungant Hyde
• The door is used as a metaphor for the inner struggles between their two identities
• Stevenson uses this to comment on the deceptive outward appearance of upper Victorian society
• Utterson


  • Described as a man having "a rugged countenance that was never lighted by a smile", but also a man of "soundness of mind and ease of manner"
• Stevenson hints that Enfield has all the exterior of a gentleman, though may also have sinister secrets of his own
• Jekyll: 'By the end of the novella, Jekyll acknowledges "the thorough and primitive duality of man"'
• Stevenson continually uses contrasts to further underscore the aspect of duality throughout the novella: for example, rich/poor; light/dark; honesty/secrecy; night/day; inside/outside; respectability/notoriety
• Stevenson is concerned about the duality of human nature and society in general and considers the idea that everyone is capable of good and evil deeds
• Stevenson may also have used the dualities in the novella to reflect a society rapidly moving from the past into a new modern world